FRANCE AND GERMANY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2707, 31 January 1906, Page 23

FRANCE AND GERMANY.

MILITARY PREPARATIONS ON THE FRONTIER. ("R.M S. Ventura, at Auckland.) BERLIN, January 3. The Railway Administration placed orders last week for 20,000 freight cars with the manufacturers of five countries, stipulating for delivery by the middle of February. Besides utilising the car works of Germany, contracts were distributed among makers in Belgium. Holland, Switzerland, and Italy, which would not have been done unless tome reasons for baste existed. Inquiries made regarding the -<>a=ons for urgency resulted obfcainine raent that the ordering of the cars a. precautionary measure, the general staff desiring to be ready to move troops, if necessary, by March 1. This is only a proper measure of prudence, it wag asserted, in view of the extensive military preparations going on in France, which, among other dispositions, include a movement toward the German, frontier of six regiments of artillery, or 180 guns. The ordering of these freight cars, each of which would accommodate 40 soldiers, or would enable the authorities to transport material, is only owing to French preparations, and must not be taken to indicate any hostile design on the part of Germany, whose peaceful intentions remain unchanged. The step taken is due to a conviction, long held and acted xinnn. iuare, that the best prese_«

vative of peace is complete preparedness for any eventuality. The word " war " ia not used, because such word in itself would be a provocation, and every interest, both.' in and outside the Government, shrinks from such a possibility, unless it be a smalJl group of military men. The Government will probably regret tho publication of this intelligence, but its transmission seems neeeasarv f •> proper understanding oi the drift oi events, and of how both France and Germany are strengthening their diplomatic position on the eve of the Moroccan Conference by material preparations. No doubt r exists here that French' and German policies will differ in the conference on the question of policing th« Morocco-Algerian frontier, and on som« less important questions. PARIS, Ja-nuarv 3. The Ambassador of one of the Powers said to-day that careful inquiry - had convinced hini - that the recent' revival of. French military activity which has given rise to- aJarmist reports was due mainly to the change from the military methods of M. Bertoaux. late Minister of War. to thoso of M. Etienne, the present Minister of War. M. Berteaux belonged '^ the Socialises, whose cardinal principle is opposition to wac and reduction of military expenditure. This naturally resulted in inactivity in military preparation. M. Etienng. oh tile contrary, is not affiliated with the Socialists, bu+ represents the energetic element, which maintains that the country should be prepared to meet - every eventuality. The precipitate resignation of M. Berteaux has brought M.' Etienne in control of the military administration, and he immediately adopted a. - vigorous policy, not for belligerent purposes, but in execution of the general desire to have the army in a perfect state of efficiency. He appealed to the Budget Committee "of the Chamber of Deputies for exceptional military credits, details of whicli were discussed behind closed doors, and he also instituted careful inquiry into the requirements of the frontier defences, which the last inspection of General Negrier disclosed to be in a lamentable state of inefficiency. M. Etienne proceeded systematically to remedy these and other defects, thus placing the army and all equipments and defensive works in a proper state of efficiency. This, coming co-incidentally with the Franco-German ssue over Morocco, led to a widespread iimpres s sion thai the military preparations were designed to meet eventualities arising from the Moroccan controversy While Morooco may have accentuated the need for military alertness, the chief cause of the recent military activity is the adoption of M. Etienne's energetic policy of having the army ready to fulfil its functions whenever required.