We still feel confident that the German Military Bill will
pass; but it cannot be denied that its prospects at present are far from bright. The National Liberal Party have deelared in the Reichstag that they cannot accept the Bill without serious alterations ; and the Centre Party, through Herr von Huene and Dr. Lieber, have announced that, unless two con- ditions are granted, they also must reject the Bill. The conditions are, that the two years' term of service shall be- fixed by law, and not be left dependent on the military idea of convenience ; and that the Army shall not be increased in. numbers in time of peace. The Particularist, or Guelph, group- will also vote against the Bill, as will also a group known as- the South German Democratic Party. If these parties. adhered to their resolutions, the Bill would be lost ; but further debate is postponed until after the Christmas recess, and before it is recommenced the Government will,. it is believed, have conciliated both the Centre and the National Liberals. The legal period, it is probable, will be fixed for two years; but the extra force demanded in peace time will not be given up. The object of the latter proposal is, of course, to save expense ; but the Government will be able to show that without it the whole scheme must fail, as its very object is to train a great mass of very young men, and thus enable the Generals, when the emergency arrives, to accumulate a mass of young troops, instead of dislocating society by calling out older men.
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