The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-01-28
Emperor NIch0sS Ihu8 Drinks to the Health of the
 German Emperor
NEW GROUPING OF POWERS
 PRESAGED BY TIE WORDS
Alliance Between France and Russia Is crumnling, and German and Russ Win Henceforth
 Be Brothers.

st Petersburg, January FLA new grouping of Che powers of Europe with Germany and Russia arrayed side by side in the closest friendship and the mis- matched alliance of the empire with re- publican France tagging in the rear, was forecasted by the words of Emperor Nicholas at a gala luncheon at Tsarskoe- selo today in honor of Emperor Williams birthday. Rising to his feet before bril- liant company of Russian and German representatives to propose a toast to the German Emperor, Emperor Nicholas iift- ed his glass and said slowly and dis tlnetly. as if weighing every word:
 T drink to the health of the Emperor Of Germany and the King of Prussia, my brother and very dear friend"
 Were Significant Words.
 The phrases chosen were significant enough in themselves the Emperor in previous years having proposed the health of the Emperor-king without the qualify Ing expression of brotherhood and friend- ship; but turning 10 Herr yon Schoen. the German ambassador, who was stand ing at his right, the Emperor grasped him by the hand and is reported to have said:
 eFrere, est plus que alns9 CBrother, that's more than ally.
 The stage of the momentous utteranee was the great dinlns hall of the Alex ander or Little faaee' at Tsarskoe- Selo. where the Empa-or hds his winter residence The Empress and Grand Duke Michael were present at luncheon to which were invited besides all members of the German embassy staff Count Minister Frederioks and many nigh dignltarles of the court. Russian knights of the German order of the Black Eagle, while the pres- ence of Count Witte the premier, and Count Bamsdorff the foreign minister, gave ministerial sanction to the signif- cant utterance. All wore full uniform. The Emperor and Grand Duke Michael wore the uniforms of the Prusslan regiments of which they are honorary commanders.
 Soon Pass Into Desuetude.
 The Emperor's choice of the word "ally'' indicates that the defensive alliance with France Is still considered binding but un- doubtedly as has been the gossip in diplo- matc circles here for some time, not hairs breadth beyond the letter of the
 
 in case Frence is not the aggressor, and there Is no telling how soon It will he allowed to pass into desuetude.
 The present relations between Germany and Russia have been a matter of slow but steady growth, and signs of the new alignment have long been in the air. Since the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese war, the warm personal friendship always eS- istng between the two monarchs had been knit closer. and the many material tokens of friendship manifested by Ger many during the war, compared with the luke-warm support which France gave, and limited by her new-found entente with great Britain. has combined to build up strong Germanophile sentiment In in- iuental quarters in St. Petersburg. At the same time much of the necessity to France of the Franco Russian alliance vanished when France elasped hands with Great Britain, and practically assured herself of an ally in case of war.
 The present relations between Germany and Russia were also the text of an ad- dress delivered by Ambassador von Schoen before the German residents of St. Peters, burg who assembled this evening in honor of Emperor Williams anniversary