The popular party both in Germany and Austria is greatly
excited by new demands from the Ministries of War. It is stated that the sums asked by General Verdy du Vernois, now head of the German Army, for more men (54,000 in all), more batteries, and some strategic railways, will add 60,000,000 marks, or £3,000,000, a year to the permanent annual expendi- ture on military objects. The Military Committee of the Reichstag has yielded, but the Finance Committee is aghast, and the Liberals will resist fiercely. In Austria, the Emperor has said that, though all looks peaceful, he must keep step with his ally, and it appears, from questions asked by the Delegates, that the consequent increase of outlay will not be less than £2,000,000 a year. The minority in both Parliaments of the Empire are furious, and there will be a great development of Radical opposition. So great, indeed, is the pressure, that, in spite of difficulties mentioned elsewhere, we half expect proposals in both Empires to treat the new demands as extras, and provide for them by open loans distributed over ten years. In other words, the situation would be treated as one of imperfect war.
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