Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-05-04

|
Europe. A great mobilization can be
kept secret up TO a certain point. but
when men and ships are collected and
ready the truth must out
At an unusually early hour NJ Girls
son, supported now by two members of
his ministry. received n visit from the
Russian and German ambassadors,
Prince Korndoff and Count Won Mum
chen. The usual compliments were
/ quickly exchanged.
81 have asked my friend, Count Won
Munchen. to accompany me-" Prince
Korndoff explained, because we are
f., here to speak with you on n matter
concerning which our interests are
identical. You have read the demands
which England has dared to lay before
my master with reference to the en-
counter in the North sea-"
| NJ. Grisson bowed.
Il have studied them with great in
terest," he admitted.
Il do not need to tell you, then. that
they are secuted with Indignation
by my master and his advisers" the
prince answered Neither shall we
permit for n single moment the deten-
ton of our fleet upon its mission"
THAT means. then, war with Eng
land" NJ. Grisson remarked quietly.
"Cnlegs they instantly withdraw
their insolent demands-undoubted
the prince answered.
/ NJ. Grisson turned to the German.
"And you. count" he asked, how
does this concern you?''
"We also" the count answered. ICON
slider the demands Of England unwar-
rantable. We believe that there were
undoubtedly Japanese torpedo boats
concealed among the English fishing
i feet. and we consider that the action
i of the admiral in command of the
Russian fleet was fully justified"
You are prepared, then, to give Rus
sia your moral support:" the president
! asked.
I'VE are prepared to do more the
count answered boldly. IF England
persists in her demands we are pre-
ipared to demonstrate against her.
l VI. GrSson assumed very grave
depression.
lOU, uc Sdlu, nave uo
in endeavoring to solve the mystery
of this North sea incident. have been
in communication with the English
ambassador. and | have collected all
the evidence possible. There is absO-
5 lutely no proof obtainable of the pres,
ence of any japanese craft among the
5 English fishing feet. | submit there
! fore that this is Il case for arbitration.
/ consider that up to the present our
5 friends on the other side of the channel
5 have displayed commendabIe modera-
I ton in a time of great excitement. and
: 1 am happy to say that have the aI-
D thority of Lord Fothergill himself for
saying that they will consent to sub
' hitting the affair to a commission of
a arbitration"
: The presidents words We're received
with chilling silence. 1t was the
prince, who, after short time, re-
o piled:
:. arbitration" he said coldly, does
= not commend itself to US. We have
e been insulted. Our country and oui
gallant fleet have been held up to ridi
$ cule throughout the whole English
: press. We are tired of being dictated
to and bullied by a weaker power-tht
: openly declared ally of our enemy
y England has long been seeking for g
S 'casus belli' with us. At last she has
: found it,
81 NJ. Grisson whispered for a moment
= to one of his colleagues. Then he turn
: ed once more to the prince.
NJ
II lie Prince" he said. "And you, Coun
y Won Munchen, You have come to an
n nounce to me your intention to Jointly
" make war upon England. st. Peters
burg is to refuse her demands. England
will naturally strike at the Baltic fleet
+ and Germany will send her fleet to til,
!. rescue and at the same time LAND
r troops somewhere in the north of Eng
. land. Russia, I presume, will with
+ draw her troops from Manchuria an(
/ strike at India"
i "No, no. Count Won Munchen pro
/. tested. ~ can assure you. monsieur
e it is not our intention to land single
y German soldier in England. We ar,
= interested only to see fair play to Rus
n sia. We require that the Baltic flee
i shall be allowed to go on its way with
: out molestation."
J. The president faced the last speaker
e His gray, bushy eyebrows almost me
? in a frown.
d "Then what, count" he asked 81
= the meaning of the mobilization of 200
600 men at Kiel? What Is the mean
ing of your state railroads running
west being closed last night to all pub
lie traffic? Why have you cabled hug
orders for government supplies? VIII.
were you running trains all last nigh
!" to the coast? Do you suppose that GU
secret service slumbers-that we are
~ nation of babies?"
= The count made an effort to retail
his composure.
sN 10 President" no said "the re