The Waikakto Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. SATIRDAU, NPV. 5, 1892.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3178, 5 November 1892, Page 2

The Waikakto Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

SATIRDAU, NPV. 5, 1892.

rt.iual and exact lusticu to all men, II whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

The proposition that the most effectual weans to avert hostilities is to be prepared for war is true up to a certain point. It is tolerably manifest that as regards European preparedness that point has been reached, if not passed. The Bill before the German Parliament to increase the army to 4,400,000 and the peace footing by 84,000 men gives reason for serious alarm that the peace of the world cannot be much longer maintained. The financial resources of Russia, Germany, Austria and Italy are strained to the utmost in order to maintain their vast armies in an efficient state. The population of all classes are in consequence deprived of the comforts and luxuries which they might enjoy under happier conditions, and the poorer classes are reduced to the position of being barely able to keep body and soul together. The latter are naturally callous as to whether peace id maintained or not. They feel that under any conceivable conditions their position could hardly be worse. A vast number hail the prospect of war with satisfaction, and there is a strong party growing up in all the Continental countries who will force war if possible. The Governments, so great is the uncertainty as to results, fear to precipitate matters, and in the meantime are impoverishing their countries by costly prep irations for the evil day. The ambition for military glory of the young German Emperor is a serious source of danger. It is mainly due to his determination that the Army Bill is being pressed upon the Reichstag, and there is little doubt but that it will pass. It follows that if Germany takes this step France and Russia will similarly increase their forces. Napoleon said that victory lay with large battalions, and the leading powers of Europe are practically endorsing the statement by trying to out-do each other in this direction. England has not been involved in any European war since the Australasian colonies grew into importance, so that the effect; of war is a matter of surmiso. The application of steam to vessels of war is a new condition, and it has yet to be proved how far this fact will militate against her absolute supremacy on the seas. It is possible, of course, that she might be able to stand aloof, which she would most unquestionably do, unless one party or the other attacked her interests or threatened her possessions. She can afford to let the Continental powers fight their own battles. The maintenance of the equilibrium has disappeared as an article in the faith of her foreign Ministers. In the event of war, and England not becoming involved, these colonies would experience a demand for their produce at prices beyond the dreams of landholders at the present time. Notwithstanding this fact, the people of these colonies would be particularly vehement in their condemnation of an administration which, for the sake of material gain, submitted to an insult to the common flag and the common Sovereign, and they would be quite willing to bear their share of the responsibility and cost of resenting it.