GERMANY'S DISADVANTAGES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2274, 7 October 1914, Page 6

GERMANY'S DISADVANTAGES

EXTRACTS FROM AN OFFICIAL REPORT. The "Republique Francaise" published on .August 21 the first extract from a secret report drafted by the German Government in 1893 at the moment when it was endeavouring to carry through tho Reichstag a. Bill providing for an important increase of ■ its land forces. Tho report begins with a long speech bv tho Chanocellor, who explained, the' necessity of the Bill by tho situation of Germany from the point of view of foreign politics. At that- moment, naturally enough, he considers tho possibility of tho Triple Alliance being op-, posed by only France and, Russia. He lays stress on the disadvantageous character of tliß German frontiers. He argues that the troops at the disposal of the Triple Alliance are inferior /by a million to the united arms of Russia and France. Quality might make up for quantity,' hut the reserve divisions of Russia and Franco are superior to those of Germany. Moreover, in a way, Austria and Italy dp not risk their all. Germany, on the contrary, stakes her very existence. History has shown thot Germany must take the offensive, hut tho offensive necessitates considerable numerical superiority. "Wo cannot march," ho says, "on Pans, and afterwards turn back against Russia, Only a fortnight or three week's march separate Berlin from the Eastern frontier of Germany. In any case, a short war is a necessity for Germany, as she has neither the wealth of France nor the insonsibilcy which Russia derives from her re'sorvo forces. "Wo must for a long time, ho concludes, ."deprive our enemy of the desire of reopening tho. struggle. .