The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-04-29
BY ROBERT BARR,

Shoft. Tnat remark nearly cost me my
commission A court martial has no
sense OF humorr
II suppose everything is satisfactory
~ settled now2"
'eWell, hardly that. You see, conf
mental nations are extremely suspi.
ciops of Britain's good intentions. as
indeed they ara Of the good Intentions
OF each other No government likes
to 3haye-well, what we might cali n
frontier incident happen, and even IL
country is quite In the right it never
theless looks askance at any official OF
Its own who through his stupidity
brings about an international compli.
cation. AS concerns myself, l am
rather under a cloud, as I told Won
Tho court martial acquitted me, but
1t did so with reluctance and a warn.
ing. shall have TO walk very straight
for the next year or two and be care
full not to stub my toe. for the eyes OF
the admiral are upon me. However. /
think can straighten this matter ont
/ have six months leave coming on
shortly, which intend to spend In ST
Petersburg. shall make 1t my BUSH
ness to see privately some of the OH
cials In the admiralty there, and when
they, realize by personal inspection
what well intentioned idiot / am all
distrust viii vanish"
II should do nothing of the kind" re.
Joined the girl earnestly, quite forget
ting the shortness of their acuuaint-
ance, as she had forgotten the flight
of time, while on his part he did not
notice any incongruity in the situation.
I'D leave we'll enough alone" she
added.
why do you think that?' he asked.
your own country has investigated
the matter and has deliberately run
the risk of unpleasanmess by refusing
to give you up. How. then, can you go
there voluntarily? You would be act
ing in your private capacity directly in
opposition TO the decision arrived at
by your government"
Technically that is 80: still England
would not hold the position she does
in the world today II her men had not
often taken n course In their private
capacity which the government would
never have sanctioned. AS things
stand now. Russia has not insisted ON
her demand, but has sullenly accepted
England's decision. stln quite conYinc-
ed that my act was not only an inva-
sion Of Russia's domain. but deltber-
tie insait; therefore the worst results
II an inconsiderate action on my part
remains. If could see the minister
for foreign affairs or the head of the
admiralty in st Petersburg face to
face for ten minutes I'd undertake to
remove that Impression
You have great faith in your per-
suasivc powerS,r she said demurely.
The lieutenant began to stammer
again.
mo, no, it isn't so much that, but I
have great faith in the Russian as a
judge Of character. suppose am
Imagined to be a venomous. brow
beating, truculent Russophobe, who
has maliclously violated their terri
tory, fiinging shell into their ground
and an insult into their face. They
are quite sincere in this belief. 1 want
TO remove that impression. and there's
nothing like an ocular demonstration.
]. Ike the Russians. One Of my best
friends Is n Russian"
The girl shook her head.
~ shouldn't attempt it, she persist
ed Suppose Russia arrested you and
said to England. We've got this man
N spite of your
Tho lieutenant laughed heartily.
That unthinkable Russia wouldn't
do such n thing. In spite OF all that is
said about the Russian government its
members are gentlemen. OF course IL
such a thing happened there would be
trouble. That is a point where we're
touchy. A very cheap Englishman
wrongfully detained may cause most
expensive campaign Our dlplematists
may act correctly enough and yet leave
feeling of resentment behind. Take
this very case. Britain says coldly to
Russia:
We disclaim the act and apologize
Nov, 1t would be much more to the
purpose If she said genially: -
I'VE have in our employment an
impetuous young fool with thirst for
information. He wished to learn how
new piece OF ordnance would act, 50
fired 1t on with no more intention of
striking Russia than OF hitting the
moon. He knows much more about
dancing than about foreign AFFAIRS.
We've given him a months leave. and
he viii slip across privately 70 st. Pc
tersburg to apologize and explain. The
moment you see him You win recognize
he is no menace to the peace OF ma.
lions Meanwhile IL yoH can inculcate
in him some cold. calm common sense
before he returns wen be ever 50
much obliged"
$50 you are determined to do what
you think the government should have
done"
"oh, quite. There win be nothing
/ frigidly official about INV ,4na,,fY,o,.fvasJ