COUNT MOLTKE ON THE PROSPECTS OF EUROPE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume IX, Issue 142, 16 June 1874, Page 2

COUNT MOLTKE ON THE PROSPECTS OF EUROPE.

Count Molike, speaking in tbo German Reichstag on the new military law, and specially allu.ling to clause 1 in the bill, which places ibe .ffective force of tbe army at 401,059 men in ppasc, an.i pointing out, how necessary the army is for the maintenance of order at home, •went on to say :-— : " What are our prospecls ct home ? The succeeding generation, perhaps moro fortunate than ours, may hope to be rid of {he armed peace which has long been inflicted on Europe. I can see no chance of such good fortune befalling us. A groat historical event, such as the restoration of the German Empire, is not accomplished in a trice. What we achieved by force of arms in six months, we may perhaps be obliged to sustain by force of arms from attack for half a century. Tt is impossible to avoid seeing that we have acquired since the happy ?Bsue of our last, war the respect of all, but the sympathy of none. Everywhere we are met by the same distrust, the apprehension tbat Germany, with her increase of power, is to become a dangerous neighbor. Id Belgium you will still find plenty of sympathisers with Fiance, but few with Germany. Holland has begun the reconstruction of her line of forts and ditches, against whom I wiil not pretend to say. No German dreams of annexing norland ; for, though we conquered that country at the beginning of tho century, it was not for ourselvep, but for the Dutch. A pamphlet, widely read in England, describes an invasion not of the French but of the Germans. D.nmaik, too, hns deemed it necessary to augment her Heel, and fortify the Island of Seclaud, fearing an attack from us. At oue time we are credited with* the intention of annexing the Baltic provinces, nt another of seizing the German provinces of the Austrian Empire. France, the neighbor with whom we are most concerned, is reforming the whole organism of her army, copying our military institutions, aud passing them off as hers. She has introduced universal compulsory service, lasting in all twenty years, instead of twelve, as in Germany. The French Government, is now in a position to embody 1,200,000 men into the active and 1,000,000 into the territorial army. The National Assembly, without distinction of party or regard for economical considerations, is willingly making the greatest .sacrifices in order to restore and extend tbe powers of the army. More warlike than the War Minister, that body has compelled him to acce.pt nn additional turn of 17,000,000 f. in order to call up the second portion of tbe contingent, aud its action is supported by the whole country. I believe tbat the great mnjority of Frenchmen are animated by a sincere desire for peace, but we have seen how a parly may drag Government and people into tbe most unexpected resolutions. The cry which comes to us from the Vosges is tbe frantic desire for revenge. We do not wish to follow our neighbors iv their scheme for extending the army, but on tha other hand, we must take v care that it does not decline. The peace effective must be settled for a long period. Remember that every diminution of that effective makes itself felt over a term of twelve years, and we cannot tell what twelve years may bring forth. Tbe mildest of men may be dragged into a quarrel if he has a troublesome neighbor. I believe tbat we shall show to tho world that we are a powerful but yet a peaceful nation, that we do not wish to make war through love or glory or conquest. Indeed, I don't know what we should do with a morsel taken from Russia or France! I hope that we shall not merely keep the peace for a number of years, but impose it, as a moral necessity, upon other nations. Then, perhaps, people will come to see that a powerful Germany in the centre of Europe is the beat guarantee for the peace of the Old World, But, gentlemen, if you wish for peace, be ready for war, und I believe tbat it is our duty, in the present condition of Europe, to declare either that we have no* need of a atrong army, or else to accord all that is necessary for maintaining it in full force.'

Writing on the coming session of Parliament, the cr respondent cf a fouih.rn contemporary observes: — The session will open, I learn, with important business. Tho financial statement will be also early brought down. Indeed, the eeasiou— it is autl«oritativfly stated by those who know — will be a very important one throughout, and an electoral re-division of the colony is I hear, contemplated. The loan to goldfields at Auckland, and loans or advances to provinces will, I further hear, form a subject of debate. A Yankee reporter is terrifically " graphic " in describing a recent collision of railroad trains in Missouri. Hear him:— «« Tbe two engines rushed at each other like malign and enraged monsters, grappled with a tremendous" craßl), reared fiom the track in a mortal wrestle, and fell into helpless and disjointed fragments ou the ground "