FRANCE AND GERMANY.

Western Star, Issue 1291, 24 February 1897, Page 1

FRANCE AND GERMANY.

The publication of the official announcement* that the French Council of had decided to create 145 new battalions of infantry and to rearm the French artillery with quick-firing guns was followed by the initiation or a campaign (for which the semi-official ‘Cologne Gazette’ and the ‘Hamburger Nachrichten’ are largely responsible) having for its objective point the strengthening of the German defences and increasing her effective fighting power. It was pointed out in veryvigorous language that France, under her new system, would have 105 more battalions on _ a peace footing than Germany, and the ““Press urged that the Fatherland must be thoroughly roused to the the danger of the situation! Bismarck’s organs had an article, said to have been written by a high; officer of of the general staff, in, winch it was hinted that in the very near future, the German infantry would have to be rearmed with more effective magazine rifles aud the system of fortifications reorganised. Germany’s answer to France’s forward move will be; the. expenditure of 560,000,000 marks (about £13,000,000) oh equipping her armies with new Krupp quick-firing guns, and the navy is to be? similarly equipped, new guns being supplied to both new and old vessels. -And the peace footing of army is.td bo increased, so as to bring* the two nations within sight of each other in that . respect.