Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-21
Her Warlike Exhibits Are Imposing
at the Exposition.
NAVAL VESSEL MODELS WIN PRAISE
Strong Hints of the Great Power
of the Muscovite Bear.
INTERESTING INVENTIONS


Copyright 1900. by V. Grihayedor.)
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
PARIS, July 9. 1900.
Owing to English notions of diplomacy.
and the English press. Russia is forced
these days into the position of the most
conspicuous nation in the world. Scarcely
q day passes that she IS not credited, in a
dispatch from London. with being on the
point of invading some helpless territory
throwing covetous glances on another.
Men who look out of their own eyes and
who think for themselves may be disposed
TO suspect that Great Britain is simply try
ing to discredit Russia with other nations,
so that they will Jointly prevent her taking
any important step until England is better
able to look after her own interests than
she is at present. with nearly all her army
In South Africa Thoughtful persons. how
ever. cannot fail to recognize in all this
clarnor the mumblings Of a coming storm,
and discern on the horizon an imminent
war between the great empire of eastern
Europe and that other empire on which
the sun is never supposed TO set When it
comes it will be nearer TO universal strife
than any event known in the century, for
all Of the great powers in Europe will be
drawn into it. while even the United States
Is likely to be involved. politically and COM
m4rcially, if not in military way.
a war, at this time there is no question
that Russia is an unknown quantity. Since
she figured last in any European contest
she has developed amazingly in all her re-
sources and IN her military strength. With
in the last twenty years progress has
made more rapid strides throughout the
empire than in the preceding one hundred
years. Her population is greater than
that OF any two nations % Europe.
From the gigarIic numerical strength
OF her army alone she must neces-
sarfly prove a colossus in war. For the
number of her soldiers is by no means her
only strength In military power. disct-
pine and equipment she has latterly taken
her place among the first of the great pow
ers OF the world.
It may be easy to dispute this statement.
but it is not easy to disprove it Like
every other nation. Russia does not tell
everything she has up her sleeve; but what
she shows to the world in her open hand is
quite enough TO hint at her recent growth
and her present stupendous force She
shows just such an open hand here at
Paris, and unless the observer is willfully
blind he must realize that the Russia of to-
day is no element to be desp:sed by any
power or combination of powers on the
earth.
Russia's Open Hand.
Nations that have made a less imposing
display OF their military force at the Paris
exhibition may possibly regard the Russian
exhibit as ostentatious in its extent and
completeness, and perhaps as something Of
bluff. The man without prejudice. how
ever. may read the lesson as a sort of
'Nolle me Tangere'' warning to the uni
verse; a hint that the great white bear
wants to be let alone. but is able to take
care OF himself IL disturbed.
The showing is an extraordinary one
along the lines of military development
What is particular revelation to the ex-
pert Is the marvellous expansion and thor
oughness Of the Russian navy, as well as
the vast progress achieved in the way of
scientific and inventive construction of all
the implements of war. The artillery ex-
hibit Is one of the most remarkable ever
shown by any country at an International
exposition.
France has been particularly cordial to-
ward her great ally in the allotment of
space. Though You miss Russian pavilion
along the Street OF the Na:ions-that
unique th"roughfare where nearly every
country In the world is represented by a
Characteristic edifice-in another part of