The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-23
VIEW OF GERMANS
IS FAR FROM ROSY
They Can Sec Nothing Ahead
But War or Financial
Disaster.
HAND FORCED BY FRANCE
No Ono Can Tell Where Cry for
Greater Armamcnts
Will Stop.
HAND FORCED BY FRANCE
ny rnEnEnIck wEnNEn.

Especial Cable to The Times Dispatch
Berlin March 22.-It cannot truth
fully he said that Faster finds Germans
taking very rosy view of the polit-
ical situation, domestic or foreign
In regard to the latter, everybody
realizes that with NJ PoIncare a new
spirit has taken possession OF the
Palais Elysces Not only is he far
more popular with the French people
than any OF his recent predecessors,
but from the very first he made il clear
that ne Will use every means to in
crease his popularity His first mes
sage made the impression OF not being
a very wise one. Its mentioning the
cruel trials of 1s7o-'7l" was hardly
considered proper in an official docu-
ment. and his attempt TO establish some
connection between Frances prepared
ness for war and civilization was
rather clumsy His following acts. the
sending of Delcasse to ST. Petersburg
and his agitation for strengthening
Ct the French army, did not surprise
any one here. though perhaps they did
not create the deep impression which,
for. AS French attempts at reading
the German soul generally do. this also
failed. Germans are not apt to mix up
causes and persons. NJ Dclcasse per-
sonally does not impress the Germans,
Tho as matter of fact care very little
what French statesman is sent TO the
Cars court. Germany fears neither
Delcasse nor President Poincare. but
Germans endeavor to understand and
France particularly when he is a man
who evidently intends 10 make the
fullest use of his power chief execu-
tive
should Have Different Ambition.
When Germans. the great. intelligent
part OF the German people. deplore the
turn affairs have taken in France it
is simply because they think that two
great cultured nations ought to be
able to ind worthier tasks than a
senseless rivalry in matters which have
absolutely nothing 10 do with culture
or civilization.
IT is not the turn OF the tide in
France which causes Germany To feel
some apprehension in regard TO the in
ternational situation. In the best in
formed circles in Berlin there il a
certain optimism in regard to the inn
mediate visible problems. The Balkan
question may not be solved without
further complies tons. and the genera
relations between the great powers
are not satisfactory. and The care
which the powers nave shown in avoid
Inc open rupture during the las,
months is considered not so much To
prove that an equilibrium OF intercs;
has been reached as TO prove that for
the present no power stands TO gain
anything out OF conflict
The belief here is that Europe is on
the eve OF extreme competition On
land arma meuts. into which other pow
ers besides France and Germany mus,
be drawn. The proposed French
meas arc being represented as
create than is entailcd by the German
measures and If that conviction gains
much more ground no one can tel
where it is going To end. Delcasse is
probably going TO use his influence
with the Gar 10 prompt Russia to
make sacrifices similar 10 France. and
II Russia does. the ponderous ball will
be set in motion. which must end
either i'm war or the financial ruin ii
Germany attempting to feed the mill
tary Moloch
No r:xcnne for War.
The pity Of ii all is that the course
the country is about to enter upon
seems 80 absolutely unnecessary TO al
but tn, pronounced miliarists. No one
could any longer ina CINE France go
ing 10 war I &c; revenge for 1901
and with the Balkan question settled
II would bc very hard to find any rea-
sonable cause for war between tho
triple alliance and the triple entente
The excuse given here by some tina,
the rise OF the Balkan states has some
what disturbed t.nrope's military bal
ancc. does not convince any one OF the
necessity for greater armies. The
only plausible explanation to be found
seems TO be that the military obscs-
sion has too strong a mold upon the
Continental chancclleries 10 be shaker
off BY any political changes Mill
tarism seems to have become an enc
in itself. which no longer feels the
. need to justify itself by arguments OF
policy And in this lies the DANCE,
which th,, German people fear.