France Expects War

Baron Do Lorme, the energotic young Frenchman who for nearly a year has been endeavorinz to interest American capitalista in tho construc tion of railroads in China, is again in New York after having been sorae months in France. Like most Frenchmen who come to thia country at the pre ont time Baron De Lorme is full of the war topic. He has been for twelve years an officer of the French Navy. In convereation on the war subject he said araong other things: "The general impression in this country that France will be whipped is erroneous. In case we should have war witta Germany, France will be victorious this time. ]n the fust place, thu war wül not be of our seeking. France will not be the agressor. In the next place every Frenchman will know that upon suecess dejjends the very life of the nation. We cannot afïord to be deteated tliis time. In the Chamber of Deputies the most violent antagonista of the Government assert with the utmost zeal and vigor that in the event of war there will be no party except the party in support of the Government. The French people have been very prudent. The newspapers are calm and self-restrained. The &pirit that animates the French people is the same as that wlnch found expression in the lips of Cbanzv, who said that a Frenchman who spoke of revende ought to be hanged, and the Frenchman who did not think revenge in tlie rcmotest depths of his heart ought to be shot. The navy of France is today competent to copo with the na-' of Germany upon any waters on the globe. I think we are equally ready as to armies and arms. Our military leaders have not yet been fully developed, but we have reason to hope that eruergency will bring them forth as it has for othtr nationa and for our own. we are not looking for a Napoleon, and we are seeking to avoid a Bazaine.and above all things we want a Frenchman, with the good of his countiy at heart. It is possible we might be better of if war could be postponed until 1800, when we would havetwenty classes of men under arms. We have only seventeenat present, the present military laws having gone into effect in 1870, but the diilerence of these three classes is ecarcely material. We hear a great deal said about repeating rifles with which the Germans are armed. If I werecommander of the French forces I would not have a repeating rifle in thearmy. They are only serviceb!o in keepinp up the courage of men by the constant explosión of cartridges, the bullets -vs liicli ao wide of the mark. They keep up the courage of men who are engaged in what you may cali 'bushwhacking' dodging from tree to tree without touching the elbows of their fellow-comrades. But as soon as the shots are all fïred away goes the courage and the army is demoralized. I would have the soldiers armed with single-shooters and carry their amunition in the old pouches, and instruct them that every bullet must be sent to the mark. The difficulties of procuring amunition on a field of battle arealmost insurmountable at times, and the soldier who is trained to recognize the value of every cartridge is the better soldier of the two types. Besides all this Germany has no suchsreat eqnipment ofrepeating rifles, even if they were more desirable. There are not so many repeating rifles manufactured and in exïstence at the present time as to arm over 200.000 or 250,000 of her soldiers and leave any great portion oí BUCh arms for the other nations which have boon using euch eqaipments." "llow is it with Germany? Does the Emperor really desire war?" "It is not a question of what the Emperor desires. Bismarck is the only Germán. William is a Prussian, Von Moltke is under such control that he would to-day, if ordered by the Emperor draw his sword against the Bavarians or Saxons as readily as against . foreign foe. There is a lack of unity in the Empire. There is need of unification. Bismarck knows that the only thing that will solidify the nation is a foreign war. Knowing that and knowing Bismarck, there can bo no questiion but that there will be war. Germany will find a pretext. How soon or how late it will come can not be foretold.