BREAKERS AHEAD.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 31, 27 May 1876, Page 2

BREAKERS AHEAD.

Whilst the most peace-breathing protestations are being exchanged between the nations of Europej.it is stated that each has his eye on his neighbour, that armaments are being.urged on as if each were looking forward to a war of extermination, and that friends talk to each other as though they were about to become foes. A French correspondent of the Melbourne "Argus" relates an anecdote touching a conversation held between the King of Prussia and an Ambassador:—"Let us for a moment forget," said His- Prussian Majesty,/' that I am a King, and you ai*e an Ambassador of Russia, and let us inquire of each other whether our two nations, friendly as they-are now and for ever, should they by any" 'cause impossible to foresee fall into' a quarrel—whether, I say, they would wage war on each other, and how would the war : be. carried on V You are a general, and the matter must have occupied your thoughts more than once. I have thought of it many a time. Come now, let us lay down, a plan." It could not be anything else than a simple subject of conversation, a mere game tu while away the time. The contingency alluded to by the King was, as he said, an utter impossibility. However, a table was brought, and two maps were spread put thereon —a map of Prussia and a map- of Russia —marches and counter-marches, so to speak, chalked out upon them, and comparisons drawn between the musket, artillery, and cavalry of the two nations. "Prussia possesses - the best artillery in Europe." "True, Sire, so Sadowa has shown." "And the fate of battles is decided by artillery." After having shown how he proposed to move his guns about when once on Russian soil : '' I can easily see where the war would be carried on.'' Then said the Russian statesman mildly, "But I don't see where peace would be made. Yoii may get into Moscow, Sire, but you must remember that you cannot get out of it." The King laughingly replied: "But we are only talking now of mimic warfare." " Let us hope," said tiie statesman, "that we shall never know any other." Meanwhile the study of the Russian language has been declared compulsory throughout all the military schools in Prussia, as the study of French was before 1870 ; and no Prussian officer, it is said, is to be met with who lias not a map in his pocket of the Baltic provinces of Russia, as formerly he had about him a map of the north and east of France. . ■ .