The record-union., 1893-12-08
WAR CLOUD IN EUROPE.
ALL THE POWERS PREPARING TO
MEET ANY EMERGENCY.
Only Spark Needed to Kindle the
Flame-Russia said to Have an
Eye on Constantinople.

Copyrighted, 1898, by the Associated Press.
LONDON, Dec. An important dis
patch from Vienna which the Times
printed this morning sets forth that the
Russian Government has declared it i'm
perative that the Kilia, an arm of the
Danube, be made navigable, the object of
which demand was to secure the eXemp-
ton of the Kilia branch from the control
of the Danube Commission. 1t served to
attract renewed attention to the situation
of affairs in Europe, which would need
only spark to kindle the flame. That
the various countries are fully alive to the
difficulties ahead there can be no doubt,
and the numerous incidents which have
come to light within the past few days
indicate that all the Powers are making
preparations TO meet any emergency.
In connection with these recent devel-
opments, the statement made to-day
on authority of the Westminster Gazette.
that the five new battleships, a first class
cruiser and number of smaller vessels
had been ordered to augment the British
navy is not without significance.
The GtO6e Tonight. commenting on the
Times dispatch, asks if we are on the eve
OF revival of the state of things produced
by the Crimean War. 1t says Russia's
demand that the Kilia, the mouth of the
Danube, be- made navigable, is most
alarmingly ugly, and portends Of the
trouble which has been so numerous Of
late.
At the request of an Associated Press
correspondent POultney Bigelow, whose
intimate relations with the highest Off
Gals OF Germany are we'll known, and
who has just returned to London. alter a
stay of several months in Germany, wrote
the following on the situation in Europe:
Russia wants Constantinople, and is
preparing to take it. Russia cannot sue
ceed in accomplishing this desire without
first fighting Austria. She cannot fight
Austria without fighting Germany at the
same time. Russia wants the mouth of
the Danube, desire as strange as if
France should wish to re-occupy Louis
lana. Russia therefore has one enemy
particularly i'll mind, that is Germany.
In this hatred of Germany was born the
comical friendship between Russia and
France, for France means to get back
Alsace-L Lorraine. That France is thirsting
for war admits OF scant doubt to those
who saw the delirious behavior of the
French people in welcoming the Russian
sailors at Toulon and Paris, nor is there
any doubt she is now better fitted for war
than she has ever been. Russia sounded
France, and was we'll satisfied with the
result. When war is declared, the two
are one, the army and navy.
''The Russian Government has now
masked all her active army west of Mos
COW, and the great bulk in Poland is per-
scouting the German language and Luz
theran religion in the Baltic provinces,
and is tanning rather than allaying the
prevailing hatred of Germany. Russia
has been observing great secrecy of late
in regard to movements on the railways.
Sometimes several days have passed
when all traffic on the roads has been
stopped save that Of the Government.
oddly enough, the money she has been
spending upon forts and stores has nearly
all been expended against the German
frontier. She knows she must settle
with Germany before she can get Bos
phorus. The German Emperor mean
while is awake and knows what is pass
ing about him, but knows also that he
must loose a little to gain by a successful
campaign. Gerinen men OF business feel
this, too, and the next war will be largely
devoted to pulling chestnuts out of the
fire for England"