The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-08
WAR CLOUDS IN EUROPE
Russia Is Trying to Grab an Arm
Of tho Baltic
SHE MUST FIRST FIGHT AUSTRIA
which Means That She Must Fight Ger
many, Too-Hatrsd OF Russia and
France for Germany Explains the
Hob-Nobing at Touion and Paris.

LONDON. Dec. s.-An important dispatch
from Vienna, which The Times printed,
setting forth that the Russian govern
ment had declared 1t imperative that the
Kilia arm OF the Danube should be made
navigsble, the object Of which demand
was to secure the exemption of the Kilia
branch from the control of the Danube
commission, has served to attract renewed
attention to the serious situation of affairs
In Europe-a situation which would need
only spark to kindle the fame.
That the various countries are fully
alive to the difficulties ahead of them
there can be no doubt, and numerous Incl
dents have come to light within the past
few days which indicste that all the
powers are making preparations 10 meet
any emergency, whatever its proportions
may be.
In connection with these recent develop
ments the statement made yesterday on
the authority Of the Westminster Gazette
that five new battleships. . frst-class
cruiser and number of smaller vessels
have been ordered to augment the Bn n
navy il not without signihcance.
The Globe, commenting on The Times
dispatch, asks II we are on the eve OF u re-
vival of the state Of things produced by
the Crimeau war. It says that Russia's
demand that the Kilia mouth Of the Dan
ube be made naviGable is the most alarm
ing of the ugly portents of trouble which
have been SO numerous Of late. Reference
is also made in The Globes article to the
hostile attitude of Russia toward India
and to England's unprepared condition
for war.
Kussis, Austria and Germany.
Poultney Bigelow. whose intimate rela.
tions with the highest officials in Germany
are we'll known, and who has just returned
to London, after stay OF several 1ths
in Germany. has. by request, writ, tho
following on the situation In Europe:
Russia wants Constantinople and is
preparing to take it. Russi1 cannot sue
ceed in accomplishing this desire without
first Sighting Austria. She cannot fight
Austria without fighting Germany at the
same time. Russia wants the mouth of
the Danube river, desire rs strange as il
France should wish to reoccupy Louisiana.
Russia therefore has one enemy partieu-
larly in mind, that is Germany, and In
this hatred of Germany was born the COM
ical friendship between Russia and France,
for France means to get Alsace Lorraine.
"The gravity Of the present outlook is
not so much in tho fact that Russia and
France Individually dislike Germany, but
in the fact Vat they are united in a hatred
that abso every other passion. That
France Is thirstinR for war admits of scant
doubt to those who saw the delirious be-
havior of the French people in welcoming
the Russian sailors at Toulon and Paris,
nor is there any doubt that she is now bet
ter fitted for war than she has ever been.
Russia sounded France. and was well sat
isftd with the result. When war is de-
clared the two are one. army and navy.
Tanning Fismss Of Hatred.
"The Russian government has now
massed all its active army west Of Mos
cow and the great bulk in Poland. 1t Is
prosecuting the German language and
the Lutheran religion in the Baltic prov
inces, and Is tanning, rather than allay-
ing, tho prevailing hatred for Ger
mauy. An editor in Poland was
recently threatened with transporta-
ton to Siberia because he ven-
tured to reprint an impartial article in
The Century Magazine on the Emperor Of
Germany. The editor was told that in
Russia the people did not want to have
the German ruler praised.
Russia has been observing great
secrecy OF late with regard to movements
on her railways. Sometimes several days
have passed when all traffic on the roads
has been stopped save that OF the govern
ment. Oddly enough the money she has
been spending on forts and stores has
nearly all been expended against the Ger
man frontier. She knows that she must
settle with Germany befo.s she can get
the Bosphorus.
"The German emperor meanwhile Is
awake and knows what is passing about
him, bat he knows also that he has much
to lose aud little 60 gain by successful
campaign. Ge rman men OF slness feel
this too, and that the next AR will be
largely devoted to pulling ehestnuts out
of the fire for England.
"The kaiser knows that In war with
Russia he will be fighting the battle OF all
sivilized countries, against a power repre-
senting commercial stagnation, political
barbarism and religious intolerance"