THE SPECTRE OF THE FRANCOGERMAN WAR.

Lake County Press, Issue 2136, 20 September 1906, Page 2

THE SPECTRE OF THE FRANCOGERMAN WAR.

In n review of the Kuropean situation the "Spectator " says that grave apprehension as lo the future is entertained in Paris, not merely by "the man in the streets," but by persons of knowledge and respobsibility, and adds that many well-in-formed Frenchmen actually believe that the Cermans have decided to attack them, and that they will be attacked with all the suddenness and overwhelming force that modern military organisation renders possible. A review of the military situation shows that lit.- French Army was never more formidable that it is at this moment, and this fact the French people have come to uivrierstand. In the summer they were haunted by the feeling that they were unprepared. They know now that their preparations are as complete as those of Germany.

Franco is as intensely pacific as over, and it is not too much to say thai there is not now to be found nn.v body of Frenchmen who would ogard a war with anything but profound regret. If war comes there will he no shouting of "A Merlin," • >nt only a dour determination to nrotei-1 the saf<>t.\ rutri honour of France." The "Spectator " points out that as long as France does her best to pres.«rve peace. (Jreat Hrilain wdl stam! 1.,\ her. "We believe," it adds. "that it was (he kn< w'ledgc that (bough we shonbl be most unwilling to go i, war uiili (Jei-mariv—-the lb-it ish people look with the 'inmost horror upon a war with a nation which (bey ivsm.,-t ami admire and would fain he on friendly terms wilh—we should. nevertheless, fight to defend France from an unprovoked attack which last summer saved Europe from war." , loifl.)