The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1886. War

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 54, 16 October 1886, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1886. War

♦ A section of the French newspapers which support General Boulaxger, i the present Minister of War in France, predict an early conflict with Germany. In their case the wish is father of the thought. That such a war must come is only natural, but should it commence within the current decade, France will again have to submit to a series of humiliating defeats at the hands of Germany. France has no generals. The subordinate officers of the army are very inferior, and utterly incapable of controlling the men in the ranks. The nation has — like Louis Phillipe — forgotten nothing and learned nothing since the last war. England is beginning to awake to a knowledge of her many deficiencies and general unpreparedness to take part in a naval war. The fact of her guns being out of date, and consequently inadequate to be pitted against those of any other European Power, although patent to ordinary laymen for some years, has at last dawned on the fossils in the War Office. Lord Chaklfs Beresford, a naval Lord of the Admiralty, has addressed a forcible and remarkable memorandum to the Admiralty, severely condemning the smalluess of the number of war ships in commission. Even these are insufficiently provided with coal to put to sea in case of any sudden emergency. He also complained of the tardiness in mobilization. He has given publicity to the fact of no plans being in existence for a campaign. Whether it would be wise to let the enemy — whoever he may be — know we have plans or not, is an open queotion. Lord Charles Beresford advocates the extension of the Intelligence Department in the Navy. We presume this means that more Secret Service money should be voted and expended in the purchase of information as to the movements of other naval powers, whose probable enmity England has to guard against In the memorandum there is strong internal evidence of the spirit of a gallant but fiery sailor, tempered with the prudence of an experienced warrior, who knows what he has to contend against besides the enemy. Whether he will be able to free the navy of the trammels of red tape, which now impede Its progress, is very doubtful, as the " ancients " who now override the young and progressive men in the navy, like so many ' ' Old men of the sea" will only look upon Lord Charles as a young and impetuous boy whose suggestions are to be received with a smile of contemptuous superiority. How- ! ever, as Lord Charles will have the sympathy of a large majority of Englishmen, acertain possibility exists that his ideas may be adopted and carried into active effect. Germany is ready for war, and although not so rich in men and money as it is the fashion to believe, yet she is superior in these requirements to France. Russia has by cunning diplomacy and treachery, so managed that war is now almost inevitable on the Balkan Peninsula. Austria — a nation neither to he trusted as an ally nor feared as sin enemy — is prepared to go into the field, but will only do so out of fear of Germany. Briefly put every European nation is prepared for war, and the day does not appear far distant when a series of battles will take place, which will, from the number of men engaged and the horrible and inevitable slaughter, surpass the wildest imaginings of the visionaries who expect to witness the awful battle of Armageddon.

The programme of the Foxton Racing: Club's summer meeting will appear next issue. An omission was made in our report of the Anniversary tea meeting en Monday eyening which we regret. A beautiful i and well rendered recitation was giv«n by | Mi«Bß.Fer«russon,of Ilalcombe, cluringtfce j unavoidable absence of our reporter so that it did uot appear in liis notes <