THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MAY 21, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8145, 21 May 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, MAY 21, 1906.

Mr Raymond Recouly tells us, in La Monde Modeiue, that many of his countrymen are exclaiming: "The Germans outnumber us two to one! They can be mobilised in live days, while it takes us twelve! Their trains like the wind, while ours simply drag along! In two weeks the German army would be at tbe gates of Paris!" In reply, he hQs written a calm and wellbalanced artioJe, to show that while the German army is formidable, it is nut invincible. "Tnere is no need to conjure it up as a frightful bugbear, for men to tremble at,"

he says; "we have beaten it before, and we can beat it again." He deolares that the German army, like the French, is ' a national institution, but that it depends upon one man, the Emperor; while the Fsench army depends upon the nation. Mr lieaouly warns bis countrymen against putting too muoh trust in the reports that the German army is sapped by the principles of August Bebel. What is the actual value, he asks, of this highly organised machine, of this apparently .formidable army? What is its moral and intellectual value, and is it; preparing conscientiously for the fulfilment of its task? Mr Recouly avers that the Germans themselves are not of one mind in answering these questions. The majority of them, he tells ua, have nothing but praise for the personnel of the army. Nevertheless, there have recently appeared some grave criticisms upon this point. Tha most notable is a work in the form of a novel by f Beyerlein which bears the portentous title, "Jena or Sedan." This book, we~** aTe told,"" is by a writer of reputation and character, and itsi utterances are entitled to some consideration. Saya Mr Reoouly :/'The impression left by it is a singuarly gloomy one. In reading this book one feels a choking sensation; it is full of the nausea of the barracks; that terrible institution that crushes down heart and brain, and ohanges into unfortunates and rebels so many npturally good and upright men. Some of the officers, it is true, hare retained noble and generous feelings and a belief in and love for their profession. J The memory of the recent great victories, those victories which laid the foundation of the German fatherland, fills their souls with enthusiasm. Hut when they look around them and study with attention this army to which they have dedicated .their lives, they are torn with anxiety and doubt. Among the officers of their regiulent how many incapables, drunkards, and debauchees? Promotion is not for the moat worthy, but for the most clever. The manoeuvres, whioh are supposed to be the image of real war, are scarcely more than a pompous parody. Everything is for show, for theatrical effect." The writer concludes with the observaion that if Beyerlein's book were to be taken literally the German army must be in very bad oase indeed, and in the hour of supreme trial it would be likely to disappoint the general expectations. But he utters this warning: "We must be on our guard against taking Beyerlein too literally. He has exaggerated defects!"