The German parties have not yet come to a vote
on the Army Bill, and though the Committee which represents them is more hostile than ever, that Committee consists of picked Members. The question is how the rank-and-file will vote when confronted with the iron resolution of the Government, and the immense responsibility of refusing soldiers declared by the experts to be indispensable. We still think they will shrink, more especially as the Government has at last nearly made the concession that the voters care about. Count Caprivi on Thursday more than hinted that if the needful forces were voted, the allied Governments would reconsider the objection to make the two years' service for unmounted men statutory instead of customary. If they do, and it comes to a Dissolu- tion, the peasantry will smash the different fractions of the Opposition.
