The Washington herald., 1913-03-23
COURT GOSSIP ON SUBJECTS
OF GREAT GENERAL INTEREST

handed adventure in TripoJi. Next the
Balkans fared into war. Russia and
Austria have modified and strengthened
their frontier forces. and now Rou-
mania's surprising demand of a recon-
pensation from Bulgaria for her ''neu-
trality' adds to the disquieting condi-
ton. Germany, perforce. as II claims.
is adding to her army. and France has
replied in kind.
However. there is no need Of placing
too great a significance upon this ac-
tion on the part of these two natural
foes. Germany, for quite a number of
years, diverted a good deal of her mill
tary appropriation to her navy. Com
petent observers have declared time and
again that the efficiency Of certain
branches of the army was seriously in
terfered with thereby. Hence her in
crease of the army is more apparent
than real, in that it is an effort to
make good certain deficiencies of the
establishment. but does not enlarge its
numerical strength. In other words, the
extra money that recently was Iavishly
spent upon the navy Is to be used again.
as before the diversion, for the army
Nor has France strengthened her land
forces lately to any appreciable extent:
wherefore the same argument applies TO
her. She is trying to make up for her
recent inactivity in this direction. I do
not believe that the mutual strengthen
ing of military forces will tend TO make
the relations between the two countries
any worse. Ever since the close OF the
disastrous war of 1870 France has closely
watched and followed Germany's lead In
this respect. II one nation makes a GER
tain move, ii must expect similar action
across the border. Each has to fornu-
late 1t policy according to what 1t be-
lieves 10 be a national requirement.
But there is a lesson in this game OF
International chess. Germany, with
large population to draw upon, adds to
her army. France. though having a
more difficult task in finding the neces-
sary men. is great deal stronger finan-
cially. and this enables her to keep pace
with German improvements or increases
And what will be the relative position
after all this fuss. trouble. expenditure.
and increased taxation? 1t will be the
same as before. Thus the faulty of
competition is made plain.
If there are agencies at work that
make for war. there are also those that
are trying hard for. peace Germany, it
must be admitted, has played a noble
part. in connection with the Balkan con-
flict, in preventing a European war. and
the same pacific spirit has animated the
kaiser's government in its attitude to-
ward England. as has been made mani
fest to surprised and unbelieving world
by Germany's acquiescence to a naval
policy which gives vast supremacy to
the British nation as the ruling sea
power.
Germany has sentimental points Of
contact with England. The Kaiser has
ever sold so on all ocCa sions. but jim
goism's latest crop in England was too
big. and, for time. too powerful. At
last Downing Street has seen the error
of its policy of nagging the best and
truest friend England has. and it is
well that it should be so. For it means
less taxation, less burdens. less expendi-
lures. 1t means a contented, a happy
populace. In short, it means peace.
EIASEUR
tCoTyrisht 1918. by Court Gossip Syndicate