The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1886.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 298, 18 December 1886, Page 2

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1886.

For the cei>»e th-.t lacks assistance, For the wrong that needi resistance, for the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

The refusal of the German Parliament to ratify the Government proposals for a seven years' military vote and an increase in the peace strength of the army to 4G5,000, is a declaration of the wish of the nation for peace. But the Reiuhstag, while exhibiting to Europe a worthy spirit of non-aggressiveness, has

also shown that Germanys although anxious to throw olf Iho terrible burJen imposed by militaryistn, is yet resolved at any sacrifice to maintain the prestige of tho Empire. The numerical strength of the army oil a peace footing has beeii raised, from -127,271 mell to ■150,000. A vote of 7,000,000 marks for fortifications on the frontier was asked, to meet the new methods of attack, and no doubt this request will be granted. The general increase of armaineiits on the continent tells of the deep-seated unrest and the pi'evailing insecurity. Franco has a fixed policy which centres in the national resolve to reverse the results of the war of 1870-71, and recover tho lost Provinces. Tho continuous activity in the French military establishments, and the manifest endeavour to cement an alliance with Russia by showing a complaisant indifference to the Czar's intrigues in the Balkans, have aroused Germany to the danger of tho situation, and Russia begins to perccivo that German suspicions are quickened, and wishful to avoid the menace of an alliance between Germany, Austria, and England, in her schemes, is now doing her utmost to reassure Germany of the undying friendship that exists between the two nations. Bismarck, however, is too astute to trust the interests of Germany to any sentimental professions. He believes that tho best guarantee of peace and security is a numerous and ciliuient army; and though he might, perhaps, be willing to bargain for a new partition of Europe, if Germany could thereby increase her seaboard, wo believe ho is not indifferent to tho interests of Austria, nor friendly to the ambitious schemes of his colossal neighbour. The more moderate tone which Russia has latterly been assuming towards Bulgaria, and the abandonment of the military occupation, which was at one time threatened, is probably due to a growing conviction in the minds

of Muscovite statesmen, that Russia's appearance as a disturber of tho peace of Europe just now, even if aided by a French alliance, would be the means of consolidating all tho other Great Powers against her. Against such a combination her prospects of gain would be small, and she might perchance lose the fruits of her last war with Turkey.