Germans Say They Dominate Europe.

New York Times 100 years ago today, November 12, 1912:
Believe Their Army Will Preserve Peace, However Near a Great Conflict May Seem.
A DEFIANCE FROM BULGARIA
Official Paper Says an Outlet for Servia on the Adriatic Is a Sine Qua Non of a Solution.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
Dispatch to The London Daily Mail.
    BERLIN, Nov. 11.— The German Army is convinced that Europe's realization of the "terrible power" of the Kaiser's military organization is a factor which, when all is said and done. will preserve peace. I am able to quote a staff officer of distinction, who spoke with a frankness which leaves no doubt that his sentiments are those inspiring the German military leaders. He said: "Germany is ready if necessary to put 5,000,000 trained men of the first physical quality into the field. Europe knows that, and because Europe knows it there will be no war. There will be much talk of war over this Albanian business, and peace may seem to hang by the slenderest thread, but before any power or combination of powers elects to go to war they will have one last contemplative look at the German Army, and there will be peace. " The German Army's position in Europe is like that of a great Dane surrounded by a pack of lesser dogs, which bark, snap, and nag, until the great Dane at last rouses himself to action." No less striking was the officer's explanation of the reason why Austria will not declare war except on the very last emergency.
    "The Austrian people know that in any war which may take place now Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the Throne, would reap the glory and be acclaimed a hero. That would be a deep affront to the pride of the old Emperor. The Austrians want to risk nothing of that sort. Their reverence for their octogenarian sovereign will keep them from war until it is actually forced upon them."
    Another opinion expressed by this officer was that the Russian Army was in such a hopeless state of disorganization and incompleteness that the Bulgarian Army of 250,000 men would be able to beat it.
    The Lokal Anzeiger to-night, in a leading article, which emanates unmistakably from official army quarters, points out that at an hour like the present, when the Germans are called upon to defend their prestige, it ill becomes them to identify themselves with the view of the "French and English press" that the Turkish defeats are German military defeats.
    "If anybody is minded," the article concludes, "personally to convince himself that our gallant grenadiers and riflemen are still of the same fibre as those of Vionville and St. Privat and that our cannon and howitzers are peers of the much praised Schneiders and Creusots, let him do it. We are keeping our powder dry."