Wichita eagle., 1888-01-01
FOREIGN news.
A VERY UNSETTLED FEELING In
EUROPE.
War Measures Progressing III a
Way That Does Not Insure
Peace at All.
A Tremendous Powder Explosion in China
Does Immense Damage 10 Property
and Kills Hundreds
of People.
Americans Invited to Join Spain IN the
Christopher Columbus Celebration
other Late Foreign
News.

copyright 16s7. by the New York Associated Press
BERLIN, Dec 3l.-The year closes with
ont the relations between Russia and the
allied powers showing any symptoms OF
amelioratiOn. The situation has become
one of the greatest perpleXity, which
nothing less than some authoritative de
liverance from the car or the kaiser can
clear up. If the New Years imperial re
ceptions pass over unmarked by explicit
declarations giving assurance Of peace,
it will be held as certain
that diplomacy has failed to
check progress toward an open rupture.
No decisive diplomatic issue is expected
before the middle of January. After that
events will develop with electric rapidity
The concentration of Russian troops III
Poland appears to be suspended. The
whole country lies deep in snow and ice
The roads are blocked and railway traffic
is retarded. Galicea * i'll d similar con
dition ii an order were given tomorrow
for the mobilization of the Austrian troops,
it would be impossible to execute it except
within d small radius of Vienna, but q few
weeks hence, when the snow storm has
abated and the surface of the country is
settled, military operations could be eff
fected. 1t is of the opinion of military
authorities that Austria and Germany will
agree upon winter as the best time for a
campaign. If the war must be, it would
either commence in February or be de
ferred until June While the movement
of troops in Poland are ceasing, forces are
being concentrated in Bessarabia, and this
fact leads to the belief that Russia either
distrusts ROumanian neutrality or has
other plans than a campaign in Gallcea.
The forces now massed along the Bender
and Odessa lines are estimated at 5000
men. The Black sea feet is being hur-
riedly equipped for active service
Four gunboatS have been sent
to the kila arm of the Danube, and num-
erous flotilla of vessels designed for river
service is being concentrated IN Odessa.
The formidable extent of these prepare =
tions give rise to the suspicious that the
c2ar cOntemplates a sudden descent upon
Bulgaria, while acting on the defense to-
ward Galicea.
Reports from Paris attribute To the ear
the intention to announce peace or war on
New Years day, and war is predicted as
RuSsia'S choice. The text of the forged
documents appears in tOnightS Reich
san Zcitger N. NlOnigale, assistant
secretary in the Russian foreign
office. brought them to Berlin and
examined them in con junction with Count
Herbert bismarck. lie returned 10 UatIel-
chin on Thursday to report to the ear the
result Of the inspection. The cars assent
to the publication of the documents was
obtained by pressure from NJ. DeGiers and
General NonSchweinitZ. The Reichsan-
zeitger prints four letters. The appear
ance of the documents does not add much
TO what is already known of their con
tents.
The ear knows whence the forgerieS
proceeded, but refuses to punish the per-
petrators. The reports concerning the
crown princes condition present the best
aspect possible.