THE INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK

Southland Times, Issue 16839, 15 September 1911, Page 5

THE INTERNATIONAL OUTLOOK

BELGIAN PRECAUTIONS. [By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. ] BRUSSELS, Sept. 14. Received Sept. 14, 10.30 p.m. Belgian time-expired soldiers will be retained with the colours until further notice. A MORE HOPEFUL FEELING. • LONDON, Sept. 13. There is a more hopeful feeling In financial circles in London, Berlin, arid Paris respecting Morocco. SPANIARDS REPULSE MOORS. MADRID, Sept. 13. An attack by Moors on Spanish outposts at Kert River, near Mellila, was repulsed. Three Spanish officers and thirteen men were killed. The enemy lost • seventy-six killed and many wounded. FRENCH FORCE BELEAGUERED. PARIS. Sept. 14. Tribesmen have beleaguered Lieutenant Hugo Dervllle and six hundred Sherifian troops at Sefru. Communication with Fez is cut off. Colonel Bremond with a force of fifteen hundred has quitted Fez to relieve Sefru. FRANCE’S SPIRIT. CALM BUT WATCHFUL. Writing on July 29th, the Paris correspondent of the “Daily Express” said; —“This is not the first occasion, by many since the, war of 1870, on which Frenchmen have seen before them the bogey of another war with Germany. But I never remember, them to have taken their precautions so quietly, so philosophically, and so systematically as they have taken them In this year of the heat wave of 3 911. “On former occasions, as a matter of fact, they took no precautions at all. They were told In diplomatic language ‘Germany does not like this, insists on that, and if she gets no satisfaction you had best take care.’ The result was hysteria, but this year the result of the bogey’s appearance has been very different.; Nurse Entente Cordiale is there to keep Mademoiselle La Republique from over-excitement, and Mademoiselle La Republique has shrugged her pretty shoulders at the grimaces of the bogey-man. But she Is not treating the German attitude with mere contempt; she knows that would be foolish, and quietly, practically, and openly in the full light of day, so that Germany should see what she is doing, she has made her ' arrangements in crise there should be trouble. “The first to step Into the breach was little M. Delcasse. He has nothing to do with foreign affairs now as he had when the bogey-man rattled his chains the last time, hut he controls the navy, and his by-word is, ‘Aye, aye, sir, we are quite ready.’ There was no fuss, there was no excitement.” When the crisis occurred, M. Delcasse decided to go on a tour of inspection. “He has made his tour of Inspection, and found the result eminently satisfactory. When the situation has calmed down, I dare say that one of the reasons for the calm will be because M. Delcaese’s trip did look well in the papers. He did more than merely inspect, too. I have heard from several navy men during the last week or two that M. Delcasse astonished everybody by hie wonderful grip of detail and his really technical knowledge of naval matters. “And while M. Delcasse was tightening the,screws of the navy machine, his colleagues put on their considering caps, and came’to the conclusion that it would do no -harm • for Germany, to see that France had a practical man at the head of her army. The Commander-In-Chief of the French army was' on Thursday night General Michel. Late that evening General Michel was removed < from the post and General Joffre appointed to take his place. At the Cabinet Council of Friday the new Commander-In-Chief’s appointment was signed, and the army of France got a strong man at Its head. "There is no Chauvinism about France’s preparations. France does not want 'to fight. But those who govern France were anxious to show England, the friend, and Germany, -the possible enemy, that her defences were 1 well oiled and in good working order. They have done so speedily and rather well.”