Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1914-08-30

Germanys Eastern Frontier
There seems to be general impression that the
eastern frontier of Germany is unprotected. Paris
London official dispatches frequently allude to
the necessity of early, decisive action by the Ger
mans in the west They speak of the withdrawal
troops from in front of the allies o repe the
horde of Russians pouring in from the east We
suspect that these dispatches issued for the
of the French English people, rather
than statements of fact probability Some
things have been overlooked In the first place the
German army peace footing consists Of 100000
well trained and well armed men. In addition, there
the number of 100000 every man
a soldier, trained to the minute.
The German force which is slowly but steadily
pushing Paris-ward is of uncertain or unknown
strength. 1t has been estimated by the French
from 100000 100000 men, But rather per-
sistenty, the London and Paris dispatches speak of
a million Germans in front of the armies of the
allies Assuming that that is the number stretched
along the 25Ome front in the west, there are
where 100000 men of the regular army,
say nothing of the 100000 reserves which. far
know, have yet been called the colors.
We have heard only from French sources that they
have been, but in all probability they yet
gagged in taking of the German harvests Their
mobilization, under the German machine-like
TEN and the finest military transportation system
i'll the world, would be matter of only few days.
The Russian force along the eastern German
frontier is unknown quantity. We only know
that the Russians have for many years maintained
large armies their western and southwestern
frontier. but what seemed to be large army in time
peace or even in previous wars-say, 100000 or
100000 men-becomes insignificant in the face
OF armies of a million men.
The Russian peace footing is little in excess
of 100000 men, scattered across that great empire
from Vladivostok Warsaw. considerable part
it is stationed in Manchuria. To bring a large
body of men from the Far East considering the
inadequate transportation system of Russia, would
be a matter of weeks months.
The Russian reserves estimated at about
600 900 men. But there be comparison be-
tween a Russian reservst and a German reservist.
BY former it is frequently meant. only one liable
to military service. The latter is highly trained
soldier.
No part of the German army or war equipment
exists only paper while that of nearly all other
countries so exists in part. Every German soldier
and every gun and every cartridge is actual fact
In most other countries in emergencies excepting
Japan of course a sudden state of war discloses
painful discrepancy between the real army and the
paper army.
We recall that only few weeks ago NJ. Hum
bert of the French senate attacked Mr. Vivianl,
whose ministry has just been dissolved stating that
France was wholly unprepared for war The army
was short of 1000 900 pairs of shoes. short OF men
and of ammunition. Good officers he said, were
lacking and it is reported that General Jo1ire
is about to be superseded NJ. Vivani admitted
many defects. These disclosures regarding Frances
unprepa were brought in the recent Call
laux trial.
How well Russia is prepared for war; that Is,
what relation there is between her paper army and
her real army we do know. Perhaps the dls-
crepancy is not as great it was found to be Ill
the Russo japanese war; but there still remains her
imperfect transportation system, rendering 1t I'M
possible weeks for her seriously to menace Ger
many far beyond her eastern border.