The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-04-29
THE ARGUS AND THE TABULATOR.
Russia Wants War,
What Leo Hartmann, the Nihilfst, Thinks
Of tho sftussion.


do you think the Russian government
wants fight just now@' was the question
put to Leo Hartmann, the leader Of the Rus
sian Nihil.sts.
eyes," was the prompt response, ct do.
Seven months ago stated to reporter that
from information I had received from Rus.
sia, / knew that the government wanted to
have war. have the same kind of in
formation now. The chief reason why Rus
sia wants to fight is to send away trouble
some regiments-those whose officers are be-
lieved to hold the Socialist theories, and
therefore from which military revolution
is most likely to spring ont. At that time
my friends supposed that the troops would
be sent to Persia, but now 1t has been seen
that it was not Persia but Afghanistan that
was the objective point. That was the only
mistake, although the geographical position
was about the same.
1t seems to me that Russia needs to fight
now. In those distant steppes the trouble
some troops would be out Of the way of dan
ger to the government. Another reason, al
though of secondary practical or immediate
Importance to the government, is that war
would drive away the minds Of the people
from internal discomfort, and so from acting
with the Socialist Terorists.
When the present Gar assembled the throne
one of his first acts was to drive away from
the government Offices and from the educa-
tional institutions, all foreigners, but chiefly
the Germans. That was partly the result
of the influence of the Slsyophlle party of
Russia, which at that time had Katkoff at its
head. Well, now, as soon az this party fell,
and as soon as the Socialist movement was
felt within the army, there was meeting at
Skirnevitz of the three Emperors-of Austria,
Germany and Russia. After the other for
eign questions had been disposed of there
was meeting exclusively devoted to the
Nlhilists. 1t was agreed there that the three
Emperors should assist one another In case
of Nihilist movement against any of these
Powers. So the Austrian and German EN-
perors pledged themselves to send troops to
the Russian frontier should q revolutionary
outbreak take place in Russia-the German
officers, from colonel mp, to be replaced by
Russians, while the subordinate officers
from colonel DOWN would remain as be
fore, German. The reason of this arrange
ment was that the Gar knew that as the
Russian officers were well educated. they
would probably support revolution, If one
should break out, whereas the German
would naturally support the government
from which they derived their income. The
Gear also pledged himself TO reinstate the
Germans in the positions from which they
had been removed. Now, as you will see
from the latest cable dispatches, the Aus
TRANS are actually massed on the Russian
frontier to-day, on the pretext OF being
ready to suppress Polish revolt IL It breaks
out, but the truth is that they are going to
mass there to aid Russia in case Of need,
The Garmans also. are soon TO mass and
for similar reason, on their eastern from
tisr.''
'what do you think, Mr.. Hartmann, the
NihiIists will do If q war should break out
between Russia and EnglandP
81 don't think England will 60 to war; but
II she does not want to fight, Germany and
Russia will do all 10 their power to drive her
into war with Russia"
s'WhyP'