THE WAR SCARE IN EUROPE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3621, 19 February 1883, Page 4

THE WAR SCARE IN EUROPE.

Europe has been agitated during the past month by an international scare. A fortnight ago there was published in a Berlin paper a treaty between Austria and Germany, drawn up three years ago. Each of the Powers bound itself to consider the strength of the other as its own. If, for example, Russia were to assume a menacing attitude by centreing troops on her frontiers, Austria and Germany would be obliged to, or at least might send a joint protest, and afterwards proceed to military nieasures. A little before these details transpired, M. de Giers had been visiting the principal Continental Courts, and Prince Lobanoff had been courteously received at Vienna by Count Kalnoky. It was explained that the object of the publication of the Treaty was the wish of Germany—that is to say, of Prince Bismarck — to remind Europe generally, and Russia in particular, that there existed an understanding between the two German Empires which would render it difficult for any State- to attempt to take cither. It was simultaneously stated that Russia was meditating an invasion of Germany, that shewas constructing eight lines of military railway on her western frontier, and that blic was endeavoring to detach Austria from the German alliance. Further we were told that a Russian army of 420,000 men was ready for the invasion of Galicia, and that two entrenched camps were being formed at Warsaw and Grodno. These alarming rumors, which were probably invented i'or Stock Exchange purposes, had a great eii'ect in several European capitals, and produced almost a financial panic at Vienna and Pesth. The whole story may bo dismissed as an invention. M. Blowitz, the Paris correspondent of the Times, may be mentioned as responsible for the circulation of the fiction, and ho had no other material for his story than the impression of the probable wishes of Germany. Prince Bismarck, he assumes, is anxious to prevent a combination between Russia and France. If, he concludes, Germany were to attack Russia now, France Avould not interfere. If, on the oilier hand, Germany were to do so later, France probably would. As a matter of fact, Prince Bismarck has as little thought of precipitating hostilities against Russia, as Russia has of marching her battalions into Germany. As for the latter report, it is an obvious deduction from the idea that Russia, convinced that war between herself and Germany was inevitable, had resolved to take the initiative.