The Elbert County tribune., 1908-02-20
RUSSIA MAY
FIGHT TURKEY
WAR SCARE HAS GREATLY Ex-
CITED THE RUSSIAN
PEOPLE.
MOVEMENT OF TROOPS
FOREIGN AMBASSADORS DO NOT
REGARD THE SITUATION AS
SERIOUS.

st. Petersburg.-The alarmist re
ports of the possibilities of hostIIitjes
between Russia and Turkey. which
have permeated all strata of Russian
society, have assumed the proper
tions of yeritahle war scare, to which
the sensational press is devoting it's
biggest headlines.
The situation is taken seriously,
not only in military circles, but also By
conservative politicians.
The duma, according to NJ Ouch
kof, will be guilty of criminal neeli-
gence II It permits the country again
to be drawn into war for which IL is
wholly unprepared. The surest means
TO avoid rupture. he said, is serious
preparation for any eventuality.
NJ. Khvostchinsky, the vice presi-
dent OF the commission. also thinks
that the situation is grave and takes
issue sharply with number of gen
erals, who appeared before the com
mission and said that the possibility OF
hostilities this year was excluded.
The general stan continues to give
the situation the most serious consid-
eratlon although MS yet no reports
movements of troops In the interior
But persons arriving from Siberia say
that for several months there has been
an unbrokcn movement Of Siberian
troops to the southwest In the direc-
tion OF the trans-Caspian district and
Turkestan. from which they could BIS
most easily concentrated on the Turk
ish frontier.
Tihis advices Indicate that prepara-
tions are steadily making for any
eventuality. A competent diplomatic
opinion. however, takes 4 more opu-
mlstic view.
The ambassadors OF five OF the lead
ing powers, when interviewed Monday
considered hostilitles as being almost
out of the question. Their opinion is
that the Turkish mobilization In Asia
Minor and the warlike preparations in
Russia are parts OF gigantic game
of blum" which neither side Will be
able to carry to a finish on account of
the lack of sinews OF war. But they
/ cherish no Illusions over the speedy
termination OF the AustTo Russian diff
Guilty In the Balkans. and look forward
to a long period OF friction before the
\ powers again unite to exert the neces-
sary pressure on the sultan
Diplomats friendly to Austria On
deavor to acquit Baron Won Aehreu-
thai, the Austrian foreign minister. OF
the responsibility OF disrupting the Eu-
ropean concert. They said that the
prospect of carrying through the pro-
posed judicial reforms In Macedonia
had vanished into thin air before the
Austrian railway scheme was pro-
posed. The possibility that Turkey
with Russia's encouragement. might
find means of evading her quasi-prom-
Use to permit the construction of the
line is admitted. but the general opin-
ion Is that in his case Baron Won Aeh-
rentbal would have no alternative but
to resign.
Dispatches from London Indicate
that the rumor. believed to have been
started in Vienna. that RUSSIA con
templated construction OF II railroad
from the Danube to the Adrlatic sea.
In compensation for the Salonika line.
has been taken seriously abroad But
the Russian foreign office emphaticaIiy
reiterates its denial that such pro
ject is entertained. the necessary
money, above all, being lacking