STORM CENTRE OF EUROPE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 919, 12 September 1910, Page 7

STORM CENTRE OF EUROPE.

GERMAN WAR PREPARATIONS. SUPPOSED MILITARY RAILWAY INTO BELGIUM. FRANCE PERTURBED. By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright London, September 9. The Brussels newspaper "L'Etoilo Beige" states that military circles in France are perturbed over the construction of another line of railway 'from Germany into Belgium. The line is to. run from Malmedy, a few miles over the Prussian border, to Stavelot, in tho province of 'Liege, Belgium.. The route is in the direct line from Berlin to Paris. , It is declared in France that the construction of- the railway cannot be justified on commercial grounds, and that its object is to be deduced from the fact that it is bringing the vast German army camp at Elsenborn, Prussia, into direct communication: with Belgium. The paper adds that General • Langloisj of the French army, contends that the Belgian army would -be inadequate to check any serious aggression from the east.'.

NAVY NEEDED IN NORTH SEA. 'EX-MINISTER'S VIEWS. ' (Rec; September 11, .5.5 p.m.) .--.-'' ..■■■: London, September 10. M. de Lanessan,. who was Minister in the Waldeck-Rousseau Cabinet,' urges that, in,consequence of Germany's •'.. recent preparations, the French navy should be concentrated.in the North Sea, and withdrawn from the Mediterranean: M. de'Lanessan considers this to be particularly desirable'in view of the understanding with Great Britain. .-■''. - -GERMANY AND THE LOW .COUNTRIES. Last week it was cabled-that Holland' proposed to, spend .£3,000,000 on i.. her coastal defences, and that; it was alleged she did. so under pressure from Germany. iGermany -has long been credited with a desire to possess Holland and Belgium, and it is. generally, considered that tho independence of Holland, at any rate, would not long survive .a war in which Germany was victorious. The neutrality of: Belgium, was guaranteed by the Treaty of London of .1831, which was signed by Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, and Russia. Writing in a recent number of . the "Nineteenth Century" oh the subject, Captain Cecil Battine said:— ' The Direct Route. "A/straight line drawn from Berlin to Paris not only traverses tho territory of. Belgium,, .but approximately, follows through-- German territory the main line .of rail and road which must he followed by:the greater part of the German.troops available .for. war with.France. The for-' tified"line of the. Meuso.bars the ! progress of the Germans in any attempt to mvade. France from Strasburg and Metz. 'While.it is certain that the.Prussian authorities face the possibility of- having re recast thoir scheme of concentration according to the circumstances which may arise.. on the outbreak ,of wax .'with France,'. ■ yet. everything . indicates: the .probability. of: large . German forces attempting to; turn'-the French barrier forts on the ; Mease : by: crossing Belgian ternor is it a secret that the GermjmTloYororaent; haa'already assured tho ; Belgian jthat, should such a necessity unfortunately be 'forced upon the German authorities, yet :the■ passage of 'troops through"'the . country-'would be 'but a temporary. expedient, and thai Belgian independence 16 safe, -provided only that Belgian neutrality- is maintained in the war.: The development of, the German railways debouching on: tho Belgian territory and the Meuse Valley, tho sidings for detraining troops, and other preparations, left'no, doubtthat the/ alternative of' marching- through Belgian territory was being oarefully arranged for by thb Prussian General: Staff. Since concealment;, was no longer possible,', nothing remained' but» explanation to soothe Belgian, susceptibilities;

With France. Attacking. ; : "For tie moment, and bo long as she remains ' on the defensive, France : has every interest in supporting strict recognition of. the inviolability of'--.. Belgian territory, thereby.'narrowing the frontier exposed to German attack, and compelling the invader to negotiate the Meuse foTts, and to .move out of direct line which covers his own capital and ; base. If, however,. ciroumstancee changed so as to enable the French to resume the attacking, role, it would be even more advantageous to their strategy to uso Belgium as' an' advanced: base against Germany than it is nowadays for Germany against; France; because. this line of attack avoids the fortified zones which bar the' Moselle Valley and which'-'hinder :tho passage of the broad Rhine. A direct morch.on Berlin by the main, line of, railway also skirts the 'comparatively barren' hill country of the. interior,. and falls at once upon the most important, industrial centre of Germany, the occupation of which 'by ■ the enemy would itself be a : grave disaster aft'ectSjg. the power of Germany for prolonged resistance." .... : ;''.