The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-03-04
1t Has Forced Britain to An.
nounce Her Absolute 10y
atty to Jap Alliance.
REPORT DID NOT AGREE
The Agents Misled Russian Home Of.
flee and Caused King Edward to
Send Word to Gar That Eng
land Stood by Japan.

ambassador. on last Saturday for st.
Petersburg, was connected with KIM
Edwards alleged efforts to bring about
the restoration OF peace, now processes
TO know the real reason for the am
bassador's sudden visit to the ear
which 1t says was one Of the cause for
the panic on the Paris bourSe.
The reason, according to the News,
was the question of his position as
Russia's legitimate representative in
Great Britain. Tnere have been some
time other Russian representatives in
London, making Count Beniekendorff's
task most difficult. These are Nine.
~Denovikoff, a celebrated writer on Rus
sian politics; Baron Wessilitsky, for
merly of the Russian diplomatic SER
vice, now correspondent of the Novoe
Vremya; NJ. Pobiedonostzeff, procur-
euer of the general holy Russian synod,
whose immense power and influence in
Russia are notorious
Watching the Ambassador.
Their duty has been to watch Count
Benlekendorff, who's diplomatic path
they have long made thorny. Their re-
ports so conflicted with the ambassa-
doris that Count I-amsdorff, the Russian
foreign n@'ster, was Ultimately unable
TO conVl.St the car that they We're
wrong, They insisted that Great Brit
am would not fulfil her pledges to
Japan in the event of war, while their
co-agents at Paris concurrently insist
ed that Japan was blufIing.
Their intrigueS led to Prime Minister
Balfour'S public declaration that Great
Britain would observe the terms of her
alllance with Japan, which was intend
ed not only to enlighten Pobienonost-
zels panslavist agents in London. but
lhelr friends in Paris who, cooperating
win count Demun We're trying to
make impossible the position of Foreign
Minister Dtlcasse, because he declined
10 abandon an attitude of strict neu-
trality.
The %intrigues were brought to King
al notice by very high French
politicians. His majesty therefore
asked u Beniekendorff to make it
thoroughly understood at st. Peters,
pufg mat any of France outside
the strictest neutrality would bring
Great Britain into the field, alongside
Of Japan.
A the moment adds the News
the success of Count Beniekendorff's
mission. on which may depend not only
the limitation of the war but European
complications over the Balkan ouCs-
ton, remains doubtful"
Lamsdorff May Resign.
"A ST. petersburg telegram SAYS that
Count L.amsdorff is tired of his posi-
ton as minister of foreign affairs and
ollSequelltly WlSheS to give in his
resignation. The step constantly has
peen in his mind during the last six
months as he is Numerically opposed
to the course of Russia's policy in the
far east.
This in itself is a piece Of news likely
10 excite universal interest, but what
follows is still more i .lportant. This
is IN effect that no less a person Than
M. White, the minister pf finance, the
Napoleon of Russian statesmen, is to
be the future minister of foreign af-
fairs, at the same time retaining his
present post as president of the council
of ministers. This Will give him a posi-
ton quite exceptional in Importance.
or late people who have been hostile
to White have had to acknowledge that
everything he predicted concerning the
war has come absolutely and strikingly
true, While Admiral Alexieff and the
Bezabrazoff clique, which antagonized
the moderate advice of White, have
failed in their highly optimistic predic-
tions and have not lived up to their
promises. BezabraZoff, who was the
ringleader of the jingoes, is today fallen
to full disgrace, and his career is fin
ished. Former Minister of War Kouro-
patkin, who refused to serve undes'
Alexieff, the latter being junior to him,
now goes out with the understanding
that Alexieff is officially sidetracked,
Makaroff taking charge of the navy,
replacing AleXieff's unfortunate nom
inee, Stark.
Plot Against kouropatkin.
kouropatkin, who has not proved
particularly good as "a minister, is
known as an excellent soldier. Never
theless his friends say today that he
has been sent out in order to ruin his
reputation, as the task before him is
well night impossible.
General Sakharoff, chief of staff of
the military district of Turkestan, has
been appointed to act as minister of
war during the absence of General
Kouropatkin.
Stark Is the first victim Of the pres
ent war. He is recalled, and now peo-
pie wonder how such a man as Stark
highly responsible a position as tina
of commander Of the fleet at Port Ar
thur. Admiral Stark is just exactly
opposite what he should have been,
and is quite untitled for the RESPONSE
bllity which he sadly belied. He is
well known in the navy as one of those
drawing room seamen who could not
bear to hear the firing of a gun, and in
consequence whenever it was possible.
placed as much distance as possible
between himself and his ship when gun
practice was to take place. The sound
VI q Bun 6dNC AAAlA SyllplOlIlS VI sea-
sickness.
The name of Alexieff is banded
about as n Of those from whom extra
ordinary things were expected, and
whose record 81 far has been in the
highest degree disappointing. 1t is
openly said he made a vast mistake
In placing a great distance between the
ships Of the fleet. It is suggested
strongly it was poor policy to divide
up the fleet already none too strong.
He Is held up to censure as having
been guilty Of allowing such a fine
Ind valuable ship as the Variag to
,e sacrificed in the way it
Russia in Serious Position.
The trend of intelligent sentiment at
the present moment is to take the sit.
uation of Russia as a serious n It is
now rather late, perhaps, but it is gen
orally realized that the task this coun-
try has undertaken is OF a Vastness
which few people had even contem-
plated. AT first the cry was, Let us
get troops to the front. Let us get
them in thousands and hundreds of
thousands" Today the same people
are beginning to cry, How are we go
Ing to feed such masses at such a dis
lance from the base with one single
and fragile line to depend upon?"