The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1891-09-07
STARTLING EVENTS THAT lave
OCCURRED DURING THE FAST
MEEK.
THE sULTAN,s CONSOLES 10 RUSSIA
A PASSAGE THRoUGH TIE
DARDANELLEs LIABLE
TOcACsE TROUBLE
IsnecIaI Jim ygoEln.I

$1,000
LONDON, Sept Z. Several startling
events, occurring close together, have
created the impression that war Is close
at hand, and intense anxiety prevails
on the Continent. The Sultan's con
eession to Russia Of a passageforvoIun-
unteers and merchant ships through
Dardanelles took the whole Of Europe
by surprise. and Lord Salisbury does
not appear to have recovered his breath
vet, so unexpected and stunning WIS
the blow administered by the Sick Man.
To this must be added the agreement
undoubtedly signed, sealed and de-
|iivered between Russia and France.
This has been followed BY Russia
fora heavy concentration Of troops on
the German and Austrian borders, iii
addition to the immense force already
there. The simultaneous movements
Of great armies on the borders Of France,
Germany and Austria, ostensibly for
the purpose Of learning more perfectly
the tactics Of battle and experimenting
with the new rifles and powder, have
about completed the dismay of the
public while European peasantry, to
make matters worse, are now convert
ing trifes Of things that have no me-
cessary connection with the political
situation into combinations strong ais
proofs Of holy writ. In-tfermany the
army worm IS accepted as the certain
precursors Of war IN Russia the starv-
ing people are made to do duty IN the
same way, and in Austria Hungary
the extraordinary agitation Of the
young Zechs is said to be the prelude
to the sanguinary struggle so longpre-
dicted. The opening Of the Dardanelles
to Russian ships was caused bya com
bination of circumstances. The Sultan,
urged on by Russia and France, de-
manded the British evacuation Of
Egypt, which Lord Salisbury curly de-
clined to consider. Meanwhile the in
surrection in Yemen, which the Sui
tan's generals attempted in vain to
quell, had spread throughout the trip
on the Red Sea, and now threatens the
whole Of Africa.
The Sultan's advisers claim to have
discovered that the rebels are armed
with breeeh-loaders and ammunition
supplied by the British, and that the
British Cavalry stationed at Alden
made a reconnaissance some months
ago and returned without their car
bines and pistols, the inference being
that they gave them to the rebels, and
went there for that purpose. Some
truth has been ingeniously mixed up|
with large amount Of falsehood in
this story, probably by Russian agents,
to poison the mind of the Sultan-not
a difficult thing to do--and he is in a
towering rage with the English. The
only wonder is that he did not concede
the right Of the vessels Of the regular
Russian navy to pass through the. Oar
danelles There may be war in this
matter, and very speedy war at that.
Much depends upon the nerve Of Lord
Salisbury, which has been sadly shaken
of late. He is now in communication
with the German and Austrian foreign |
Offices, and is expected to take the
initiative and despatch mighty feet
to the Dardanelles, if it is decided to /
force the sultan to withdraw the con-
cession. The matter viii not be, diff
cult The Sultan Is afraid Of his shad-
ow. He has Just broken up his Cabinet
and formed a new one because he
thought the old one was plotting
against his life. This delusion that
certain parties are after his life isnear-
" always with him and colors every
action. But what viii Russia do if he
withdraws the concession
The Gar is answering that now by.
bis preparations for another army on
the Galician frontier. If he does not
intend 10 90 toswar he Is acting 4 dan
gerous part, for both German and aus
trian troops viii behhfried to the front
IN response to this latest challenge.
Emperor William, IN a speech at Merse-