The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-10
Germany and France
Are on Very Verge
of Outbreak.
.POINCARE'S STAND
SHOCK TO EUROPE
New French President Throws
Challenge at Feet of Kaiser by
Appointment of Delcassc to
Russia, and Plans for In
crease of Army and
Navy.


London. March s.-In the present
critical situatlon in European politics.
France, Germany, England and Russia
are all watching each other to see
which takes the first step. Frances
spirited response to the proposed
military ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of Germany
has done more towards insuring peace
to-day and war tomorrow than any
diplomatic move In the recollection Of
any person now living. On the other
hand, Germany's lame explanation as
to the causes of the enormous outlay
and the increase OF her peace army,
has deceived nobody.
Challenge Is Direct.
A British diplomat. now at home on
furlough, discussing the electric cur
rent impaired to the situation by the
accession of Poincare to the French
presidency. said:
1T Is admitted by all who are ac-
oi;ainted with the currents OF diplo-
macy an Europe that the coming Of
Poincarc has put more electricity into
the Franco-German situation than
there has been in many years. The
appointment of Deicasse. who has an
| avowed partisan policy, as ambassa-
dor TO ST. Petersburg. constituted
nothing less than direct challenge
to Germany, the answer to which has
not yet been given. and which. when
Its suddennesB.
Germany Judges that in view OF
tho momentous policy foreshadowed
by Delcasse's appointment, viz: the
triple alliance, consisting of France,
Russia and Great Britain. directed
against the German-Italian combina-
tion. discretion is at this moment her
best policy, or a:ternatively, Germany
may simply be observing a highly
polite silence, while finally giving a
careful look at her own offensive and
protective equipment. ~ -
THAT Germany. which insisted on
the dismissal of Delcasse I'm 1906, as
| a result OF the Moroccan imbroglio.
and gave the French the alternative
OF war. should now. eat humble pie
in the face OF his open defiance from
the new head OF the republic, is at
the present moment said the diplo
matist. "a matter of undisguised
Amusement to ali the chancelleries of
the world. Even by itself, 1t would
have been sufficient to arouse the ever
| slumbering Francophobia of the Ger
mans, coming as 1t did on the heels
of the announcement that sum of
over S1O0,000,o0O was to be expended
in strengthening the French land
forces The policy OF President Poin-
care is susceptible OF only one expla-
nation. namely, that whereas GER
tain measure OF prudent passivity has
characterized recent French govern
| ments. the present head OF the republic
means at least to try TO reconauer for
France some of her lost prestige in the
concert of the powers, as we'll as to
break the political paramountcy of
Berlin in Europe, objects the accom-
plishment OF which must involve .,a
resort to arms.
VIII Lose by Delay.
The situation" he continued, "at
T,rn Mt n de tlrtn ntFNo "
whether Germany's war party will let
pass the undoubted chance to force
the Kaiser into war. If Germany post
pones the occasion until later. it will
be only to find French army that Is
better prepared to meet her than 1t is
| now. Germany. IL she acts soon. will
be certain of being able to count upon
half of Austria and Italy as against
any move by the Russians towards the
protection Of their Slav brethren in
the Balkans, certainty that hacomes
continually weaker as the old Kaiser
of Austria becomes older and the VIC
torious Balkan confederation looms on
the horizon as more practicable pos
sibility.
Indeed" said the informant of The
Times-Dispatch. never within the past
ten years-not even during the Drey-
fus-Moroccan crisis-has a Franco
German war been nearer. Germany
builds confidently on two pet convic-
tions, namely. that England's policy In
regard to France amounts merely to q
determination to make use of the
French army and navy, should events
ever force that necessity, and that
England is determined to be no party
to triple alliance which will involve
her should one of the constituent par
ties other than herself be attacked. In
other words. Germany feels confident
that England's regard for France Is
essentially selfish, and that an up
heayal involving France as a princi-
pal Will find Albion as perfidious as
| ever " 49,.