Evening star., 1914-08-01
j. S. ARMY OFFICERS
WATCHING EUROPE
Continued from Second Page.)

tCOntlnueQ from second fdSe.)
his uniform, accouterments and officers
awaiting him.
It was suggested to a general staff Of
ficer that Germany might be able to
take France unprepared, administer
severe defeat. and then turn on Russia
1t was likewise suggested that Austria
might treat Servia similarly, defeat the
Serbs in a short, sharp campaign, and
then in Germany in an attack on Rus
sia.
He said it was the general belief Of
military men that France was better pre-
pared now for war with Germany than
she was in 1870. and that if the French
army proved as worthy in the field as 1t
looked on paper it would not he defeated
SO easily by the Germans. He ridiculed
the idea that Germany was superior
enough to deal right-hand blow at
France and then rebound upon Russia.
He thought the German plans would in
volve simultaneous campaigns against
both France and Russia. unless France
remained passive, in which event the
bulk of the German army, he thought,
would be aimed at Russia. On the Rus
sian frontier the German forces will be
able to count on strong aid from the
Austrians, whose army is regarded here
as being in tiptop shape and developed
along German lines under German infiu-
enceS.
Refuse Guess on Battle.
ion as to the probable place of the first
big battle.
I'VE do not know what nations will be
engaged in the war. or whether those
that are engaged become involved at
once, or whether some Of them enter the
contest after it Is well advanced" said
one of the officers. ut might be better
policy for France to play the role of an
on-looker and wait for the Germans to
o. become well engaged with Russia But
II Is not to be supposed that the German
guard >i'e''
There is speculation as to the length
OF the war. Again it Is insisted by mill
iary men that this cannot. be guessed
until it becomes known what nations are
engaged Officers said, however, that
modern wars have been comparatiyeiy
short and sharp. They say that with
the introduction Of modern weapons the
algnined c sioWness which characterized
former military operations vanished. The
frahco-Prussian war of 1870 was de-
clared July -. The decisive battle was
that of Sedan, September ., 1870, which
came forty-nine days after the declara-
ton of war. The Austro-Italian war of
1866 was declared June 70. It's decisive
battle was that of LISA, July 90. thirty
days afterward The -Prussian
war of 1855 was declared June 16; the de-
cisive battle was that of Sadowa July 3,
seventeen days later The war of 1859
between France and Austria was declar-
ed May 3 and its decisive battle was
fought June 81, fifty-two days later.
Germany Has War Fund.
Financially Germany is always ready
for great war. She keeps on hand a
great war treasure for just such a con-
tingency. 1t is kept in the famous
Julius Turn in the fortress of Span
dau, near Berlin, where there are 1.O,-
000,o0o marks. This is part of the
Franco-Prussian war indemnity. Under
German law this war chest" can only
be used for the requirements that arise at
the outbreak or during war. In the
event of a declaration of war the
Reichsbank of Germany would take
charge of this war treasure. and is au-
thorized by law to issue bank notes to
three times the amount-that is, for &c.,
100000 marks. Germany is the only ma
ton in the world that has war fund"
and is at all times financially modified
for war.
The German army could mobilize much