Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-04-03
RUSSIAN PREPARATIONS FOR WAR
Only Waiting for Good Weather TO
Begin HOstfiitics.

From the st. James Gazette
The following communication written Ave days
since, comes to us from correspondent at Kier:
However emphatic and apparently sincere the
assurances given by Russia that she is bent on
pursuing policy OF peace, however satisfactorily
IL may be shown that she has absolutely nothing
TO gain and everything to lose by trying conclu-
Sons with Austria, II is none the less fact that
we are on the eve OF a war. As the expression of
an opinion this, no doubt. is not new TO those who
follow the march OF political events and are capa-
bic OF transang the dialect OF diplomacy into the
everyday language In which the story OF Russia's
military movements Is set forth by foreign CORE
spondeuts ana commented on by the press. But
what follows Il something more than mere SUBJ
jective reading OF events By one who has carefully
studied them; and in any case IL IS based a large
number OF significant and perfectly trustworthy
facts. one or two Of which cannot but interest the
public in England.
To begin with the least convincing: Two we'll
known generals, fresh from the council chamber
of st. Petersburg where they have been con-
stantly closeSed with the war minister, Gen. VAN
noffsky), and who will command 20, 900 men each
in the coming war, have mentioned May as the
date for hostilities tocommence and this in such
circuC stances or time, pace, and surroundings as
TO IT, no doubt of their sincerity and still less
OF their acquaintance with the topic or converse
ton.
or course, as long as the issue Is contingent on
the viii OF Que man. no forecast can be wholly
free from the element of doubt. and tangible facts
are our safest guide in the matter. The following
one is significant: Some time ago considerable
numbers Of troops were transported by two steam
ers oil the Russian Black sea steamship Company
from Batum and Poti, and landed IN surrept tiOlls
manner in the neighbOrhood OF Se5astopOl, not far
from where special trains awaited them. They
tn dispersed so as to arouse as little suspi-
clol as possible. These troops now being grad
udlly brought up 10 the frontier-Sone into Bessa-
raUla. others to the Austrian frontier Irains car
rying them run occasionally at hours when trains
do not generally run; and snow-storms. which
have been rather Rientiful OF late, are welcomed
as natural allies The last trains before line is
Officially declared blocked, and the first few Trains
before 1t IS officially reopened, carry the troops.
There are, beside, large numbers or troops just
now between Tula and Brest-L itonsk, vending
their way BY easy stages and In small parties IN
the direction OF Kieff and the southwest.
EliZabethgrad, city OF 43, 900 Inhabitants, in
the government of kherson, within easy distance
OF the river DniesJer Is the headquarter, or the
South Russian cavalry. The sprnkllng OF foreign
ers in the population Is practically null. so that
less disguise is necessary In going forward with
military preparations than elsewhere. Among the
gns and tokens In which this district abOunds is
the purchase OF cavalry horses on large scale.
They are not being bought exclusively nor even
mainly in the vicinity OF Ellzabethgrdd; the other
districts OF kherson and other governments supply
large proportion. The horses being IN reality
appropriated for the sale Is compulsory; whereby
the prices paid range from 30 10 $50 rubles from
"a 10 e12, and are always less than those liked by
the tariff drawn up by the government in lssi
Cavalry accouterments, arms, &C., are being
wrought, repaired, rurbshed up; blacksmiths are
working literally day and night, and the followers
OF Wielands noDle handicraIC have never known
buster or better DAYS Than The present.
Lastly, the prelininartcs OF putting the harbor
OF odessa In a state OF defense are being care
fully carried out In as far as the weather does not
prove an obstacle. The plan OF defense hereto
fore accepted by the ministry has been thrown
aside and a new one Is being worked out. Ii Is
only question OF the number OF torpedoes, the
places Where they are to be sunk, &C.; which was
determined long ago, but Is being changed again
now. The feeling ia the country is universal that
the government Is merely temporizing Till the frost
and snow disappear. As soon rs the weather
clears up a little Russia's intentions Will become
more evident