The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-30
KAISER ( HOPEFUL
MILITARY LAWS
WILL Be PASSED
Reichstag Will Resume
Debate on Measures
This Week.
OPPOSITION.Is
STILL VERY STRONG
Pro-Military Leaders Seek to
Convey Impression That There
Is No Desire for War, but
Only Means of Safety for
Empire-Outlook Is
Not Bright.
BY FREDERICK WERNER.

| Berlin, March 29.-On Wednesday
next the ReIchstag meets again, and
the debate on the new military laws
will begin in full earnest In official
circles 1t is hoped that during the time
which has passed since the Legislators
pseparated before Easter. even those
among them who are opposed to in
| creased military expenditures on gem
eral principles, will have realized that
the governments plans are not
prompted by "a desire for war" butt
that the money asked for and the pro-
posed increase of the army are really
| measures which, seen from purely
patriotic standpoint. are absolutely
necessary for the safety OF the empire
under the new conditions which have
resulted from the Balkan War.
Looking upon the situation OF Ger
many with an absolutely unbiased
mind, one cannot help admitting that
there is considerable truth In the words
which very high government official
said to me the other day.
| "The government" he said "sincerelv
wishes to avoid 4 war with France:
| but although we knew. of course. that
our plans were sure TO be misunder-
stood in that country we had no other
choice, as good patriots. than to in
| crease our military ornaments The
victories of Bulgaria and Servia have
completely upset the military balance
of Europe. Until Turkey was crushed
Germans situation was not n danger
GUS one. We could count on the armies
of Austria to hold Russia In check in
case of war, until we had defeated the
armies of France, and were able to
throw the full strength of our army
against Russia. But this Is no longer
so. We must bring even the greatest
sacrifices imaginable to increase our
army up to the full capacity of the
| a
empire been in situation as danger
GUS as the present.
The influence of Russia will always
predominant In Bulgaria and Servia,
and IN case of war these two countries
are now strong enough to. keep the
greatest part of Austria's army busy,
so that Germany must depend on her
own soldiers to ward off a Russian
attack. This means that we will have
to make front towards east and west
simultaneously and UNDER such condi-
tons 1t is our plain duty to build a
chain OF impregnable fortresses along
| our eastern frontier to keep the Rus
| sian bear in check. Such fortresses
cost money. but Adrianople has shown
their immense value to a country de-
Tending itself against foreign in
vasion.
Even in France the government is
beginning TO see that our plans are not
TO be taken az a challenge. but are
necessary for our self-defense. and we
hope that our advcrsaries in the Reich
stag will show themselves to possess
as much common sense as foreign
government, who was naturally
alarmed at first.
Russia is growing more powerful
| every day. and even If we are on most
friendly terms with the Cars govern
ment. we must not expose 1t to
temptation"
Details Unknown.
The details OF the military plans OF
the German government will. Of course,
remain unknown until they are for
nially laid before the Reichstag next
week or possibly few days later. But
in order to prepare the people and their
representatives in Parliament, the gov
eminent has followed its usual custom
and given out several hints through
the semiofiiclal press. which may he
relied upon to be quite correct
According to the Berlin Lokal An
zeiger, the annual increase in the num-
Der of recruits will be about $4,000. SO
that within two years the army will
be strengthened by 1000 officers, $4,000 |
men. With these additions a third bat
talon Will be given to eighteen regi- |
ments which still have but two, the |
companies VIII be strengthened
throughout and the frontier corps will
be brought up to the higher establish |
~
be demanded, and will also be allotted |
to the frontier districts.
An addition OF nearly 10000 horses
will make 1t possible for the field ar
tillery batteries to exercise with all
SIX guns and some of the ammunition
wagons. The cavalry divisions are not
to be established permanently, but are
TO be brought together more frequent
ly for manoeuyres
portion of the nonrecurring ex-
penditure will go to strengthening and !
re-arming tho fortifcations on the
eastern frontier. and a half a dozen
fresh battalions of foot artillery are
to be formed and provided with indie
pendent machine gun companies. The |
horsng of the heavy artillery will
also BIO supplemented. Further. there
Will be considerable additions to the |
searching companies, and the train,
telegraph and pioneer battalions.
The only paper which makes the as |
sertion that the governments plans
are directed against France is, strange
ly enough the Koelniche Zeitung |
which has often been used as n special |
mouthpiece of the government but |
which now thunders against France |
In expressions like these:
1--WE do not underestimate the fac
tors that have arisen from the new
order in tho Balkans, but when sacrI- |
lCeS arc ucNdHOeu MS 1T present, the |
finger must be plainly pointed to the |
quarter from which the nearest danger
threatens u.s. That is France Never /
has our relationship to our western
neighbor been so strained as to-day |
Never has the revenge" idea showed |
itself there so undisguisely, and
never has 1t been so clear that France
claims the Russian alliance and Eng
lish friendship solely for the pur pose
OF reconquering Alsace-Lorraine There
fore, in whatever quarter the world
may catch fire, 1t Is quite certain that
we shall have to cross blades with
the French. When 1t will happen no
one can know" II
Financial Stumbling block.
AS might haYe been expected. 1T is
the financial side OF the question which
forms the nIost formidable obstruc,
ton in the path of tho governments
military planr.
II the Kaiser expected to ind the