The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-20
FRANCE IS NERVED
BY. GERMAN ACTION.
No Longer Vacillating Over Ex-
penditures for Army
and Navy.
WHOLE COUNTRY AROUSED
1t Can No Longer Bear Continued
Arrogance of Kaiser's
Attitude.
WHOLE COUNTRY AROUSED
NY GEORGE purRpsNE.

Paris. April l9-Nothing could BIO
moro beneficial to Franco. which is
vacillating on the brink of uncertain
~ and whose Parliament 10 torn by
party politics, than the events which
have taken place. In Germany.
Tho very recklessness with which
the German government Is raining de-
mands for millions upon millions for
military and naval expenses down over
the heads OF the German Taxpayers. and
the determination with which the Kali
ser is sweeping oil obstacles aside. has
acted like a powerful stimulant on
the French Had there been the slight
est chance to believe in Germany's
assurance that she WAS only strength
ening her army and navy for more de-
iensive purposes the people OF France
might have hesitated. hut when, after
the Koelnische Ze.tung had let tho
cat prematurely out OF the bag the
Kaiser first asked for s12,5oo,ooo more
for general purposes. and then for
$s5.ooo.6oo for ahe creation of the
strongest aerial navy in the world Il
became impossible to believe that these
were tho tactics OF a country anxious
t" preserve peace. And It Is now clear
TO e1ery Frenchman that Germany Is
1'ohiib SNci ylHlHs on ono cara, InaC
her plan Is to become the facile prin-
ceps OF Europe. whose dictum in the
future Will be: Give mo what 1 ask
fer or shall come and take It my
self"
This arrogance Is more than France
can bear and although the clever poll
tlcian Clemenceau succeeded in over
throwing the BRAND Cabinet and got
II repla ccd by the weak Barthou min
istry, thus making the three years.
m iitary service a party question. con-
dit.ons have changed now. and party
Yclit.cs Will disappear because OF THE
cr..s
Here &. where M Poincares good
luck has stood him IN better stead
than his political sharp 81 ghtedness
There was no one who doubted that It
was Clemenceau who defeated the Bril-
and Cabinet. nor did any one doubt
that his motive was his hatred OF the
new President who was becoming too
popular 10 suit him. But II NJ Poin-
care had been very smart as smart as
ne usually Is, he would have asked his
enemy Clemenceau to form Cabinet
instead OF NJ Barthou. and NJ Glenn
enceau would have found himself in
the unpleasant position of having no
choice but 10 carry through the plans
that made his enemy the idol OF the
nation. and with Clemenceau ct the
head OF the government the military
and naval laws would have gone
through practically without opposition
With NJ. Barthou at the helm they
would have been tossed about in the
maelstror5 OF politics. manned and
stunted, but for what has happened In
Germany.
When the Kaiser began TO play
trumps. political differences and party
grudges were forgotten in France and
when In a short time the law fixing |
three years military service comes up
a the resumption OF the Legislative
session. It will pass probably with all
vote: against those Of the Socialists
The members of the Army Committee
accepted the principle weeks ago, and
the class OF 1919 recruits. which In
ordinary course were to have been sent
home this year. Will remain with the
colors another year.