New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-26
THE EUROPEAN WAR DRAMA.
IT LOOKS TO BE ALL COMEDY NOW.
But THERE'S TRAGEDY IN THE SECOND ACT,
WHICH WILL DE- PLAYED ONE or THESE DAYS.

But THERE'S TRAGEDY THE SECOND ACT
WHICH WILL DE PLAYED ONE or THESE DAYS.
Copyright. 1888 Bv The Eeic. York Associated PrsG
BERLIN, Feb. 25.-The skill OF the players In tho
game of diplomacy proceeding before the eyes
of Europe makes its successive developments in tho
highest degree interesting but everybody recognizes
the TACT that the ultimate issue Is war, whatever
temporary advantage diplomatic trickery achieve.
The bismarck kalnoly combination may soon cntrap
Russia into false position, from which only sub
mission with supreme humiliation can rescue her,
unless she prefers war with incomplete preparations
or the Cars advisers may manage to postpone tho
final crisis until they deem that fitting moment to
strike has come
In playing this waiting game, Russia has scored the
iirst success. Prince Bismarcks formal invitation
to the Car to demand the restitution Of Russian pre-
ponderance In bulgaria concealed beneath It's appar-
ent tankness pitfall for Russian diplomacy. II
the Car had interpreted the invitation to mean that
Russia was free to restore her status in Bulgaria
by force crisis would have been precipltaed and
Russia would have been drawn into the fighting allies
trap This has been avoided and proracted comedy
OF negotiations will now precede the tragedy Of war
MOBILIZATION or RUSSIAN FORCES
Meanwhile Russia has taken advantage OF the de
lay TO complete the negotiations for French aili
ance, to extend the mobilization Of her forces, which
Is now practically advancing and to set troops In
line Of battle vita her immense resources IcOrganzcd
since the discovery OF the defects In the trans pOrta
tion and commissariat departments. Regarding the
Russo-French alliance, IT IS reported that the treaty
advances to a conclusion. NJ Floquet has written
letter TO high St. Petersburg official affirming the
desle OF tho Republican majority 10 obtain perfect
entente c1rdiale with Russia The letter was shown
to the Gar and elected Instructions to Baron
Mohronhem, tho Russian Ambassador at Paris, to
negotiate treaty II NJ. Floquets representations
were accurate
The War Offices at Berlin and Vienna find great
obstacles in the way OF obtaining accurate informa-
ton regarding the dspacements Of the Russian troops
The bulk Of reliable advices show undated internal
activity in Russia directed to the massing Of a sec
ond line Of troops behind the frontier army.
WHAT Is THE CONDITION OF THE GROWN PRINCE
Adylces from San Reno state that tho Crown Prince
reapparcd at the window OF his villa today but did
not venture out the balcony account of tho
cold weather An official bulletin says that last night
he had refreshing sleep Of several hours, but that
In consequence of the continuance OF his cough he
is troubled with an abundance OF mucus. Private
aivices state thai the Crown Princes bronchial rrta-
ton appears TO be complicated with lung disorder,
partly arising from pus sccrctlons the broncha,
WHICH haze affected the lungs official opinion in
Berlin has become utterly despairng No weight
al aches to the bulletins issued by the doctors I'm face
Of the known facts Adyices received at the palace
do not conceal The critical state Of the Crown Prince
takes a dIscouragng view Of tho Crown Princes
condition He is convinced that the maady IS run
In the belief that aal termination IS Inevitable
within three months and probably much sooner
THE QUESTION or THE REGENCY.
Alusons to the regency continue TO appear. but
the papers have not the smallest basis for their state
mcns in anything that has occurred officially. The
Prrss ian Constitution provides perfectly for all pos
siblties arising from the death of the Emperor and
the concurrent ncapacity Of the Crown Prince to rule
Under Article SO, Prince william. major agnatc,
will become regent, the Landtag affirming his tile.
A doubt has arisen TO what would happen II the
Crown Prince, should he continue Ill and incapable Of
dschargng tho func ions OF Emperor when the throne
became vacant refused n consent TO a regency. Tho
dilemma would undoubtedly be attended with serious
official troubles but would end I'm the Landtag sup
porting Prince Bsmarcks Initiative in confirming
Prince William as regent.
DEPRECIATION OF RUSSIAN CURRENCY.
The depreciation in Russian paper roubcS is absorb
ing the interest in financial circles. They closed to-
day at 1863. Many private families whose whole for
invested In Russian securities are I'm state
of great anxiety. The best financial hoses view
tho situation with serious misgvings. An article
I'm the Kreuz Zetung" shows that at the end OF the
TuIco Russian war roube notes were quoted al loO,
then thought to DC extremely low figure in octo-
Der last when the Boerse panicky. owing to the
Cars abandoning his visit the quotain stood at
IsU25; AT tho end OF January II had fallen TO III,
and since that time It has continued to decline.