NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE Reichstag listened on Wednesday with a kind of awe to what may prove the last speech of Count von Moltke, Who in October will be ninety years of age. The great strategist spoke clearly and firmly, and his words in support of the new Army Bill produced a profound and most painful impression. The era of "Cabinet wars" was, he said, over, and Govern- ments all desired peace ; but there would be wars, for the nationalities were ambitious and discontented with the present state of things. Where Governments were weak, the peoples would force on war, and "for a long time past, only the sword has kept the sword in its sheath." These wars, too, would be long, /or the great nations, armed as they were, could not be defeated in one or two campaigns, and Germany might see again the Seven Years' War, or even the Thirty Years' War. He entirely admitted the bad financial effect of such expenditure on prepara- tions; but if the enemy once entered, civilisation might be at stake, and the plunderings of the Napoleonic wars be renewed. The "pacific assurances of our two neighbours, East and West, are of great value," "but their warlike preparations go on without stay or pause." When the old Field-Marshal sat down, it was felt on all sides that the Bill had been carried.
