Evening star., 1914-04-18
FOR $25O,0OO,0OO
MILITARY FUND
Head of German League SAYS
Army Cannot Insure
Country's Safety.
CITES POSSIBLE VICTORIES
OF FRANCE AND RUSSIA
Country Would Be Crushed and
Forced to Levy Tribute of
Billions, He Says.
BERLIN. April 10. 19I

BERLIN. April 10. 1914.
Maj. Gen. kein president of the Ger
man Army League. has started an aGita-
ton for another billion marks. $50
GO0O. for a my purposes, without which.
he declares. the safety of the country
against attacks cannot be guaranteed.
This demand is in addition to the meas
ure passed only last year. voting an eN-
traordinary war tax OF S2J0.O00,C00. the
first instailment of which has yet to be
collected.
Speaking before the branch of the
Army League at Essen, incidentally the
seat of the krupp works. Cen keim
made a bitter attack on Count von Hert-
ling premier OF Bavaria. who declared
recently that the burden Of armament
! taxation had reached its limit and that
further war taxes must be demanded
for wears to come. Cen keim VINO re-
ferrcd to the premier as that man. de-
clarcd Won HertinS needed to study po-
litical economy to learn that Germany.
whose resources were greater than those
Of France could afford to make as ND
eraI sacrifices He characterized Won
IIertlina's remarks as lnconstltutionai
and Impairment and said they would
have evoked immediate protest from Ber-
lin in the DAYS of Bismarck.
More Strength Necessary.
The truth is" continued Gen. keim.
that VI. are not as strong as our pos
siblc opponents. We must make OFT
selves much stronger than We are. Only
when we are strongly entrenched can we
rob ou.. enemies Of the courage to attack
us from east and west and crush rs as
in a wise. Is it not better for us to Of
fer up another billion and insure peace?
Otherwise if we do nothing to strengthen
our military power in the approaching
war we shall our wives and daugh-
ters violated by the CossackS and TurkoS
,French-Af lean troops>: Frence will
take from rs Alsace-Lorraine. Russia.
east and west Prussia. and we shall have
10 pay an eventual war tribute OF at least
thirty billions.
This speech. with the recent article by
Gen. Won Bernhardt of the same faction
pointing out alleged grave deficiencies i'll
the countrys military forces. leaves no
doubt that the Army League. which by
it's agitation paved the way for last
years armament measures, is planning a
new campaign. 1t offers some eXplana-
ton for the recent article in the Cologne
Gazette. whose St. Petersburg CORE
spondent declared unreservedly that Rus
sia was preparing to attack Germany in
l911-a declaration which caused con
siderable embarrassment to German and
Russian diplomacy, which has been busy
provocative intent
Refuses to Enter Alliance.
The refusal Of Germany in 1905 to
enter into an alIia nee with France and
Russia was due to feeling that such
an alliance would be "a d scourtesy to
England and to English cousins
according to Count Witte of Russia. who
will he remembered in the United States
for the prominent part he played i'll
negotiating the treaty OF Portsmouth,
At the time the proposed alliance OF
Germany with France and Russia he
saws according to the TaeSiche Rund
scl,au King Edward VII of England was
suing despera tely for the friendship of
Russia. but Russia preferred Germany
as third member of the planned alli-
ance. Count Witte received at Paris an
invitation from King Edward to call on
him. He learned that the kings purpose
was to discuss an alliance of Great Brit
ain with Russia. and declined the invi
tation. The next day he proceeded to
Rominten.
Count Witte was at that time armed
with full authority TO negotiate an all
ance between Russia. Germany and
France. according to the Taegliche
Rundschaus correspondent. who quotes
him follows:
My proposal not new to Emperor
William II. Some years earlier l had
laid before his majesty well worked
out plan of this nature during his visit
in St. Petersburg. based upon the stand
| point that only a firm alliance between
/ Russia. Germany and France. not di-
| rected against England. or, at least. only
| in an extreme case. could make certain
the peace of Europe for a considerable
period.
First Step in Isolation.
/ Il realized perfectly well that the
Franco-Enslsh Morocco treaty of 1904
was the first step in the isolation of Ger
many which Edward VII so greatly de
sired. I also well acquainted
with the proposals of alliance which the
| British king had caused to be made to
us III 1.D5. and with the correspondence
in the same matter between Lord Lans-
Idowne and the British ambassador at st.
/ Petersburg. Sir Charles Harding.
| Nevertheless. ! returned to St. Peters
burg not without hopes for my plan and
! cherished these hopes until the play
behind the scenes at Algeciras in 1876
put an end to them.
/. This play behind the scenes. joined
j with Germany's unwillingness to offend
Great Britain, is alleged to have driven
| Russia into Great Brtain's arms in 1907
after Isvolski. Germanophobe, had be
come Russa's minister of foreign affairs.