Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-08-12

he asked
 ' NO! He wired this morning that he can't get away. Sefton isn't coming either. Between ourselves, George, something seems to be going on at the foreign office which l don't quite up- derstand."
 What do you mean" Duncombe asked. There has been no hint at any sort of trouble in the papers"
 That's just what I don't under stand" Lord Runton continued. ''It Is certain that there is an extraordinary amount of activity at Portsmouth and Woolwich, but even the little halfpen- ny sensational papers make no more than a passing allusion to 1t. Then look at the movements of our feet. The whole of the Mediterranean fleet is at Gibraltar. and the channel squad ron Is moving up the North sea as though to join the home division. All these movements are quite unusual"
 "What do you make of them them" Duncombe asked.
 SCdECCly kuuW, 6Oiu 4suhtoA oh swered. But I can tell you this: There have been three cabinet coun- cils this week, and there Is curious air of apprehension in official circles in town, as though something were about to happen. The service clubs are almost deserted, and know for a fact that all leave in the navy has been suspended What don't under stand is the silence everywhere. It looks to me as though there were real ly going to be trouble. The Baltic fleet sailed this morning, you know"
 Duncombe nodded.
 But" he said, ''even if they were i'll disposed to us, as no doubt Russia is just now, what could they do? One squadron of our fleet could send them to the bottom"
 "No doubt" Lord Runton answered. But supposing they found an ally?"
 France will never go to var with us for Russia's benefit" Duncdmbe de clared.
 Granted" Lord Runton answered, ''but have you watched Germany's at titude latelyT'
 T can't say that have" Duncombe admitted, but should never look upon Germany as war seeking na- tion.r
 "No, I dare say not" Lord Runton answered. "No more would a great many other people. Every one Is will ing to admit that she would like our colonies, but no one will believe that she has the courage to strike blow for them. I will tell you what believe, Duncombe -I believe that no great power has ever before been in so dan gerous a position as we are today"
 Duncombe sat up in his chair. The weariness passed from his face, and he was distinctly interested. Lord Runton, without being an ardent poli- tician, was a man of common sense and was closely connected with more than one member of the cabinet.
 Are you serious, Runton?" he asked.
 Absolutely! Remember. was in Berlin for two years, and I had many opportunities of gaining an insight into affairs there. What I can see coming now I have expected for years. There are two great factors which make for war. One Is the character of the emperor himself and the other the inevitable rot which must creep like a disease into a great army kept always upon q war footing, through a decade or more of inactivity. The emperor Is shrewd enough to see this. Nothing can possibly exist St it's best which is not used for the purpose to which 1t owes its existence. That is why we have this flood of literature just now telling us of the gross abuses and general rottenness of the German army. Another i've years of idleness and Germany's position as the first military nation will have passed away. Like every other great power. 1t Is rusting for want of use. The emperor knows this"
 Duncombe for many reasons was fas- cinated by his friends quiet words. Apart from their obvious plausibility, they brought with them many startling suggestions. Had chance, be wonder ed, really made Phyllis Poynton and her brother pawns in the great game? He felt himself stirred to a rare emo ton by the flood of possibilities which swept in suddenly upon him. Lord Runton noted with surprise the signs of growing excitement in bis listener.
 GO on, Runton. Anything elsef'
 Lord Runton helped himself to e cigarette and leaned across to light it.
 "Of course" be continued, T know that there are q great many people who firmly believe that for commercial reasons Germany would never seek a quarrel with us. I will agree with them SO far as to say that do not be- lieve that q war with England would be popular among the bourgeois of Germany. On the other hand. they would be quite poweriess to prevent 1t. The emperor and his ministers have the affair In their own hands A slight break in our diplomatic relations. some trine seized hold of by the press and magnified at once into an insult. and the war torch is kindled- Today war does not come about by the slowly growing desire of nations. The threads of fate are in the hands of few dipio- matists at Berlin and London-a turn of the wrist. and there is tension which q breath can turn either way. You ask me why the emperor should choose England for attack. There are many reasons First. because Eng land alone cnuld repay hIm for the