WARLIKE INDICATIONS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1466, 26 January 1887, Page 3

WARLIKE INDICATIONS.

Day after day the clouds gather in Europe, and little by little intelligence comes to hand which presages an early outbreak of the storm. Piecing to gether the omiuous scraps of news which reach us from different directions, it is impossible to arrive at any other conclusion than that in more quarters than one hostilities are imminent. The enormous preparations of Russia, the immense efforts which she is makir>g to complete her military railway Eastward, as well as her active interference in the affairs of Bulgaria, all point to the anticipation on hee part that ia the attempted fulfilment of her designs she will find the Lion in her path; while the recent utterances of Lord Salisbury and Count Kalnoky as plainly indicate the probability or England and Austria standing shoulder to shoulder. Emphasis is given to the latter by the fact that Sir Drummond Wolfe, who has just been despatched on a special embassy to Stamboul (doubtless in view of the peculiar attitude recently assumed by the Porte) has instructions to call at Vienna en route. While these significant movements are taking place in one direction, the situation as between France and Germany is still moie ominous. On the one hand we read of large purchases of timber by the French authorities on the frontier of Alsace — no doubt, as the North German Gazette asserts, with the object of building huts for troops, the explanation of the French that the timber is wanted for the Paris Exhibition being obviously altogether " too thin" — while on the oiher, it is announced from Berlin, that in consequence of the large purchases of horses for military purposes by the Government, it is proposed to prohibit the exportation of horses from Germany. What this means is evidently readily comprehended in the chief cities of Europe, as it is said to have produced a marked depression on the Continental bourses. France is equally on the alert in the same direction, the Government having purchased many thousand remounts in Denmark, Mecklenberg, and Westphalia, and preparations being actively in progress for frontier camps. Indeed it becomes day by day increasingly apparent that as between France and Germany matters have reached a state of tension which cannot long be maintained, and that the impending struggle cannot long be postponed. But France is threatened with danger from anotherquarter also,ltaly'sattitude towards her being regarded as menacing, and it may, we think, be taken for granted that war between France and Germany would be the signal for an attempt on the part of Italy to recover Savoy. In such case, France, unaidefl by any other Power, would be seriously overmatched, and the triumph of the Germano-Italian alliance might be regarded as an ultimate certainty. But would France be left alone in the struggle ? At present it looks as though she would, but it is impossible to predict how it may suit Russia to play her cards, and it is even yet possible that Russia and France may be found in active aliiance. In that case the greatest war that Europe has ever seen will be witnessed — one whose results must bear an important part in the history of Empires. The situation is fraught with the most tremendous potentialities, and cannot but be watched even at this distance from the theatre of action with the most absorbing interest.