The record-union., 1891-04-12
RuSsia's Actions Arouse Suspicion
of Trouble.
PRINCE FERDINAND THE OBSTACLE
TO RUSSIAN AMBITION.
The Insurgents in Chile Now Control
All the Northern Section of the
Country as Far Sonth as Copriapo-
The Government Troops Fleeing
Toward the Frontier of Bolivia.
Special to the SUNDAY UNION.


New YORK, April 1.-Smalley, in his
London letter to the Tribune, say: That
ominous heading, 1.-The Peace of Eu-
rope" has begun to reappear in the pa
pers. 1t is seldom used except when
there is fear that peace may be broken.
This time, as so often before, it is Russia
who rouses mems fears. If she
wished to pursue unobserved her plans
for new campaign in the Balkans, she
had better have held the hands of her
agents who murdered Baltcheff week be-
fore last. The people may look on idly at
the movements, or reported movements,
of troops, but a planned political assas-
sination, with the Prime Minister as the
intended victim, engaged the attention of
the dullest.
kilograms from Vienna, Sophia and
other central points show that the excite
ment in these quarters continues. Ru-
mors of fresh plots abound. Prince Fer
dinand, the next after Stambouloff, is
deemed the chief obstacle to Russian am
bition, hence a sensible suggestion that
the Prince should designate successor
to the throne.
II the powers could make up their
minds to confirm Prince Ferdinand's
1t would be done, If Germany would
consent, but Germany still waits on Rus
sia in Eastern politics. Russia in the
meantime is believed to be continuing
her preparations for war, which she in
tends to choose her own time for begin
ming. Troops are moving southwark and
westward, and reports of concentration
on the Gallican frontier are rather more
precise and hostile than usual.
Alarm Is freely expressed lest Austria
| be caught mapping, The German EN-
peror believes in peace, but the German
Emperor has convinced himself that no
body can fire a shot without his leave. 1t
does not occur to him that others may
have different opinion, or that guns
| sometimes go off of themselves
| Naval experts in England have for
some time been aware that an attempt
! toward an American navy was in pro-
gress. The English public is Just Begin
ming to take an interest in this effort.
| The interest is stimulated, perhaps, by
that italian talk about sending Italian
iron-clads on a trip to New Orleans.
! The Tunes prints an account of what is
politely called ''the new American
navy" and discusses it editorially. The
| editorial is worth attending to, because it
is the work of an authority in ship
building, whoever he may be.
He thinks it right that the United
States should have navy. He admits
| handsomely that we have distinguished
even the glorious naval traditions that
we are renowned for the novelty and au-
dacity of our mechanical inventiveness.
We are, however, going aheard rather too
| boldly and light-heartedly, building
ships which, good as they are, do better
on paper than in water. The best of
them, indeed, we have copied from
English designs. Growing tired of this
state OF dependence, we are now trying to
improve on our cruisers. Secretary
Tracy believes that the equal of the In
diana, Massachusetts and Oregon three
sea-going coast-line battle ships, what
ever that may mean, does not exist 1t
is treated skeptically. The Brit on is
! commonly Skepucal about other peoples
merits. He will not even agree with
France that the armored cruiser, No. II,
popularly known as the Pirate, is ''ab-
sOlutely without parallel" nor that she
could catch the Teutonic. He more than
hints that at least one. English cruiser,
the Blake, could catch the Pirate.
White, the Chief Constructor to the
English Admiralty, expressed a critical
opinion on the home technical points about
the Pirate, and asserts with confidence
that whatever her builders may allege
only so much weight can be put on board
tor so much displacement. He adds: 81
fear cynically that the laws of nature will
not alter, even to oblige the most accom-
plished ship-designer."
There are criticisms not less distrustful
in spirit, yet they do seem to think that
Secretary Tracy is getting some pretty
good ships built, and England will be
quite ready to borrow from him when he
has anything new to lend. No nation
now has monopoly on new ideas.
IN THE REICHsRATH.
VIENNA, April 1.-Emperor Francis
Joseph opened the session of the Reichs-
rath to-day. His Majesty, in his speech,
dwelt upon the desire for peace mani
tested throughout Europe. He said all
the European Governments had given
him assurances which denote that peace
was the most essential object of their en-
deavors. This, he added, combined with
the friendly relations now existing be-
tween the Powers of Europe, justifies the
hope that peace will prevail for many
years to come.