Herr von Richter, Leader of the German Opposition, on Wednesday
attacked Count Caprivi for his speech in defence of the Military Bill. His argument was that last year the Chancellor had derided the military demand for numbers, although the French Army had already reached its strength, and the Russian Army was being concentrated on the eastern frontier of Germany. He produced no reasons to, account for his new disbelief in German safety, and he entirely ignored the immense additions made to German armaments since 1870. Moreover, the Count had spoken as if Germany stood alone, whereas she either had Austria and Italy by her side, or the Triple Alliance was a figment of diplomacy. Herr Richter utterly discredited the picture drawn by Count Caprivi of the German Army, and maintained that the twelve milliards (£480,000,000) voted since 1870 had brought it up to a strength at which it could surpass even the brilliant performances of that, year. The speech was a great Parliamentary success ; but it is allowed that Count Caprivi's speech, with its grave statements as to the ultimate danger of invasion, is filtering down slowly into the German mind, and that the constituencies hesitate more than the Members to take on themselves the responsibility of refusing the extra forces. We still believe that, with certain concessions as to taxation, the Bill will pass, though it will leave behind a good deal of irritation, and a fixed determination that the Staff, whatever its reasons, shall extract no more money out of the taxpayers.
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