New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-04-17
GERMAN INTERVENTION
France, England and Russia Noe
Closer Together than Euer.
Paris. April 6.


- Difference TO Germany. what six months be-
.,re she had refused TO Austria Hungary. and
zbicb forced NJ Iswosl1y, without consultation
nth the cabinets Of Paris and London, to aban-
7,7 the position that the Car had hitherto
maintained in conjunction with France and
England, is now known in diplomatic circles in
paris and is appreciated at its real value. The
communication made by Count Pourtales the
German Ambassador at St. Petersburg. to NJ.
rsv-oIslyy in substance. although not in form,
amounted TO ultimatUm. It was a categori-
al notification to Russia that the Austro- Hun
gsrian army would cross the Servian frontier
-r5rrin Ten days unless the Servian government
should give a satisfactory reply to the demands
made by Count Forgach. the Austrian Minister
s+ RelErade- Count Pourtales further stated in
.be most categorical language that Germany
would give Austria Hungary all the active mill
+srv support necessary to prevent any interior
snce with the operations about to be undertaken
ny The dual monarchy in Scrvia.
Germany thus placed N. Iswolsky in a posi-
rim similar TO that in which she had already
raoed NJ. Delcass6 during the Moroccan diff
c,,Irv that resulted in the -Algeciras conference
four wears ago. It was the temperance in Eu-
Korean diplomacy Of the mailed fist" and IT
secured an overwhelming victory for the plans
of Baron Won Aehrenthal. French statesmen
,ra fully aware that it was the military help
1essness Of Russia that thus enabled Germany
m rwo important occasions TO enforce her will
in the settlement Of European affairs without
The preliminary assent Of France. England or
gussia- The energetic intervention of Germany
sn5 the apprehension that still more energetic
action may be exerted in the near future have
brought these three powers into closer relations
.han ever. NJ Pichon. the French Minister Of
Foreign Affairs. fully appreciates the fact that
gc -f7a tiz-n fighting
strength Of the various powers upon which de-
nsnds the peace Of Europe. The preoccupation
;vst now is 70 hasten the reorganization Of the
Russian army. No one al the French Foreign
once for moment believes that the German
Chancellor would have used such extreme press
IRE at St Petersburg had the Russian army
been IN an efficient condition.
General Rldiger who since 1905 had been the
Russian Minister Of War. has now been re
placed by the former chief Of stan, General
soukhonlinoff who has been selected by the
Emperor as thu man hest fitted to continue the
reforms begun by his predecessor and carry
them as rapidly as possible to a satisfactory
development The military situation in Russia
certainly is improving General Rudiger &C
complished several. reforms. the most important
Of which was the reduction Of military service
from five to three years This increased the
annual contingent and made the reserves much
ranks The sanitary and moral conditions %
the men were greatly improved by means Of
supplementary rations and obligatory instruc-
ton. which enhanced the qualities of the non
commissioned officers The position Of the
suhaltern officers was benefited by increased
rav The general staff has been thoroughly re-
organized and q much more drastic selection
Ct army corps and divisional commanders has
been introduced
Much more. however. remains to be accom-
rl:shed In June. 1905. General Rudiger OBJ
tafned grant Of S1y0oo0G00 TO renew the ma
-arfsl and especially the guns for the field ar
tiilerz- This sum must be expended, not at
once. but during q term Of four years The
new War Minister, General SoukhOmlinof, has
a tremendous task before him. According to
the reports Of the most competent foreign nil
itarv Observers the Russian army is even now
i'll supplied with field artillery and ammunition.
There is disastrous lack OF supplies and ma
1erial and nearly a month would be required TO
mobilize an effective force on the German or
Hungarian frontier, and even then the
armies so put in the field would scarcely be Mt
10 undertake offensive operations German
diplomacy profted by the military unreadiness
Of Russia. Just as four years ago il seized the
opportunity Of putting pressure on France at q
time when the organization Of the French de-
fences on the eastern frontier had been sadly
neglected
These object lessons have had wholesome
effect both in France and in Russia and the
humiliation inflicted upon them each in turn by
the chancery Of the Wilhelmstrasse can with
difficulty be snoothed over. The situation Is
further complicated by the revolutionary trend
OF events in France, which cannot fail to have
z most serious effect on the fighting value OF
the French army. The social revolution which
began with the strike of the postal and tele-
graph officials, and which threatens TO bring the
state fUnctionaries and civil servants under the
central domination Of the General Confederation
Of Labor Is being closely watched in Berlin.
where the General STAFF IS preparing for the
Emperor elaborate reports upon the new con-
ditions imposed upon the morale and discipline
Of the French army by the present socialist
movement, which is wider and deeper than any
thing Of the kind observed in France since the
Commune Of 1871. The mass meeting held on
SUNDAY at the HipDodrome, where employees OF
the government dismissed officials Of the de-
partments OF the postof1ice, of the Ministry OF
Education and OF the state railroads fraternized
with discontinued electricians, metallurgists.
bakers, house masOns. carpenters navvies and
other workmen showed that at present there
are two separate groups among the French
fUnctonaries
One Of these groups IS represented by the
'Comite d'Etudes" recruited from the more
conservative civil servants. including profess
sors. schoornasters, law court employees, clerks
and officials OF the Ministry of Public Works.
q the railroads and canals. This class claims
the right OF association for their mutual eco
nonic welfare but renounces the right 20
strike. The other and far more powerful,
group. under the title Of the Central Commit
tee FOR the Defence of the Syndcal Rights Of
Wage Farmers Of the State" has now proclaimed