The Indianapolis journal., 1904-02-14
FRENCH SENTIMENT IS
WARMING UP TO RUSSIA
Fear Expressed that Germany Is
Trying to Ingratiate Herself
Into Graces of Car.
NAPOLEON TO COMMAND

PARIS, Feb. 13-One of the features of
the first week of the war has been the
steady increase of sentiment here favorable
to giving Russia every possible moral and
sympathetic support. At the outset the
French officers and public generally main
tanned that the interests of France de-
manded that she keep clear of the pos
sibility of any war entanglements growing
out of the Franco Russian alliance. This
led some newspapers to assert that France
was placing. self-interest before duty and
deserting her best friend in the hour of
greatest need. A gradual reaction has oc-
Cured until to-day official and public feel
ing runs strongly in favor of strengthening
Russia in every way short of actual par
ticipation in the war.
1t was thought that the large Dreyfus
element would antagonize Russia owing to
Russia's attitude toward the Jews, but, on
the contrary, Joseph Reinach, friend and
biographer of Dreyfus, has published a
letter declaring the honor and interest of
France command her to affirm her sympa-
thy for Russia and Loyalty to hold up the
alliance.
However, French feeling. which is usually
demonstrative, has not shown any wild en-
thusiasm in behalf of Russia This is in
contrast with the uproarious manifesto
tions at the time of the Cars visit to Paris
and other recent events. Two popular sub
scriptions have been opened for the wound
ed. one by the RuSSO-ChineSe Bank and the
other by French newspaper men. The Rus
sian amb3 sSador, Mr.. Neldoff heads the
former with a subscription of 800. Many in
dividuals are showing personal sympathy
and are offering their services The Rus
sian embassy receives a hundred offers
daily.
A NAPOLEON TO LEAD.
Much interest is manifested in the parts
Prince Louis Napoleon and Prince Jaime
De Bourbon are taking in the military
service of Russia. The reports that Prince
Louis, an officer of high rank in the Rus
sian cavalry, who was in France recently to
attend the obsequies of Princess Mathilde.
returning hurriedly to ST. Petersburg at
the outbreak of the war, is to be given
command of the entire cavalry force oper-
ating in Manchuria are said to be we'll
founded. Prince Jaime. VINO is an officer
of Russian volunteers under the Governor
general of Russian Poland, wrote on the
outbreak Of the war requesting an assign
ment to the first detachment of volunteers
TO be sent to the theater of operations an6
he has since telegraphed an earnest request
to be assigned to immediate duty at the
front Both men are of the Napoleonic type
Wnlcn a large fTtncn element deNOIedly ad-
mire.
Ii is not intended by the French govern
ment for the present TO issue a formal
proclamation of neutrality, similar to that
of the United States and Great Britain.
The officials say usage does not require
such proclamation and il is held that the
neutral course of the government has been
sufficiently defined by the instructions sent
to the French foreign. colonial and marine
ministeries' representatives abroad. 1t is
specifically asserted that the absence OF a
proclamation has not the slightest sig
nificance as indicating a desire to avoid ex-
citing Russian susceptibilities II is mere
ly compliance with French custom regard
ing the observance Of neutrality
Germany's reported efforts TO create feel
ing between Russia and France are attract
ing the serious attention OF French OH
cials, who do not hesitate 20 express the
belief that Germany will seek to make the
most of the opportunity TO strengthen her
position with Russia and weaken that of
France. There is the fullest confidence.
however, that this viii not succeed, and
that the Franco Russian alliance will re-
main unshaken. Strong hopes were ex-
pressed to-day in official quarters that
sentiment in Great Britain and the United
States would not sympathize with the aims
of Germany to disrupt the existing under
standing.