St. Paul daily globe., 1885-03-17
WHISPERINGS OF WAR.
Eager Interest in Washington Dipl0-
matte Circles Over the Russia
England Imbroglio.
A Growing Belief That a Fight Must
Come The Strength of For
eign Nations.
Van Wyck's Railroad Hobby Has Another
Run in the Senate-Gen. Black Con-
firmeG-Foreign Treaties.
Ugly Charges Against Ex-Secretary Lincoln
Christian Workers at the White
House-Arthur Dined.
Special to the Globe .

Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, March 16-A good deal of
interest is felt in military and diplomatic
circles here regarding the prospects of a war
between Russia and England. 1t was noted
with much interest at the trial Of
dynamite projeetiles the other day,
near Washington that the Russian
ambassador, NJ. Destruve, was a most inter
ested observer. He watched the proceed
ings closely, taking copious notes and in
every way showed that matters pertaining to
war and its implements were of especial i'm
portance to him and his nation at this time.
The more the situation is dis
cussed, the more grave it seems
to military and diplomats to become.
What will be the result of war between
England and Russia is a question eagerly
discussed, for there seems growing belief
that such
WAR Is TO COME.
When an irresistible body comes int con-
tact with an immovable one the result is
supposed to be something terrific. When
England's reputation as a fighter is
considered, and then Russia's huge
army, the largest in the world, is stood up
alongside of it, the result OF war between
these nations is looked upon with dread.
Russia's regular army is the largest in the
world, and her navy has more vessels than
that of any other nation. The standing
army of Russia consists of 1906 men and
her navy of 373 vessels. Russia pays for
the maintenance of her army s125, 900, 0O0 a
year, sum
SEVERAL MILLIONS GREATER
than that paid by any other nation for this
purpose Great Britain's standing atmy is
only 1872, coo men against Russia's 7S0, 600,
and her army when on a war footing is 642,-
600, against Russia's 2,30O, 600, when on a
war footing. England pays $50, 900, 600 a
year for her army against Rus
sia's S125 900, ,000 and yet Great Britain's
army costs $2.37 for each head of
the population, while Russia's costs her daily
S1.27 per inhabitant. Even if Great Britain
takes into account her India contingent, the
army of British India is 1870, 900, and on a
war footing of $50, OUO. the total would be in
either case less than half of
RUssIA's FORCE.
Russia has the largest standing army
in the world, 7SO, 600. Italy comes next
with $50, ,00O France next with $50, 900,
UtIndhS HcAI VIII 4fo,OUO, CHIhd ne4I Will
800, 900, ia-Hungary next with 283, 900,
British India next with 100, 900, Great Brit
ain next with 1872, 900. Russia's navy has
373 vessels, that of France 3O2, Great Brit
aims 246, though it is proper to add that
Great Britain's navy cost about
three, times as much as that of
Russia. Besides this Great Britain
has so many other matters to take her atten-
tion. In Egypt she has more than her match
now India and her South American posses
sions require constant attention. Ireland
cannot be trusted. In view of these things
the course of events between England and
Russia is matter of great interest.