The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-05
Balkan Fuse
May Be Lighted
Snecial 10 The Globe.

Special to The Globe.
LONDON. April I'm spite of the
apparent calm which has settled over
1.-The Balkan question a great deal of
anxiety is felt in official quarters over
1.-The outcome of the reforms instituted
10y the Porte. Advices from Sofia and
belgrade show that a feeling Of great
unrest prevails there. These cities
lare fielled with spies and agents of the
various governments interested in a
solution of the Eastern question. That
5war is ultimately inevitable seems to
sbe 4 fOregOne conclusion here and it is
creating a depression in affairs gen.
serally.
There is no particular Indication at
1.-THE moment that Russia wants war
sbut that she is preparing for it is evil
Fdent by facts sent me recently from
Moscow by a correspondent who says:
I Exceptional activity is being main
stained at the military general staff
headquarters at Kieff and Odessa. A
Especial oath binding to secrecy under
sSeVerest penalties was recently adj
sministered TO every member of the
general staff engaged in the chancel-
Fiery and typographical departments
fOf the general staff headquarters in
sOdessa. Absent officers of the Odessa
Egeneral staff have been recalled, and
snO further leave will be granted to Of
Ulcers in the Kieff and Odessa military
divisions save in exceptional circum-
BStanceS. GendaTmeS are posted day
land night at the entrance to the gen.
seral staff offices. All important dis
spatches, general staff orders, printed
TYPED, and Autographed matter are de-
gpOsited each evening in special recep-
tt2cIes and Immediately sealed in the
presence of the staff officer and guard
led by q gendarme until the seal is
Broken next morning officially.
I have authority for stating that the
kwhOle of the Russian forces which
FUnder the command of Gen. Kuropat-
5llin, minister of war, operated as the
southern army in the maneuVers round
RNursk in Auguest last, have been held
in a condition of perpetual mobiliza-
lmaneuvers." The fifteenth division OF
Russian infantry, CHARTERED in an6
sarOund Odessa, are being put through
h. series of maneuvers, including five
days firing drill. New staff commits
Lsariat, transport. army, medical and
sother purely military appointments
continue to be made in the south ir
Exceptional numbers. Throughout the
southern military division officers I'M
Eit for active service have either beer
transferred elsewhere or retired with
promotion in rank.
Arrangements have just been COM
Ipleted for 100000 first-class and $780,
1000 secOnd-class reserves to join the
icOlOrs within fourteen days Of a Sec
fond or emergency call.
The fact is that while the rest OF
Europe is hoping that the crises viii
Ebe averted Russia looks complacent-
by on.
If war breaks out she has her "holy
purpose" to justify anything that may
Eresult from it and the war part at st
Petersburg, together with all their re-
dictionary allies, would hail the dis
lmemberment of Turkey and the re-
construction of the map of Europe as
Ia God-given opportunity to further
Their ends.
The belief is general that the Porte
lis doing it's best to make the carrying
lout of the reforms practicable, but
Ethat in no way guarantees the preser-
ovation of peace because the Bulgar-
Hans and others interested in the mat
ter are aroused to such a pitch of in
Edignation that they want war anG
want it badly.
The chance for a European econ