GERMAN READINESS FOB WAR

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 8004, 17 March 1888, Page 3

GERMAN READINESS FOB WAR

A correspondent of the jWii 1 York World, writing from Met?,, says : — I have spent the last four or live days in the west of Germany and in Alsace-Loriaiue. I have been along the danger line of the frontier between France and Germany. 1 have hud an opportunity of talking wilh a large number of people, both (ieriuiin and French, and have learned more about the thoroughness of the German military preparations than is generally known or suspected. 1 have also been through Belgium, along the line of route where it has been thought the German army might march on its road to France. The city of Antwerp, which lies in the direct path of this march, is very strongly fortified. The Belgians all believe that their territory will be in danger in the event of a war between France tint! Germany, and are constantly strengthening their military fortifications in the neighborhood of Antwerp. But it was on the line of the Franco-German frontier that I saw for the first time in my life an army upon an actual wnr footing. The Germans arc working there as hard at this time as if war were actually declared. There is the same incessant drill, the same vigilance of patrols, and Ill's constant activity of an army with a dangerous enemy very near at hand. Metz is one of the most strongly fortified cities in Europe. It is impregnable to-day against any army that France could bring against it. I have been all around this city and have been able to pass along under the fortifications and to note their multiplicity and strength. No civilian has the right to ascend even ono of the lowest of the battlements. Only the mosl trusted of the German superior officers have the privilege of moving around freely through these breastworks. There are but few even among tho German officers at Metz who know the exact character and extent of these defences. Metz is entirely surrounded by tremendous w,ftlls of earth and masonry, varying in thickness from 30 to 60 feet. The principal wall passes entirely around the town in an unbroken line, being pierced only by passage gates. These walls are stren_tliened by deep moats. There are three moats passing entirely around the city. These are from 20 to 30 feet wide, and aie filled with. water. In front of each moat | is a frieze of jagged wood and a hedgerow of such strength as to make an impassible barrier without cutting. The capturing of one line of fortifications could only be done under concentrated fire of the forts in the neighborhood and the further inlying defences. Tho passing of one barrier would be meioly a beginning. The great heights around Metz are covered with forts. There are nfho in tho immediate neighborhood. The greatest height is occupied by Fort St. Quentin. This is absolutely as impregnable as the heights at Khienbreitstein, on the Rhine. This fort stands upon a high peak w hich rises alone from a wide-spread plain. This plain is undulating, green, and luxuriant in color. The height rises abruptly from this, a rocky mass, as if it were specially prepared by the hand of nature for a fortress lo command the plain. "With the tremendous armament attached to this fort no army could approach Metz from France without being utterly destroyed unless St. Quentin could be first silenced or captured. It commands the country to the rivor "Mc-elle. Upon its right, between it and Met/., is the tremendous fort of Frictlrich Karl, and upon its north is Fort Plappeville. In addition lo these forts, which absolutely Har the road leading lo Germany, there" is no elevation near the city which is not occupied by strong modern militaiy defences. Once inside the city of Metz you find discipline, bard warY, and the result* of a perfect military system. Fully half the people you see on tlie street-*! aro soldier.*.. In the city of Metz to-day there are 20,000 men. Along the frontier, in positions where they can be concentrated upon the border within twenty-four hours, there are over 200,000 men. In time ot peace the 'confinement of so large a number of

men as arc at Metz within such circumscribed quarters would simply result iv license, idleness, and dissipation. But there is nothing of the sort to be s-een at Metz. The men arc too constantly occupied. The private soldiers are turned out at 1 o'clock in the morning, lt is drill, drill from morning till night. The men are marched and counter-marched. They aro exercised in every form of evolution which could bn employed in actual war. The officer.-, are constantly scouring the country, hunting up new difficulties to teach tlieir men to overcome by preliminary drill. Such discipline, such subordination, I do not think was ever surpassed in nny army. The officers wear their uniforms constantly. It is a broach of discipline, and of the most serious character, for them to appear in public in civilian dress. Those officers have no time for social hospitalities. They never make calls or accept invitations, except among themselves. There is very littlo entertaining even among the officers on the border, They tire too occupied with their military duties, in the perfecting of thli tremendous military machine which each day grows more aud more formidable.