Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-04-27

Since then our relations have become
to a certain extent strained. Germany,
ever on the lookout for complications
which might lead to her own advan-
tage, steps in. Her attitude toward
Russia is changed to one of open and
profound sympathy. Russia in her des
perate straits rises like a starving fish
to fat fly Here it is that our secret
service steps in"
Our secret service-and her allies
one of the other men murmured.
Exactly! We pass now into the
consideration of facts which need one
thing only to justify our course of ac-
ton. Evidence is brought to us that a
| secret meeting took place between the
car of Russia and the emperor of Ger.
! many. From all the Information which
we have collected that meeting was
possible l personally believe that it
took place. \ treaty is said to have
been drawn up between them having
for its object the embodiment of Eng
land with Russia and alliance of Ger
many with Russia so far as regards
her quarrel with England. We know
that Germany is secretly modifying
| men and ships.
I'VE know that the ambition of the
emperor is to possess himself of the
colonies of Great Britain. if not actu-
ally to hold his court in London. We
f, know that his jealousy of King Ed
ward amounts to disease We know
that he is man of daring and violent
| temper, with an indomitable will and
| an unfiinching belief in his own infa!li-
| bility and the infallibility of his army
| and navy We know that he has at
| least a dozen schemes for sudden at
| tack upon England, and. mighty though
| the navy of Great Britain is, ii is not
| In our opinion strong enough to pro-
| tect her shore from the combined Bal
| tic and German fleets and also protect
| her colonies. England. through our
| friendship. has been warned She pro
| poses with most fattering alacrity the
| only possible counter stroke-an ALI
| ance with ourselves. We must decide
| within twelve hours. The treaty lies
upon my desk there. Upon US must
| rest the most momentous decision
which any Frenchman within our rec
| objection has been called upon to make.
What have you to say, gentlemen"
There was short silence. Then the
i hand spoke.
THE issues before u.s. he said slow
i ly, "are appalling. Every Frenchman'
! blood must boil at the thought of Ger
many greedily helping herself to the
mighty wealth and power of Great
notwithstanding by this single mas
ter stroke the strongest nation on
earth, able to dictate even to us and to
} send her word unchallenged through
out the world 1t is a hideous picture
: 1t must mean the abandonment forever
of the hope of every true Frenchman
; Every minute will become 4 menace
to us. Wilhelm, the arrogant, with
British gold and British ships at his
} back, will never forget to faunt him
. self before us to our eternal humilia
: ton
You are taking it for granted" his
neighbor remarked, that Germany
: will be successful"
5 '"The odds are in her favor" was the
quiet reply. The navy of Great Brit
f ain is immense. but her sea front, SO tC
J speak, is enormous She is open to be
the prey of sudden swift attack, ant
the moment has never been more IA
! vorable'
Let all these things be granted
the third man said. Even thenare we
e free TO enter into this alliance will
u England: Our treaty with Russia re
mains. We have no proof that she ha:
broken faith with us. If this secre
treaty between Russia and Germany
really exists it is of course another
o matter. But does it? We have moth
, ing but the word of an English boy
! The rest is all assumption. The Who'll,
, affair might be nightmare W,
q might sign this treaty with England
! and find afterward that we had beer
, She victim of a trick. We should bt
perjured before the face of all Europe
+ and our great financial interests il
:. Russia would at once be placed in /,
perilOus position"
t, A telephone upon the table rang soft
{ ly. NJ. Grisson held TIE receiver to hi
ear and listened. Then he rose to hi
feet
\ Count Won Munchen desires a wor,
. with me-" he announced. "He pledge
. himself not to keep me more than fiv
minutes. | had better receive him. Eek
cuse me, gentlemen"
The two men were left alone TIL
elder and stouter of the two busie,
: himself with an inch rule and an atlas
He seemed to be making calculation
as to the distance between Cherbouri
and certain spot in the North sea.
what is the chiefs own mind?" hi
companion asked. docs any on
know"
The other shook his head
who can say? Our ties of friend
ship with England are too recent t
make this a matter of sentiment / be
lieve that without proof. he fears to &C
cept this statement. And yet above al
things he fears Germany. There wa
some talk OF missing page of the az
tual treaty between Russia and Gel