The German military authorities appear to fear that the new
military organisation of France will place a larger force at the dis- posal of Marshal MacMahon than Germany can summon for defence. The Emperor has therefore laid before the Federal Council a Bill by which he is empowered to organise and summon the Landsturm — that is:, all able-bodied men within the Empire, to place them under military law, and even' to include them in the Landwehr. Should this astounding- proposal be accepted, the whole nation will be at the disposal of the Commander-in-Chief for war, and he will be able to fill up the gaps in the Landwehr by calling out the younger ranks of the Landsturm. For instance, supposing the Army and Landwehr insufficient, he can call all men aged thirty-three and thirty-four from the Landsturm, placing thein in the regularly organised ranks of the Landwehr. That is, as some 600,000 men in Germany attain those years in any given year, he can add, say, 500,00a effective and well-drilled privates to his Reserve by a mere decree. The cadres for them will be all ready.
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