The Cologne Gazette has obtained a copy, officially admitted to
be accurate, of the paper of " Reasons " for the new mili- tary law before the Federal Council. These reasons are briefly that conscription has been much extended in neighbouring and hostile countries, so that in France the army on a peace footing numbers 519,000 men, and she will have in twenty-five years 4,053,000 trained men ; while in Russia—excluding the army in Asia—rthe peace establishment is 887,000 men, and her army in twenty-three years will include 4,556,000 men. It is indispensable, therefore, for Germany to "absorb every really able-bodied man," and it is proposed to raise her army in peace to 492,000 men (excluding officers), and the annual re- cruiting to 235,000 men, who, however, will serve only two years, so that• in twenty-five years, allowing for ascer- tained waste, she may have at her_ disposal 4,409,000 drilled soldiers. These numbers seem to be in excess of any need ; but, as we have pointed out elsewhere, English opinion does not allow for the belief of German experts that the next war will be a long one, in which whole armies will be used up. The "Reasons" contain no account of the way in which the army of non-commissioned officers now required, which exceeds sixty-six thousand men, is to be obtained, but accord- ing to Renter, the increased outlay will amount to 23,200,000, besides a capital sum of 23,500,000 more for necessary material. It is a dreadful outlook for Europe, even if it be true, as French and Germans entirely believe,_that the regular food and compulsory exercise of the barracks improve the stamina of the whole population.
Previous page
