Prince Bismarck has carried another most important measure. The Army
Bill, with the additional strength re- cently demanded, has been voted for another seven years, the opponents of the clause, who proposed to make the Bill annual, having been defeated by 186 to 96, or within a fraction of two to one. The German Army, therefore, till March 31st, 1888, will consist, in time of peace, of 427,274 men, exclusive of one- year volunteers. The resistance, indeed, was scarcely serious, though Gen. von Kameke, Minister at War, utterly rejected the idea of two years' training as sufficient, declaring that the Army, so trained, could not have carried out Prince Bismarck's policy ; and though Count von Stolberg, the future Chancellor, thought yet farther sacrifices might be demanded. He said he believed that so far from military burdens being lightened, a "spirit of necessary emulation would compel Germans in future to keep pace with their active rivals." The prospect is not a delightful one, and may compel Germans who are thoughtful men to con- sider whether the sacrifice of so much of the objects of life is not rather a high price to pay for Alsace-Lorraine. It is not unity they gain by it—that is secure—but only that province.
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