Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-18
ARE
ON VERGE OF
HOSTHITES
NEWS FROM CAUCASUS IS
ALARMING
PRESS OF ST. PETERSBURG
GREATLY EXCITED
Even Conservative Politicians Admit
Situation Is Becoming Serious.
Other Powers Hint at
"Game of Bluff
Py Associated Press.

Py Associated Press.
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb 1.-THE
alarmist reports of the possibility OF
hostilities between Russia and Turkey
which have permeated all strata of
Russian society have assumed the
proportions of veritable war scare,
to which the sensational press is de-
voting it's biggest headlines.
The situation is taken seriously. not
only in military circles, but also by
conservative politicians. M. Guch-
koff, leader of the majority in the
duma, announced his intention to-
night of raising at the next meeting
of the commission of national defense
the question of the nations readiness
for war. This, he believes, Is of the
most vital Importance, in view of the
news from the Caucasus and all parts
of Europe. He also purposes TO inter-
pellate the minister of communications
on the ability of the railroads, partic-
ularly in the Caucasus and Trans
caucasia, to transport troops quickly
to the southern and southwestern
frantiers.
Duma Uurged to Act
The duma. according to M. Guch-
koff, will be guilty of criminal neg
ligence if it permits the country again
to be drawn into war for which IT Is
WHOlly uHpTeRdItQ. ilC sui Cct lllCcAiiS
to avoid a rupture, he said, Is serious
preparation for any eventuality M.
Khvostochinsky, the vice president of
the commission, also thinks that the
situation Is grave and takes, issue
sharply with a number of generals who
appeared before the commission and
said the possibility of hostilities this
year was excluded.
The general staff continues to give
ha cff tho caf-inlIS cnnCld-
Grafton. although as yet no reports
have been received here regarding
movements of troops in the interior.
| But persons arriving from Siberia say
that for several months there has been
an unbroken movement of Siberian
| troops to the southwest in the direc-
Etion of the Transcaspian district and
tTurkestan, from which they could be
most, easily concentrated on the Turk
fsh frontier.
Tifiis advices indicate that prepara-
tions are steadily making for any
eventuality. Competent opinion. how
ever. takes the optimistic view.
Ambassadors Optimistic
The ambassadors of five of the Lead
ing powers, when interviewed today.
considered hostilities 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 bluff which neither side will be
able to carry to a finish, owing to the
lack of sinews of war. But they cher
ish no Illusions over the speedy ter
mination of the Austro-Russian diff
ferences in the Balkans and look for
ward to long period of friction before
the powers again unite to exert their
necessary pressure on the sultan
Diplomats friendly to Austria en-
deavor to acquit Baron Won Aehrenthal,
the Austrian foreign minister, of the
responsibility of disrupting the Euro
pean concert. They said today that
the prospect of carrying through the
proposed judicial reforms in Mace
donia had vanished into thin air before
the Austrian railroad scheme was pro-
posed.
Baron May Resign
The possibility that Turkey, with
Russia's encouragement, might find
means of evading her quasi-promise
to permit the construction of the line
that in this case Baron Won Aehrenthal
would have no alternative but to re-
sign.
Dispatches from London indicate
that the rumor believed to have been
started in Vienna, that Russia con-
templated construction of railroad
from the Danube to the Adriatic sea
in compensation for the SalonilSa line,
has been taken seriously abroad. But
the Russian foreign office emphatically
reiterates it's denial that such a project
is entertained the necessary money,
above ALL being lacking.