The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-01

TO be taken In view OF Increases.
This food movement. with all its
regrettable consequences has covered
the north. the east. and the centre OF
France The excessive heat and the
drought are asgravating circumstances
only, for there Is sort OF conspiracy
to increase the cost OF living through.
out the whole country.
The people arc overtaxed. Tho
strain is at bursting point. Yet tho
next budget Will have to meet $500,
100000. Soon Il Will attain the fam
Gus five miil,ards. The people havo
to keep million functionaries and
pay them pensions. The Western State
railroad workmen's pensions. state
schools, and what not arc Unsuitable
swallowers OF the public money.
Stat!stlcians demonstrate that wages
increase as we'll as the cost of living,
and that the wage increase is even
superior to the increase in the price
of food, Statisticians Gao demonstrate
anything II they mad four or five
mouths to MI on Ave francs day they
would tell a different tale
Germany's appetite for territory haB
given rise 10 much editorial refiec-
ton in the French press. Not the least
Interesting suggestion. which l find III
recently published book on the role
OF the navy, is that Bismarck made
mistake in not appropriat!ng Algeria
as his prize of war. By these means he
wouid have laid .he foundation OF
new German Colonial Empire In tho
no:th of Africa, and would have avoid
ed wounding French amour .propre"
to the extent involved BY the sacrl-
nee of Alsace- Lorraine. Had German
diplomacy forty years ago foreseen its
own national expansion II would have
anticipated Its present territorial neces-
stiles.
Any one who has followed the events
OF the last weeks in France will have
discovered that Germany's high hand
cd demands for compensation FOR loss
es. she is supposed to have sustained
by French becoming the controlling
power of the destinics OF Morocco, have
been OF immense sentimental value TO
France as nation.
y few months ago France was In q
state OF political chaos, party strife
was sapp!ng the strength of the ma
ton, but as soon as the people heard
of the Kaisers demands everything
changed as IL by magic. a wave OF
patriotism, drowning all feelings OF
party bitterness. swept across the
country ana united the people, who
with one voice demanded that tho
new government must stand firm, they
were ready to take the consequences.
Later events nave shown that this
was no suddn emotion, but a feeling
which had its roots in the very hearts
OF the masses OF the French people.
While panics shook Germany. where
huge amounts were lost on the stock
exchanges, while scores OF German
savings bangs went down, and while
the whole German official press rushed
into the breach and declared that there
was no danger OF war. the French
people Invested millions every week IN
government bonds in spite OF the fact
that they really thought war almost
Inevitable and had very strong sus-
picions that they were hardly any bet
ter prepared for a fight than forty
one years ago.
Later events have shown these sus-
picions unfounded. The navy, which
everybody considered the country's
weakest point of defense, was shown
to be ready to fight at moments
notice. practically every ship being
in lighting order and fully manned
and now ;hat the great army man
oenvres arc over, 1t would be hard to
find single person who does not feel
absolutely convinced that should war