Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-07
FOR WAR
CRY IN GERMANY
imperial Chancellor Urges In
crease in Army and Higher
Taxes.
IN FRANCE AND RUSSIA
LIES PERIL OF CONFLICT
England Referred to as Pacific"
Factor-Would Fight in Aus
tria's Behalf.

BERLIN, April IF outside forces
should threaten US. Germany must stand
ready with her last mani declared DR..
Won Bethmann- Holwegg, the imperial
chancellor. in parliament today, while
submitting the government bills for in
creasing the army and for providing new
forms OF taxation. His speech was a
striking one. although he qualified his
warning with the admission that "Eu-
ropean cenhagration in all probability
will not occur
The good intentions Of the French
and Russian governments are beyond
question" declared the chancellor, but
Germany must reckon with the great
force of modern public opinion which
In the form of French warlike patriot
ism and Russian pan-Slavism threat
ems the peace Of the world against the
wishes of the great masses of both
peoples"
England Pacific Factor.
1t was noteworthy that in the chan
cellor's speech Great Britain was
ferred to only as a pacific factor. DIR.
Won Bethmann-Hollweg although indi-
eating by his manner that he had little
belief in the practicability of the sug
gestion made by the British admiralty
for years naval holiday. said Ger
many was willing to consider concrete
proposals from the British government.
The imperial chancellor opened his
speech by pointing out that the
strength Of the army had not kept
pace with the growth OF the German
nation. and asked: Can Germany al
low itself the luxury of dispensing
with tens of thousands of trained sol
diers?"
He continued:
THE conditions of Europe have b ,e
radically hanged by the Balkan wa.
which has substituted for the passive
European Turkey other states of
feverish political activity.
In all this there are factors of progress,
indeed. but should great European CON
fiagration between Germanism and pan
SlaviSm come, this change would alter
the balance in Germany's disfavor. This
does not alter the fact that I consider
this conflict probably will be avoided
Has Cultivated Russia.
The chancellor declared he had made
special efforts since assuming Office To
cultivate good relations with Russia. and
believed the Russian ruler and the Rus
sian ministers reciprocated.
But the events of the war" he added.
have greatly strengthened the pan
Slavic current in Russia, ana TINS is
danger for peace"
Germany, the chancellor said. has been
working to mitigate the Austro- Russian
tension. but should war break out. the
German empire would unhesitatingly
fight beside her ally"
The chancellor then reiterated Prince
Bismarck's saying: IF the French wait
for us to attack them they Will wait for
ever" and concluded that there was
every reason to believe that the present
French government wished To live in
peace with Germany, and that the French
masses wished IL. too. But the warlika
party in France is counting on the super
iority of the French army on belief that
German cannon and military instructors
have been tried and found wanting. b.
Turkey on the Russian alliance and per-
haps on British assistance. Germany can
not ignore the aspirations OF such French
and pan-Slavic circles.