Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-18
RusSO=Turkish
War RumOrs Grow.

St Petersburg, Feb. 1.-THE alarm
list reports of the possibilities of hos
Utilities between Russia and Turkey
which have penetrated all stratas Of
Russian society have now assumed
the proportions of veritable war
scare to which the sensational press
is devotinS its biggest headlines. The
seriously is taken seriously, not only
in military circles but also by con-
servative politicians. NJ. Guckoff, the
leader OF the majority in the Durna,
tonight announced his intention of
raising al the next meeting of the COM
mission Of national defence the ques-
tions of the nations readiness for war,
which he believes is of most vital
Importance in view of the news from
the Caucasus and all parts Of Eu-
rope. He also proposes to interpellate
the ministry Of the communications
on the ability Of the railroads, partic-
ularly in the Caucasus and trans-Cau-
casus to transport troops quickly TO
the southern and southwestern from
tiers
The Duma. according to N. Guclloff,
will ne guilty of criminal negligence
if it permits the country again to be
drawn into war for which it is wholly
unpreparcd. The surest means to avoid
rupture. he said, is serious prepara-
tons for any eventuality.
NJ khvostchinsky, the vice president
Of the commission. also thinks that
the situation is grave and takes is
sue sharply with Il number Of generals
who appeared before the commission
ana stated that in their opinion the
possibility Of hOstilitics this year was
excluded The general staff continues
to Givc the situation the most serious
consideration, although rs yet no re-
ports have been received regarding
movements Of troops In the interior.
Persons arriving from Siberia, how
ever. state that for several months
there has been an unbroken movement
Of Siberian troops 10 the southwest
IL the direction Of the transCaspian
district and Turhestan.
Latest advices t. The Associated
Press indicate that preparations are
steadily making FOR any eventuality.
The ambassadors of five of the lead
ing lowers when interviewed today.
considered the possibility of HOSTILE
ties as being almost out of the ques-
ton. They gave it as their opinion
that the Turkish mobilization in Asia
Minor and the warlike preparations i'll
Russia as parts in the gigantic game
Of bluff" which neither side would be
able to carry to finish on account of
the lack Of sinews Of war. But they
cherish an illusion over the speedy
termination Of the Austro-Russian diff
ficultieS in the Balkans and look for
ward to long period of friction be-
fore the powers again unite to exert
the necessary pressure on the Sultan.
Diplomats friendly to Austria en-
dravor to acquit Baron Won Aehren-
thai, the Austrian foreign minister. of
the responsibility of disrupting the Eu-
roncan concert. They said today that
the prospect Of carrying through tho
proposed judicial reforms in Macedo-
MIA already had vanished in thin air
before the Austrian Railway scheme
was proposed. The possibility that Tur-
key with Russias encouragement.
might find means of evading the quasi
promise to permit the construction Is
admitted but the general opinion is
that in this case Baron Won Aehren-
thai would have no alternative but to
resign.
Dispatches from London Indicate
that the rumor believed to have been
started IN Vienna that Russia contem-
plated the construction Of the railroad
from the Danube to the Adriatic sea
in compression for the Salonki Limo
has been taken seriously abroad.