It is believed that Prince Bismarck is growing anxious as
to the supreme command in Germany in the event of war. The Emperor is far too old to lead his troops in person, the Crown Prince is far too ill, and Prince William, the next heir, holds no definite position. It might happen, therefore, in a most serious emergency, that the Hohenzollern family had no competent representative. The Crown Prince, according to a Reuter's telegram from Berlin, published in the Times in large type, has accordingly been asked to consent to an arrangement whereby," in certain contingencies," a Regent would be appointed. The Crown Prince, however, after consulting with those " competent to advise," has declined the proposal. Everything, therefore, remains as before; but if the Crown Prince does not rapidly recover, which is most improbable, the proposal will be made again, possibly, if the emergency is acute, under circumstances admitting of no refusaL There is great dread of this necessity among the family and friends of the Crown Prince, and this is one reason of the contradictory telegrams about his health, and of the fluctuations, in the Berlin view, as to the possibility of war. Providence cannot be resisted; but if the Prince lives, it is of high moment to all around him that he should be Emperor, if only for a week.
