The Prospect of War in Europe.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6237, 9 June 1890, Page 3

The Prospect of War in Europe.

M. John Lemoinne in the Paris Matin gives his views on the poor prospects of peace in Europe. In spite of all the pacific from thrones, he says the situation has not changed. The nations continue to prepare for the great and inevitable liquidation. The eminent German Professor Virchow told his electors the other day that he would renew his proposition for a general disarmament, and added that it was impossible for the people of .Europe to continue as they are. '‘lt is true," says M. Lemoinne, “there must be a solution, but unfortunately that solution will not be disarmament. The nations must come to a plain explanation of their intentions. Then they will rush at each other, and the combat will finish when there are no more combatants, when the human race will be bled white, and, ashamed, horrified, and exhausted, it will at least be forced to repose. To-day people think only of one thing, and that is the best and surest method of butchering each other. The coming great melds of humanity is getting to be more and more indescribable; It will bo nothing like the pretty little battles of old times, which will appear like mere duels when compared with the war that is coming. When I hear the Due d’Aumale describe so elegantly the fights of Turenne and Conde with their little army corps I say to myself that they were small affairs, in which each individual engaged had his share. But to-day where will the individual be ? Lost completely iu the great avalanches of slaughter. Our much vaunted civilisation will certainly have good reason to recoil in horror ; but, for all that, we must not deceive ourselves. The war will come ;itis as certain as death. We may try to put it off as far as possible ; but it will have its day, its hour, although we may try to put it off till the morrow. Let us then, be ready for it, always ready."