The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-12
SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1904.
Russ1A,s BLACK SEA FLEET.

Russia Is fretting at the gates of the Bosphorus and would if she could, break out with the fleet lying in the Black Sea. Perhaps it would be more correct to say she is pretending to an anxiety to free her battleships that are cooped up there inactive and powerless to contribute to the result of the war with Japan. The ships she has in the Far East are doing so little beyond hiding that it is dif- ficult to believe Russia really cares to endanger what is left of her navy If her distress should appeal to the powers in Europe that have neutralized the Black Sea and confined her navy there, Russia would be glad. Whether she chose to avail herself of the privilege of passing through the Hellespout just now, or at an- other and more favorable time the mat ter might take on a different aspect. The right of egress might put it in her power to strike a powerful blow at an adversary nearer at hand than Japan
 Russia only awaits a convenient oppor- tunity to destroy the blockade set up in the Dardanelles by treaties. The very neet itself is there by reason of her catching Europe absorbed and entangled by the Franco Prussian war. Tho Crimean war was ended by the Treaty of Paris. France, England and Sardinia nad waeed that war to break Russia,s hoio upon Turkey and to secure the Hb- erty of Turkey Russia was bound not 10 maintain fleet in the Black Sea. By ! the same treaty, Turkey was required to close the Bosphorus to foreign vessels of. war, unless she herself was engaged in hostilhies In 1870. Russia denounced the treaty Of Paris, in which she was foe- oiuoeh to maintain navy there. The reasons she gave for denouncing ii were trivial enough; the real reason was that Europe was so shaken by the giant con- nict between France and Germany that no power. not even England. stood ready to war With Russia to compel obedience to treaty obligations, England did pro- test in strong fashion and Russia d,d yield formal acquiesence in the protes, while new conference came together and. with their tongues in their cheeks graciously granted leave to Russia that Russia had already seized
 It is not at all likely that England will now permit the treaty to be still further invalidated to benefit an ancient enemy at the expense of present ally, and We may count on seeing the Black Sea fleet riding safely at anchor. prevented from going out and protected against the com ing fin nf the JananaaA
 That Russia should long for an ice free port opening out upon the high seas, is the most natural of ambitions. She is crowding in every direction toward the open ocean. She has obliterated Fin land. Norway and Sweden stand at arms in dread of her encroachments She has had paw on the Balkan country; Turkey is doomed the day the CZar is at liberty to strike; Persia and Arabia would share Turkeys fate; the English ih India are menaced. and with a mouthful of stealthy lies, she has been for years pressing down upon China and Japan. Napoleon, who was a wonderful seer in his way, pre-. dicted at St. Helena that before the end of the Nineteenth Century, Europe would be all Cossack or all republican. Institu- tions are tougher than he dreamed of. Europe remains in government very much as Waterloo made 1t, France alone having returned to the form of republican rule If Russia beats Japan declsively. how ever, then indeed all Europe may look out for the Cossack.