Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1875-05-22 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE THREATENED RENEWAL OF WAR ON THE CONTINENT.  The .torch of war, which had been fanned into the semblance of a flame, blazes no longer, and for the present Europe breathes again. The world has just missed witnessing another conflict akin to that of 1870. Germany and France were on the brink of war, although it is possible the last-named country was not fully sensible of the danger in which she was placed until the danger had vanished. It is within the knowledge of the writer, who states it upon the highest authority in England, that Germany had firmly resolved upon attacking France; and that had not the Emperor Alexander interfered, the German Kaii.er's troops would, long ere this, have been again billetted on French soiL Such calmness as that which animated English society while Prince Bismarck NM holding the war-dogs in the leash is peculiarly British. People appeared to have no ides of what was impending, although day after day the newspapers uevoted their first leading article to the topic. Yet the situation was more than grave, and until Tuesday morning the British Government could not but have anticipated the receipt of a telegram from Berlin, announcing that Germany had declared war against the country which she thought she had effectually crushed four years ago. Fortunate is it for France that the Emperor of Russia stood her friend in this hour of need, for it is here statal as matter not for surmise or inference, but of stern fact, denial of which is challenged, that but for the pressure put upon the war party in Berlin by the Buesian Emperor, the armies.in France and Germany would now once more be in the field.— World.  The Morning Post thinks that the latest action of England in the politics of the Continent is not calculated to calm apprehensions as to the future. For, although our diplomacy has been successful, the fact remains that we have intervened in the affairs of the Continent, and therefore we shall be all the more likely to do so again; and intervention, however skilful, may lead to complicaticns. In fact, everything points to the possibility of England finding it necessary to bave She disposal of a considerable in litary force if she is to hold her own. At present she could not lo so. What is necessary, therefore, is that the country should have the true state of the case before it. It ought to be brought to comprehend that all practical experience, both ancient and modern, points to the necessity of acting on the principle that the whole able-bodied manhood of a country should be available for the military service of the country. The world stands armed to the teeth, and our arrangements are such as to excite neither fear nor respect. The Standard says :—We are asked to believe that France and Germany have never been upon such cordial terms as during the last three weeks; that France not only is not preparing for revenge, but is well aware that she could not defend her own soil against an invader; that Prince Biamarck has declared that he should as soon think of going to Kullman's prison and throttling him in his cell, lest he should renew his murderous assault thirteen years hence, as counsel Germany to attack France now, lest the latter should attack Germany at some ndefinite date; that, iu fact, when everything is considered, the relations of the two countries are marvellously good; and that there exists no cellspiracy in any quarter against the tranquility of the world.  The Pope entered upon his eighty-fourth year on Tuesday.