The Old Country.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7368, 16 November 1898, Page 4

The Old Country.

(FEOM OX7B ENGLISH CORBESFON DEKT). London. October 8. Ihe Government Messenger, the official organ of the Pnssian Government, has entered the lists on behalf of the Tsar's proposal for a conference on armaments. It admits that Russia is chief offender, its army on a veace footing consists of more than 1,000,000 soldiers. On mobilisation it would number 2,300,000, and beyond that reserves would amouns to 6,947,000 men, miking a gigantic total of 9,000,000. lfrance comes next with 4.370,000 men; Germany 4,300,000; in Austria 4,000,000; in Italy 2,200,000. The British army is the smallest of those belonging to the Great Powers, numbering only 220,000 in the event of war. If volunteers and militia are added its strength might be brought up to 720,009. The Russian Government organ asserts that at the present moment there are, throughout the world, 5,250,000 men under arms, and that in the event of a general war these could be increased to 44,250,000. Were these soldiers entrusted with the task of annihilating mankiod thirty-two persons would fall to the lob of each of them. The cost of - maintaining these colossal forces is, of course, something fearful to contemplate. Knssia spends 31 million pounds annually on her army, Germany 27 millions, France 26 millions, England 21 millions, Austria 18 millions, Italy II milliens- All six Great Powers together 1/170,000,000. K* ery Russian subject pays 5s per annnm for the support of the Russian army, every German 12s lOd, every Frenchman 15s, every Englishman 12b 6d. If wo add the cost of the military establishments

of the smaller powers we have for the whole of Europe an annual expenditure amounting to the incredible sum of L 250,000,000. This is .the sum whioh Europe pays every year to maintain peace I And observe, this is only the charge for the land force?. The fleets are not included. It is somewhat remarkable to hear The Government Messenger declaring that standing armies are an inheritance from barbarous ages. Some measure of disarmament, it declares, is absolutely necessary. The best friends of mankind have long recognised this. Instead of the fearful arbitrament of the bayonet and cannon, the Russian Government newspaper commends the establishment of a Court of Arbitration, before which the questions dividing the nations may be settled. ' The theory of war,' it concludes, 'is a false and lamentable theory which civilisation begins to identify with the destruction of mankind.'

Queen Louise of Denmark, mother of the Princess of Wales, of the Dowager Empress of Russia and of the King of Greece, died peacefully on Thursday at the age of eightyone. She had long been weak and ill, and death was not unexpected. The Princess of Wales was in constant attendance upon her nntil the last. The bereaved King Christian is reported to be bearing the trial with fortitude. The Queen was known as " Mother of Royalty," for in addition to the connection of her children with the thrones of England, Russia and Greece, her eldest son married Princess Louise of Sweden, and another married the daughter of the Due de Chartres. Queen Louise was a niece of the old Duchess of Cambridge and cousin of the Duchess of T-eck. She was born in 1817 at Cassel, daughter of the Landgrave William of Hesse-Cassel, and niece of King Frederick Vlf. of Denmark. Her marriage to Prince Christian of Holstein took place in 1842. The pair were second cousins, and traced their descent back to George 11. of England, one of whose daughters married a former Landgrave. It is interesting to note that the Princess of Wales is by two distinct lines of descent a great-great-great-granddaughter of George li. of which monarch, by an entirely different descent, the Prince of Wales is a great-great-great grandeon. In 1863 Prince Christian succeeded to the Throne. By the Danish laws of succession his Princess was nearer to the Throne than he was, bnt she transferred her rights to him. The Danish Court, under their role, became as good as It had previously been corrupt, and remained noted for ingenious diplomacy. In Germany, indeed, Copenhagen became more than ever a by-word for political intrigue ; to the work of Queen Louise was largely attributed the alliance accomplished between France and Russia. This was put down to the Queen's natural resentment against Germany, which nation, in the sixties, wrested the native principalities of both King and Queen from Danish possession. Family gatherings were held every autumn at Copenhagen which exerted considerable influence on European politics. The dead Queen was gracious, tactful and benevolent, an accomplished musician and artist, and mistress of Danish, German, Kngliah and French. She retained a remarkable youthfulness of appearance and energy until recent months. Qaeen "Victoria has sent a telegram of .condolence to King Christian, and expresses in the Court Circular her deep regret and sympathy for the sorrowing family.