The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-16
RUSSIA AWAITS SEA FIGHT.
WAR POLICY AND THE INTERNAL
AFFAIRS DEPEND on 1T,
Nation watches RoJestvenSky's bold Move
with Intense Ihterest--Russias vast
Resources shown In Oner Of the Old
FaIth-RusSIan view OF TOEl's Pian.
Special cdut Dsipateh 10 THE Sun.

Special caus Dsspaich 10 THE Sun.
LONDON, April 15.-A striking example
Of the vast secret resources OF Russia L.
given by the offer Of the directing body OF
| the Old Faith 10 provide the Government
with a bill ion ruble, for war purposes.
! without interest, in exchange for greater
| liberty Of worship The believers In the
| Old Faith include the weslthest portion
Of the population Of the Volga provinces
and east Of Moscow. They seek the same
religious freedom enjoyed by the regular
/ Greek Orthodox Church, and the ofier OF
this immense sum, which is equivalent TO
| full years war expenses, Is a revelation
I Of that vast religious wealth OF Russia
/ which has been many times referred to
/ in these dispatches.
| II should be borne in mind that II this
| body is able to offer such a great treasure
| to the Government in its financial embar-
basement, the State Church itself might
easily provide twice as much without draws
! ing penny from the oyertexed populas
! ton. Russian poverty, In a word, Is duo
| more 10 generations Of boarding Of the
churches than to the burdens Of taxation,
/ There is no sign, however, that the State
Church is willing TO part with sin gle rvble
Of its treasure for the war policy which 1t
steadily urges upon the Car.
1t l. not probable that the directorate Of
the Old Faith has in its possession such an
enormous sum as il now offers, but It's
membership includes many millionaires
| in Central Russia who doubtless are pre-
pared TO execute the present proposal.
The concession asked Is simply the approval
of the Recommendation recently made by
committee Of the Imperial Ministers
which is now before the Emperor, There
Is some indication to-day that the prayer
| will he granted for the Gar made the fol-
| lowing endorsement upon the petition Of
the Holy Synod for the convocation Of a
council to elect a Patriarch and effect q
reform Of the eccleSiastical administration:
i find il impossible in the present dis
turhed times 10 undertake task Of such
magnitude requiring calm consideration.
! Fo owing the d example Of the Orthodox
/ Empe o ! intend, however, that as soon as
the moment is favorable 10 set on foot this
| great work and summon a council Of the Old
| Russian Church for a canonical discussion Of
questions Of faith and ecclesiastica al reform"
Signs multiply that the internal situation
! in Russia is rapidly approaching a fresh
! crisis. Ii is natural that the war party
/ should be building increased hopes on
| ment The boldness Of Admiral Rojest-
vensky's programme appeals to all Glasses
as II does to the popular sympathy OF
Europe at large. Whatever fate awaits
! the Russian arms in the desperate fight
now at hand, the Russian cause will win
| the admiration which has been lacking
! in all previous phases Of the war.
! After all, however, Admiral Rojestven-
sky's venture Is regarded as a forlorn hope
! by naval men, and his destruction or defeat
will have the direst effects in Russia itself.
! Thisis fully recognized by the authorities,
who are making all preparations possible -
prevent any uprisings.
The SUNS correspondent at st. Peters
burg teleEaphs that the Government
definitely closed the Putiloh iron works
! this afternoon and intends TO take similar
action in other State owned works which
| were concerned in the strike OF last Janu-
airy. This measure is intended TO pre-
! vent the mems programme for the Russian
Easter from being carried out. The outer
| circle Of the capital is crowded with the
| hungry unemployed and great depression
! Is extending from Moscow eastward. There
| has been a stoppage Of the delivery OF
/ merchandise from the Siberian Railway
/ since the increased transportation Of war
/ material. There has also been n stoppage
/ of riy Or traffic since the ice brokeup. Goods
are landed at the wharves and intermediate
stations and left there. This threatens TO
! affect seriously the annual fair which Il
/ held at Mimi Novgorod,
/ A typical picture Of the condition Of
| affairs in Poland is contained in a Warsaw
despatch. Il says that eight workngmen
who wero prisoners were brought In a dying
| condition 10 the Warsaw hospital from
/ the Citadel, which is a dreaded prison for
/ political offenders. The men were in q
/ terribly enaciated state and bore the marks
/ OF intense suffering. Their condition IA
reported 10 be hopeless. They were ar
| rested in the riots Of Jan. IS and 80. Tho
! governor Of the Citadel has asked for the
| Immediate supply Of 900 beds for prisoners.
! At least 600 suspects are in cells without
| beds How many more Polish atriots are
| there nobody outside Of the walls really
| knows, while many reports Of barbarous
! treatment and the murder Of prisoners arc
persistently circulated. It is certain that
! many persons pass every year into the
! Citadel and are never heard Of again. They
| are either deported 10 Siberia or con
| denne d TO end their days in this prison.
Another sign Of the times, or rather Of
! the Cars astonishing vacillation. is the
announcement that NJ. Witte is again inti-
mate IN imperial counsels. He had been
in great disfavor for the past few weeks
but yesterday the Emperor summoned him
to a private conference Of two hours. NJ
White intended 20 accept the directorate OF
the Russian State Banks, but the Car
begged him not to resign the presidency OF
the Council Of Ministers until after Easter
II is not wise 10 sscribe too much signih-
canoe 20 the Emperor's present willingness
TO listen 10 liberal counsel, but should a
naval disaster occur before a change In the
imperial attitude Il is possible that Russia
might commit herself 10 peace TO an extent
from which Il will be impossible TO with.
draw.
TuE suns 81. Petersburg correspond
ent says that with the Emperor's consent
his brother-in-law, the Grand Duke Alex
ander Miohaelovitch, this week assumed
definitely the guidance Of the internal
policy. Much Of the administrative con.
fusion batycen TEars koe- SClO and the Gov