The Military Preparations of France and Germany.
THERE will be little love lost between France and Germany while they stand, as it were, eyeing each other, with every muscle in full tension, and each expecting any moment to be clutched by the throat. It is no secret that the warlike preparations of Germany are incessant. The Prussian Military Gazette affirms with pride that the army has not rested on its laurels, that it has shown extraordinary activity in repairing its losses, and that the reorganization made necessary by German unity has been fully carried out. It adds that all the supplies that existed before the war have been so far restored that the army could march into the field at once, in the fullest state of preparation. It might have been supposed, after the Herculean efforts of the campaign that ended at Paris, when that famous young lieutenant, the first German soldier to enter the fallen capital, rode through the Barriere de l’Etoile, that the victorious army would settle into a long rest. Relaxation, at least, might have been looked for, a slackening of the gyves of discipline, a laying aside of the spiked helmet for the undress cap of ease. But no such dalliance is permitted under Bismarck and Von Moltke. What, in fact, happened after the conclusion of hostilities was that all those vast masses of infantry were immediately put through a regular course of musketry drill; and that soon after, during last autumn, the artillery were subjected to a like discipline, going through elaborate special maneuvers, as if in the face of the enemy. In the military107schools, seven hundred cadets were trained during the past year. The new school at Metz is to open during the present quarter. All departments of the military organization have been the subjects of assiduous study. In some, important changes have been made. Experiments are constantly in progress looking to still further improvements. This applies not only to matters of organization, but to the various weapons. Rumors of inventions that supersede by surpassing all other contrivances for the same purpose, are always abundant. These stories are often ill-founded, and we all remember how far short the mitrailleurs and the Chassepots fell of the withering execution expected of them. But we may be sure that the eminently sagacious persons in charge of the German army will leave no stone unturned to place it at the highest attainable point of efficiency in this, as in all other respects. The anxiety of President Thiers to do no less for the army of France has not been concealed. The onerous weight of taxation has been augmented enormously to maintain a military strength, which, on any other hypothesis than an impending war, the French people ought not to be asked to pay for. When we compare this with the instant relief enjoyed by the people of the United States directly after the Confederate flag was struck, we have fresh reasons to bless the ocean that rolls between America and Europe, as well as the institutions whose perpetuity that fact does so much to assure. The disposable French Army amounts to eight hundred thousand men, or about one fortieth of the whole present population; and this huge force has to be paid, fed, and clothed by the nation, which likewise has to meet the German indemnity. Meanwhile, more money than France can afford to spend is going for the fortifications. Of course, if the alternative is subjugation, she must afford to spend it; and there is no other inference to be drawn from what is going on. Paris is being made stronger than ever. Arrangements have been made to dismantle and raze the whole southern system of forts. It has become clear that they were an element of weakness, not of strength. Hence Bicêtre, d’Ivry, de Montrouge, d’Issy, and de Vanvres are all to disappear. But far in front of them will rise a new line of strongholds. Those who come to besiege Paris again will find a remarkable change. The high ground whence the forts named were pounded at by the Prussian guns will be occupied by new works of defense. All the elevated plateau between Vitry and Villejuif, and the hills of Bagneaux, Chatillon, Clamart, and Cachan will be crested with guns of vast range and power. Indeed, the future bombardment of Paris from the south will be made almost impossible. What is in progress at the capital is in progress or in contemplation elsewhere. The salient strategic points have all received anxious attention, and the reorganization of the army on the new system is to a considerable extent carried out. In no long time France can become, at a word, almost one vast camp. Even now, stripped of money and of territory as she is, her mere military strength is far greater than when the eagles of Napoleon III. were first turned toward the Rhine. However all this vast outlay on both sides may be regretted, it is doubtless, under existing circumstances, inevitable. That it stimulates the collision it is meant to forestall, is probably equally true. Out of the good-will we bear both these great nations, as well for the sake of humanity at large, we trust that collision may be long averted; but all the precedents of history, and the present relative position of the two nations, admonish us that sooner or later it is morally certain to come.