INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 273, 10 April 1913, Page 5

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

GERMAN 1 CHANCELLOR'S SPEECH. CHARGE OF JINGOISM REPUDIATED. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright. Received 10, 12.10 a.m. Paris, April 9. M. Etinenne, speaking at Roen, repudiated Herr Von Bethmann Hollweg's charge of jingoism. France could not remain heedless to. the, positively dangerous position. There were reasons compelling the Government to call the ccuntry to make a further sacrifice for national defence.

The newspapers consider Herr Von Bethmann Hollweg's speech a full lesson wherefrom France may derive profit.

GERMAN PRESS CRITICISM. A MIXED RECEPTION. Received 10, 12.10 a.m. Berlin, April 9. The Conservative Nationalist press approve Herr Von Bethmann Hollweg's speech, but the Liberal papers receive it coldly. The Frankfurt Zeitung says that the speech proves that the bulk of the Army Bill does not represent the demands of responsible statesmen, but of irresponsible agitators. MILITANT GERMANY. THE NEW ARMY BILL. ' (Sydney Sun Special Cable.) Berlin, March 29. The new German Army Bill demands big increases in all directions, and the proposals are almost startling in their magnitude. An increased enlistment of 63,000 recruits every year is one of the provisions, bringing up the peace strength to 117,000 soldiers, and this will mean raising the strength of the non-com-; missioned officers by 15,000 and com- \ missioned' officers to 4000. I

The infantry will be augmented by t 18 battalions, the engineers by 11 bat- I talions, the transport troops by 13j battalions, the cavalry by six regi-» ments, and the foot artillery by three j regiments. ! The re-strengthening of the fortresses \ on the eastern frontier is to he carried I out, the non-commissioned officers are I to receive a higher rate of pay, and the I victualling system will be improved. I

Much more extensive attention is to be paid to the aerial branches of the services, and £2,500,000 is to be allotted to the naval side and £3,950,000 to the army up to an including 1918. The military academies are to be enlarged, and two new schools started for non-commissioned officers. All these matters will mean a yearly increased expenditure of £9,200,000, anil an increase to be spread over the whole period covered by the Bill of £52,500,000, of which total ' £11,500,000 will be devoted to barrack works, £3,500,000 to arming the artillery, and £10,500,000 to improving the fortress system.