THE GERMAN ARMY BILL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 82, 14 April 1913, Page 4

THE GERMAN ARMY BILL.

Writing on March 4th with regard to tho German Army Bill, the Berlin correspondent of the London ‘ J lines remarks that public opinion in Germany is occupied almost exclusively with speculations about the extraordinary levy on property by which it is proposed to cover the initial cost of tho now increases of the German Army. It is, however, practically impossible to form an opinion about the public reception of these extraordinary proposals, or to draw a line between' genuine expressions ol opinion and inspired utterances. The general impression, he states, is that the Government proposals are in themselves unpopular and regarded w:t much suspicion in financial quarters as may be seen from the tone of tho Bourse—and in cautious political circles, but that the Government has not much reason to fear effective Parliamentary opposition. The Government is now—and none too soon—devoting itself to tho difficult and delicate task of explaining to the German public that its demands are necessary, and to the world at large that they are not aggressive. Tin “Cologne Gazette,” which in its own leading articles has criticised pretty sharply the sudden change of front of the military authorities, publishes a message from Berlin of a highly semi-official character. i he gist ol the argument is that the downfall oi Turkey and tho rise of the Balkan States have created not so much a

now situation as a new prospect, and that the German people is called up on to face it. There has been a shifting of the balance of strength in favour of the whole Slav element and. although the fear of a- conflict is remote, Germany has to deal with possibilities quite different from those which existed before the war. In view of the militarist movement which has been developed in Russia as the result of the fear of war with AustriaHungary, it is tho plain duty of Germany, notwithstanding her confidence in Austria, to call upon her unused resources of military strength. It is argued that the discussion in the French Press has gone to tho point of suggesting a war of aggression and that tho French have started an agitation on behalf of three years’ service without waiting to know the real contents of tho new Germany Army Bill. ,