, 1888-01-25

many. No one who has any acquaintance
with the subject could imagine that the
Muscovite army is a match for the Legious
of the two KaiSerS. 1t is the confidence
displayed by the Cars generals which
attracts attention, The writer says that
some time ago NJ. de Giers observed to
him that people regarded war between
Russia and Austria as inevitable, but
that they we're, with the exception of "the
incident of the era of Napoleon the First"
the only Empires in Europe which had
never tried conclusions with each other,
and q little goodwill would maintain their
relations on a satisfactory footing. Very
true, but we have since been assured that
NJ. de Giers has somewhat modified his
opinions, and is no longer the champion
of "peace-a at any-price" policy, In strik-
ing contrast to the information and hints
contained in this letter is a lengthy epiStle
from st. Petersburg, which occupies a
prominent position to-day in the columns
of a philO,RuSsian journal, 1t is the Wolf
and the Lamb of the fable-it is the actlyi-
ty on the Austrian frontier which led Rus
STA to adopt precautionary measures! Says
the writer: "Your correspondent twice
passed through Galicia about the begin
ming of October, aud he was able to note
the energy displayed in the ratification Of
GUb approaches w CLdCO", L lACHHg NIg thlANA
other str0ngh0ldS"-and what did Russia
do in return3 The Thirteenth Division of
Cavalry belonging to the Moscow Army
Corps was ordered to proceed to Poland.
No one on either side Of the frontier dream.
ed Of sounding the alarm. The Austrian
Government was fully acquainted with all
chat was going on iR the Cars domlnl0nS.
The Austrian military 0ttdchG at t, Peters.
burg has been twenty years Ia the country,
knows the language well, has relations
everywhere, and possesses exceptional
means Of ObtaiRining information. Why
then, asks the writer. has II panic only
Just been ralSedf He, however, ndIveiY
admits in the same breath that the garri-
sons in Poland may have been reinforced
recently, adding that it is always difficult
to ascertain with any precision what Is
being done; but this is exactly what tue
world wants to know. 1t is interesting to
learn that in the writer's opinion the Aus
trian aud German railway systems are for
strateglcal purposes as near perfection as
they well cau he, while Russia is depl0ra-
bly, backward i'll this respect. '"The bikes
have only to be opened for Poland to he
Inundated" he remarks graphically. On
the other hNnd, the Russian railways were
originally planned to facilitate the export
of wheat. When the military engineers
took to studying the question their sole
preOccupation was to provide for the rapid
transport of troops and mGterieL towards
the Danube and the Black Sea. They did
not then ~forpSpe that the "KeyS OF the
BoSphoruS' would be at Berlin. SO it has
come about that Austria and Germany are
far more prepared to launch their hosts
against Russia than Russia is in a position
to return the compliment. The writer
agrees with other authorities III not regard
ing war as imminent; but more he dare
not predict. $50 far as tomorrow is con
cernpd The horizon is black" and this is
the general view. Tonight we are inform
ed that the "diSlocation" Of the Russian
troops OH the Polish frontier is now con-
cluded, and that similar movements are
only being continued "fOr the present. on
the R0umSnian frontier. The latter piece
Of news will add to the interest with which
the attitude OF the little kingdom is being
watched here. There is "A MuScoyite party
i'll sRoumania, but neither King Charles
nor NJ. BratianO are with it. On the con
trary, their %sympathies are all on the
other side.