Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-08-31
A CRITICAL MOMENT.


Wonderfully dramatic were the cir
cumstsnces at the store building in the
navy ward at Portsmouth, n. H., Tues
day. when NJ. Witte came from the Sc
cret conference room, in which peace was
decided upon, and made the announce
ment to his secretaries. Upon the word
he was to utter to them depended, per-
haps, the immediate fate of a hundred
thousand lives. Every preparation had
been made at st. Petersburg and at the
front to continue the war. The military
party was determined and Linevitch was
TO trv conclusions with Oyama.
If a rupture had come, the signal was
to be given to LiDeyitch, and an impe-
rial manifesto, already prepared, would
have been issued, proclaiming to the
Russian people the impOssibilily OF ac-
cepting the conditions asked by Japan
and calling upon the Russian people to
support the Gar and the government in
its decision not to pay tribute to the foe.
Neither NJ. Witte nor any member OF
the Russian mission believed it possible
that Baron Komura, by giving way upon
all disputed points, would place 1t In the
power of the Russian plsnpotentiaries,
acting within their instructions, to con-
clude peace. Every preparation for de-
parlure had been made. The Russians
had not only packed their trunks, but
special train had been engaged to take
the party to New York.
Nj. Witte went to the navy yard with
out hope that his adversaries would ac-
cept the ultimatum given by the Gar.
His secretaries knew his decision, and
it can be imagined with what anxiety
they awaited in the adjoining room the
result Of the secret conference. A code
had been arranged to cover the contin.
gency of a rupture, andifthe fatal words
were uttered when VI. Witte emerged
from the room, one Of the secretaries
was to 90 hastily to the private telephone,
which connected directly with the Rus
sisu headquarters, announce the rupture,
which was to be cabled instantly to st.
Petersburg and flashed along to Man
churia as the signal for Lineytch to at
tack.
The phrase agreed upon was con-
ventional one. For almost an hour the
secretaries waited, their nerves at high
tension. Suddenly the door was thrown
open aud NJ. Witte stepped out. His
face was flushed. He seemed to be re-
strainiug himself as he advanced. The
secretaries held their breath until sud
denly he stopped Instead ofwords that
might mean death to those far away on
the battlefield OF Manchuria, which they
expected, he exclaimed: "GOspoda,
mir" (Gentlemen, peace.)
The SECRETARIES could hardly credit
their senses. Then, suddenly, they
realized the great victory their chief had
won. and impelled by single impulse,
they FASTENED forward. NJ. Witte held
out his arms. Mr.. Korostoveiz was the
first TO reach the chief, whom they all
adore. He threw himselfinto NJ. Whites
arms. and embraced aud kissed him on
both cheeks after the Russian fashion.
Then, in turn, NJ. Witte embraced and
gave the kiss of peace to NJ. Naboukoft
and Mr.. Plancon. All were overpowered
with emotion.
In the midst of the preparations that
had been made at St. Petersburg for con-
tinuing the war, which included not only
plans for an immediate attack by Line
witch and the issue of an imperial mani
festo, but orders for new mobilizations,
the stunning effect to NJ. Witte's an-
nouncement to the Emperor that he had
agreed upon terms of peace can be i'm
agined, and will help to explain the cold
ness with which il was received by the
official world, and CONSERVATION tcaused
in the ranks of the "war party"