A EUROPEAN WAR. All Arrangements Made for Fighting in February.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 187, 15 January 1887, Page 4

A EUROPEAN WAR. All Arrangements Made for Fighting in February.

New York, December 10. — O'Connor cabloß to the "Star" from London on bhe9bh A European war is now definitely looked for. The commencement of hostilities is expected in February next, at the latest, if the weather at that time should permit military operations on the enormous scale necessary to carry out the plan of campaign supposed to have been decided on, It is generally believed that Russia hopes to be first to move, springing upon Austria without warning. Travellers returning here from Russia report extraordinary secrecy in military quarters, and ceaseless movement of troops toward the German and Austrian frontiers. The work on ironclads is being pushed with feverish haste. Arsenals and navy yards are reported to be working night and day. It jg believed here that the situation is the deliberate creation of Bismarck. The Debate on the Military Septeunate in Germany. Berlin, December 4, —lntense interest was manifested in to-day's session of the Reichstag, when it became known that Dr. Windhorst, the Clerical leader, would declare the policy of the Centre, and that General Yon Moltke was prepared to speak. Dr. Windhorst's speech was cautious and diplomatic, and lent doubt as to what the ultimate vote of the Centre would be. He opened by stating that he would not prejudice the position of his party in subsequent divisions on the Military Soptennate Bill by a positive promi^o as to how the Centre would vote. The final decision of that party would be shown only when a division should be taken on the last reading. He did not believe it popslble to meet the Government's desire to dispose of the measure before Christina?, because he saw the necessity of a detailed examination of the bill. Nor did there seem any special reason for urgency ari%mg from the imminence of war. The alliance with Austria constituted a present and lasting guaranty of peace in Europe. The Centre could not admit the eeptennate as a permanent principle. It would prefer to consider a triennato regulation. Tho expediency of a two yeirc' term of service wa« nho doubtful. Still the Centre -wa^ desirous of giving mature consideration to all existing circumstances, and would vote in favour of the measures found to be absolutely necoppary. (General Yon Moltke said tint i\U of the neighbours of Germany on che left and on the right were fully armed— a state of things which even a rich country was unable to bear for any length of time, and v. hich might lead to decisive events at an early date. For this reason ie was necessary not to defer action on the measure until after the expiration of the septennato. The preamble to the bill showed how far Germany was behind other States in tho strength of her army and the taxation of her people. The French, for instance, paid about double the sum paid by the German people, and an slliuViCe ~ith F-?nce weald assure the peace of Europe. "But," he continued, " such an alliance is impossible while Franco impel iou«ly demands the surrender of the provinces, which we are f-trongl}' determined never to give up. This demand is made in behaif of the maintenance ot peace. Our rejection of the bill will make us responsible for all the miseries attoniant upon a hostile invasion. We have found it difficult enough \o attain the unity of Germany. Let us uphold it, proving that we are united. The whole world knows that we do not contemplate conquers, May ir al?o learn that we intend to keep what we have, and are resolute and armed to thi- end." The conclusion of Count Yon Moltke'^ "peach was greeted with loud and prolonged cheers. General You Schellendoiff, Prussian Minister of War, referring to a remark of a Socialist speaker, euid that, he would only givo dotailed explanations of the bill in committee if he could rely upon his s-lnte ments being treated confident i illy Tho basis of former military bill* were simple to those of tho present bill, jet sharp eyes might detect a slight shade of difference in a passage in tho speech from the throne on the relations of Germany to foreign countries. Some dilficujfy, in fact, existed regarding the preser\ atiou of poace for any longth of time. He continued : "An increase of tho army will not only result in preventing us becoming involved in war, but will aleo prove as ready to show proper vigour in the maintenance of peace. It would be rash either to over-estimato or to under-value our possible opponents. Franco is working at the perfection of the details of her army. Even though we are quite confident that we are able at any moment to | meet a foreign army, our task must not be made difficult by our remaining far behind numerically." He promised that at the first sitting of the committee he would etate the reasons why the measure was so urgent. Herren Langwerth and Yon Simmern opposed the bill, on the ground that the principle of tho Septenm»te deprived the country of tho control of the Government's policy, and that maintaining a large army fostered a craving for conquest. The tenor of the debate is conpidered highly encouraging to the Government. All sections understand and approve General Yon Schellendorff's reasons for wishing to speak with frankness only in secret committee.