The Raymer enterprise., 1911-12-21


" Z" tonishing events which
happened = few years ago and
:perple1ed all Europe. That some
thing lay at the back Of the apparent
ly tangled and meaningless maneuvers
was obvious even TO the uninitiated.
But what It was remained a mystery.
In particular, why did not the British
government declare war upon Russia
when the squadron OF Rojestvensky
ran amuck among the British trawling
feet and shelled the fishermen? l
hope that l may here supply the an.
swer.
It was the most critical period In
English history for. perhaps. so years
that Is to say. since the period Of
the Crimean war. Russia was strug.
Cling In the far east against the power
OF Japan. The war had gone badly
with her, and It had been decided, as
last resource, to send the feet from
the Baltic round the coast OF Africa
and into Asiatic waters. We all know
the result which attended on this Ill.
fated venture.
The activities OF Russian cruisers
In British waters and the arbitrary
holding up Of British vessels had
strained relations between the two
countries to the breaking point. This
ill.feeling was increased by the Anglo
Japanese alliance. Finally. 1t was de-
cided after cabinet council that the
Russian fleet must not be permitted to
leave European waters. In other
words, Mr.. Balfour, who was then
premier. resolved to declare war upon
the Muscovite.
!. with all those who were ac-
quainted with the inner workings Of
politics. was. Of course. acquainted
with the situation. l had been warned
to hold myself prepared for service at
q moments notification. l knew that
tho cabinet council had been In ses.
sion; more than suspected the re.
suit OF Its deliberations. There was
an electrical feeling In London that
night, as though the minds OF all
were telepathically acquainted with
what was impending. Even the the.
ater crowds discussed the probability
Of war as they struggled homeward.
had taken a stroll along Piccadilly-
not far. for dared not leave my lodg.
ings In Half Moon street for more
than q few minutes at time. As
turned I saw Talbot. my soldier serv-
ant. hurrying after me among the
crowds that jostled under the arc
lights. He held telegram In his
hands. It was the expected summons.
Instructing him to pack my grip, I
hailed hanson and was driven post
haste to Downing street, where my
presence was requested. When Mr..
Balfour's butler opened the door Of
No. 10 to me almost burst into the
chamber where the council we're seat.
ed. ! knew that the urgency OF the af.
fair would brook no considerations OF
etiquette.
Mr.. Balfour was seated at the head
OF the table. At his side was Lord
Lansdowne, the foreign minister. Mr..
Joseph Chamberlain. though he had
resigned In order to carry on his prop.
aganda for protection. was present, as
also were. most significantly, among
the rest OF the cabinet. Admiral
"Jacky" Fisher and Lord Roberts. rep.
resenting respectively the navy and
army.
No sooner had I entered than Mr..
Balfour vacated his chair. insisted
that should seat myself. and drew
up another for himself. Then he ex.
planned the nature OF my mission.
Captain Adams" he said. this aft.
ernoon the cabinet met and resolved
to advise his majesty to declare war
upon the government OF Russia. Such
a declaration was to have been made
to the Russian ambassador tomorrow
morning. BY some occult method
nobody knows how these things hap.
pen-the ambassador learned OF this.
He cabled the news to his govern.
ment at IL o'clock. Four hours later
the Russian fleet sailed on mission
Of destruction toward the shores OF
England.
That in itself matters little. Our
feet is prepared, and there Is little
doubt that we could blow the Rus.
SLAMS out OF the water before they
could harm US. But there Is more
much more-behind. At two o'clock
this afternoon his majesty's govern.
ment received authoritative notihca.
tion from Berlin that, the moment
that the English and Russian fleets
engage In hostilities n German squad.
ron will sail from Kiel to land a hun.
dred thousand men upon our southern
shores. simultaneously an army corps
will cross the Russian boundary. In
other words. Germany believes that
her time for aggrandizement at our
expense and Russia's Is now come.
The Russian ambassador has been
informed OF this plot. Needless to
say, the decision has been reversed.
England and Russia. instead Of medi.
fotin0 war nre nnw nm moro friend,