New-York tribune., 1909-03-28
KAISER AGAIN A POW ER
BALKAN TNTERVENTION.
Rritain's Alarm Rene1ued-The Out
look for Dreddnougkts.
rsn.oial hr rr.ncn Cab. TO The Tribune

London March 27-The spectre with the
spiked helmet is still seen at every turn III
foreign and domestic politics. The discovery Oh
q formula more OF less humiliating TO SerV1a
by which wanton and unnecessary war may be
averted in the Balkans is less important thah
the sudden intervention Of Germany IN RUSSIAN
5ir,o,,ecz with overmastering effect. The Rus
sian Foreign Minister. instead OF consulting
France and England. with whom he has been
acting for many months on Balkan a1airs' mas
abruptly recognized the validity OF the Austrian
sction annextng Bosnia and Herzegovina 1t
Is not vet clear whether this change of front ls
due 70 the German Emperor's influence over
the Gar or what pressure was brought to bear
on ST Petersburg, but the processes OF Sir Ed
ward Grey's diplomacy were sudoenly inter
runted and the Triple Alliance was REINFORCED
from an opposite coalition. Berlin has become
Nh. cantra If mower in the settlement Of the
Eastern question. the balance of power cIeateu
by the two coalitions has been overthro"h' anu
Austria Hungary has been left to act at her own
discretion in the Balkans, while Germany re-
gains her supremacy in Continental diplomacy
The German Fn7perors coup de main may bring
about peace unless Austria Hungary Is oeHt Oh
crushing servia. distracted by dynastic scandals
and virtually defenceless. but the mailed nst
in European diplomacy is not pleasant appari-
ton before English eyes.
The sniked helmet also CLEANS in every po-
Ii+ical rnsnoeuvre over the naval estimates.
Three Cabinet meetings have been held during
the week. there have been several Informal con
ferences on the JTnionist side. and peacemakers
have been seeking means Of removing the ap-
pearance Of party divergences when the main
tersnce of naval supremacy is a national issue
and something more, since the action OF tne
labor ministry in New Zealand has MADE II an
immortal issue Yet the vote or Censure VIII
=. ..,o,,aa ~, Monday unless all signs fail and
! there will be a political tournament over n
te,si,-e measures against Germany Whlle
49, I-rto,,,s,s are striving to carry Croydon by
heating the big navy drum. Reginald Mckenna
and the other ministers are confident Of rallylng
tbair followers and Of having a big majority
against the vote Of censure, with not more tnan
. dozen liberal deserters The Unionists are
equally sure that the country VIII ne Warhe"
Of the consequences of inadequate navei con
str1ction and that powerful agitation 1or ule
MULTIPLICATION of Dreadnoughts VIII set IN ai'er
the Crovdon election and the Guildhall meeting
AZ which Lord Rosebery will be prominent
speaker.
The action of the Reichstag in voting the
naval estimates. including a heavy bill for new
construction without diSsenttng voice OF
single half hour wasted in debate has exerted
.ohernr effect upon the panicmongers here
They are beginning TO understand that they are
playing into the lEnds Of the German Emperor
and helping to keep Won Bdlow In power not
ritbstanding the talk about the breakup Of the
combination groups supporting him in the
Rechstsg.
The construction of Dreadnoughts will prob
sbIv be hastened in consequence of the fort
nights agitation. but they come high at t1soo'-
600 each with f25O,OoO for upkeep and main
tenance and not one having chance Of
longer life than fifteen or twenty years. when
every new one is better than the last one built
l. N +.