| Show WAR CLOUDS IN EUROPE probabilities of a clash between great nations what the effect of a european war would he apon alila country A strata that cannot bo LOGS sustain frd harold frederic one of the shrewdest american observers across the seas notes the estimate that there are one hundred and thirty thousand more men under arms in europe than there were last christmas and remarks it is now the universal expectation that when the christmas of 1894 comes around it will find an altered map this strain is too heavy something must give way somewhere during the coming year predictions of a impending european war have been made confidently from time to time during the last decade says the boston traveller yet they have not been fulfilled and many will turn an incredulous ear to mr frederic saying the outlook has been as forbidding more than once since th chief military powers began to swell their armaments to their present enormous size and yet somehow peace has been preserved why then is there not reason to believe that 1894 will repeat the story of 1893 and its immediate predecessors and another christmas come with the sword still in the scabbard to those who thug appeal to the experience peri ence of alie nearer past it is unhappily easy to return an answer aliis answer may be summed up in mr frederics words the strain ia too heavy something must give way somewhere for a long time now the rival powers of europe have been engaged in a contest which has been only less exhausting to them than actual warfare would have been they have been putting forth prodigious exertions to overawe their respective rivals with exhibitions of force until in some instances the burdens of taxation under which they are groaning have become intolerable italy indeed has almost reached the verge of bankruptcy russia despite her vast extent is financially in no enviable plight while france germany and austria hungary although much better able to continue the trial of endurance keenly feel the effects of such ruinous competition and know that it is only a question of time when they will be forced to reduce their military expenditures tures or draw the sword in the hope of conquering a docs troublesome peace it ia becoming more and more evident therefore that a crisis in their affairs is approaching and one that means upheaval the different nations referred to conscious that even partial disarmament will not be agreed to know that war is practically inevitable not one of them perhaps feels fully ready for war yet they doubt if they will ever be much readier than now and hence all are on the alert that they may not ba taken unawares we on this sida of the ocean do not view the fast gathering european war clouds with pleasure an old world conflict would benefit us for the time being by increasing the demand for our products but in tho lang run we should suffer from it and in ways that need not be indicated yot even if such a conflict should insure permanent benefits to us we should not rejoice to see it break out we know what war means and having reason if ever a nation has had to loie peace we are full of sympathy for alether blether europe in her trials and would wish that the blessings we enjoy might become her happy portion |
