FATHERLAND'S SCHEME REGARDED AS SLAP AT FRANCE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXX, Issue 13069, 8 May 1913, Page 3

FATHERLAND'S SCHEME REGARDED AS SLAP AT FRANCE.

LONDON, March 31. The Paris Journal describes Germany's new airship expenditure as a sudden slap m the f ace for France. Wliat ii now certain is that the German Government means to spend from £60,--000,000 to £66,000,000 m extending its armaments between now and the end of 1916. Incidentally tbe expenditure 'means, an "addition of 63,000 recruits yearly to the vast host that Germany already commands. The Times comments as follows : "The plans have been thought out carefully, ;;r>d the whole object of them is to enable Germany to strike at her own moment m a more ponderous, and more prompt fashion. These plans impose upon all Germany's neighbors, and emphatically upon ourselves, the need of constant and intelligent viligance. Those neighbors are all bound by the commonest dictates of prudence to consider their defences m view of the great change m the balance of power which this new development m German armaments will bring about. They are not less bound to take at once whatever/ steps are needful ' to make ; our defences efficient m the wholly new circumstances by which we are now confronted." The Temps and other' Paris journals sco such significance m the fact ithat the German armaments increase will be effective really on October 1 of this year, instead of on March 31, of 1916. They, ask what is the meaning of this feverish haste. No one, official or -otherwise, believes that the German measures are purely and simply defensive, and almost every Frenchman moves under the shadow of foreboding.