| Show WAR DEBATE IN THE REICHSTAG ON wednesday a significant debate occurred in the german reichstag on a military bill introduce intro duci duct d by the government for some time past ast the press dispatches from germany have been unusually free from warlike intimations and the absence of matter of that kind from the news telegraphed from berlin has been a surface indication that since the retirement of bismarck political matters on the continent have assumed a more pacific condition but the debate ref referred ered tots to is calculated to dispel any belief that a prolonged continuation of peace can be relied upon old and sag sagacious avious von moltke the greatest living exponent of the science of war in an argument supporting the bill said the european situation is always growing more difficult and it is imperative pera tive that germany should have a strong military system A strong government alone will be able to maintain peace as there is no one who does not hesitate to throw the match into the powder barrel I 1 believe all the powers power sare are peacefully disposed ajit b pt security can only be attained by ger banys own efforts of course the maintenance of the army on a war footing fooling demands the expenditure of large amounts of money but the point to be considered is this II 11 we economize in our war expenditures the most brilliant financial sensation carmay war may bea be able bleto to create will not insure the exclusion of our enemies from the fatherland on another phase of the subject he said the days of war waged by cabinets are past the elements that no now w threaten peace are i found among the people of the class classes es less favored by fortune abroad these dangerous elements are producing everywhere discontent and thoy they in kiy ty at any moment precipitate war even against the will of the government for a government not to lo be strong enough to OP oppose one the passions of the people and te the endeavors of parties constitutes a permanent danger of war when the war that for the past decade has hung like sword over our heads at last breaks out its duration no one will be able to foresee it might be a seven years war or even a thirty years war woe to him who sets it in motion 79 these words from such a man as von moltke conceded to lie he one of the greatest military strategists of any age have a deep significance it is true thit that cabinets have ceased to inaugurate war had this not been so the strains to which the relations of different countries of europe with each other have been subjected during the last few years could not have been endured without war so perfect has bas european diplomacy become that in the fac of causes imminently provocative of a conflagration it has been fur for many years past able to bring influences and offsets to bear in the proper quarters which have had the effect to prevent open ruptures the danger banger which threatens europe today is not teat some ambi alous potentate or minister or some scheming cabinet will precipitate a war the peril in the face of which crown wearers bearers are trembling is the moot mont appalling that can menace any government it consists in the disposition not to say determination of the people to rise with one accord and suddenly relegate to the domain of the put past existing social and political systems von moltke knows that the fear of or reverence for the army has been the security of thrones in all ages and the only means which even his sagacity can suggest to keep the people down and the ruling classes where they are is to put as many of the former in the army as possible the moral effect of military discipline on the recruits will strongly tend to impress them with the necessity of maintaining law an and korder order and to counteract socialistic ideas and influences this policy will make the army so much the stronger and consequently more awe inspiring again the masses will feel more reluctant aut to precipitate a conflict between themselves and the soldiery which will embrace so many of their fathers brothers bothers and sons SOBS the last three sentences quoted from van moltke read like a dismal prophecy the fulfilment fulfillment of which is assumed to be sure and near he seems to regard as inevitable the breaking out of a war under conditions which insure its long continuance and sweeping destructiveness but liow how long it will last or how near it will come to consuming europe he be la is entirely tit unable to surmise so extensive will it be according to the signs of the times as he reads them the fulfilment fulfillment of the predictions by joseph the seer uttered by inspiration in relation to modern wars can now be plainly foreseen as the time for verification ap approaches preaches |
