St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-09
EUROPE'S WAR CLOUD
It Grows Larger, Despite the
Peace Talk OF the
Powers.
Gar Alexander Is Being Hum
bugged by Leaders of the
War Party.
The Thrones Of Kings Charles
and Milan Likely to
Cpumble.
England Will Send Reinforce
England Will Send Reinforce
ments to Meet the Myste-
pious White PaSha.
Special Cable to the Globe.

Special Cable TO the Globe.
LONDON, Dec. s." What is the
meaning of the movement of the Rus
sian troops on the western frontier?'
is the question which is now being
asked at every side by European states
men, politicians and newspapers. The
Russian official answer is that the new
arrangement of quarters will facilitate
the supply Of troops with provisions;
but as it is an indisputable fact that the
Russian armies Quartered along these
same frontiers were last winter more
than decimated by disease, in conse-
quence of poor feeding, inadequate ac-
commodation and neglect Of all sanitary
precaution, the reason given cannot pos
Sibly be the true explanation of the
new march to the western border. At
an earlier stage of the concentration of
the Russian forces Prince Bismarck
entered into the question and assumed
that the Russian cabinet was convinced
that in the next European crisis the
weight of Russia in the diplomatic
areopagus of Europe will be heaviest in
proportion to the strength OF Russia on
her European borders; in palmer
terms, in proportion to the nearness OF
Russian armies to the West. The
political correspondence of the Preus-
Sische Jahrbuecher, the authors of
which are usually familiar with the
policy of the German court, states that
German diplomacy has at last convinced
the car that Germany has never
thwarted Russia's oriental policy; that
Germany may be friendly to- Russia
without Offering to fight ROumanians
and Bulgarians, and that all Russia can
expect of Germany is that
SIZE SHOULD REMAIN NEUTRAL.
The opinion is also expressed that the
Russian concentration has in view not
so much the Eastern questions as the
out any day, and during the earlier
stages of which the Russian govern
ment does not want to be inactive.
Affairs in the Balkan peninsula, how
ever, threaten serious reversal OF the
Eastern question, which is likely to up
set the calculations of the German
writers. The year which is now draw
ing to close has witnessed several new
developments of the contest. RuSsia'S
failure to effect anything in Bulgaria
has been more marked than ever. But
still the Russians have been the more
successful in Roumania and Servia.
The throne Of King Charles of Rou-
mania may at any day orumble beneath
him. The whole country has been
honeycombed by agencies which,
whether Russian aud Pan-Slavist.
or merely local and agrarian, are
hostile to the present king ana
to the policy of friendship with Austria
which he represents. In Servia King
Milan is little better off. He has di-
vorced his wife in a manner highly dis
creditable to himself and obnoxious to
many of his people, and the lady has
gone to Russia. he has set about alter
ing the constitution, and for this pur-
pose has put himself into the hands Of
politicians weo are rather with Russia
than with Austria. The fact is, Austria
is now as much as ever the enemy of an
independent and national Servia. Serv-
ia Independent must needs want to
be complete, and complete she cannot
be without Bosnia and HerZeg ovina, to
say nothing of other provinces under
Austrian rule. A Servian patriot, there
fore, cannot be friend of Austria. and
may very easily welcome the help of
Russia, as that power threatens the
Servian cause, if at all, only in the most
distant and indirect manner. Between
the Nationalist, the Austrian and the
Russian parties in the two small king
domS,
ELEMENTS OF POSSIBLE DISTURBANCE
are not lacking. Austrian statesmen
and newspapers now wa n Germany
that the car will not be able to resist
the influence that surrounds him and
urges him to a breach with Germany.
Nowhere in Europe is intrigue so pow
erful as in Russia, owing, no doubt, to
the absence of trained upper and
middle class. The report that Russia.
being estranged from Germany, seeks
an understanding with France was I'M
doubtedly put forward as a feeler by
the Russian war party, which is anxious
to embrOil the car with his Western
neighborS. In itself such an expert
mental announcement might be COM
paratively harmless, but coming as it
does just at the time when the gather
ing of troops OH the frontier is greater
than ever, and just at the time of the
year, too, which the Russian staff holds
to be the most advantageous for Rus
sian military action, it ought, say Aus
trian statesmen, to serve as note of
warning to those who are watching the
political game. The situation in Servia
is very critical, and the overthrow of
King Milan might possibly lead to a
war between Russia and Austria, de-
spite Emperor Williams influence to
prevent such catastrophe. Russia is
anxious to be ready at the next turn of
affairs to march into the Balkan PENN
sula and to resist any attempts on the
part Of her neighborS to interfere with
her action.