The sun., 1912-07-21
PART THRHE.
NOTWITHSTANDING all his .alf-
confidence and ignorance Of the
. real state Of affairs in japan. the
PART TlRBE.

confidence and ignorance Of tho
real state OF affairs in Japan. the
Russian Viceroy Alexeyev knew
that Japan was making preparations for
war. He knew that Japan needed Corea
moro than Russia reeded il. rc did not
dare to urge war at his own risk.
He communicated with Tsarskoe-Selo,
asking what the Emperor would regard rs
Q casus belli and when Russia should de-
fend the honor of the empire.
Il was agreed that "a soon as the
Japanese crossed the Ssth degree north
Alexeyev was to attack them. The Cars
despatch TO tho Vicerov concluded with
tho traditional prayer for Gods blessing
on the Russian arms and the Viceroy him
self. The Gar in his telegram dist nct ly
ordered an attack under those circum-
stances without waiting for the first
ehot from japan.
sI rely on you. NAV God help you!'
were tho last words of the Cars mes
saee.
Soon soldiers, horses and cannon were
moving slowly toward the east. The
authorities paid no attention to the fact
that the new ammunition was worthless.
that even the officers of the art ,tillery did
not know how to handle the guns. and
that Grand Duke Sergius. who had in
spected the batteries. was aware Of all
this. The troops wern stern; the officers
looked upon the campaign as a military
picnic and amused themselves with card
playing, wine and women No one paii
any attent ion to the fact tina. the officers
were not familiar with the plans Of action.
that no one on the Russian staff was
familiar with either the Japanese or the
Chinese language.
In Dalny the receptions given by the
viceroy were alternated by various en-
tertainments and excursions. In Port
Arthur the Russian officers supposed to
be working on the batteries were divert
ing themselves by card playing and wine.
Among the Russian naval officers along
the CoreHp and Russian coasts all were
convinced that the japanese feet was on
tirely unprepared for war and no pre-
cautions Of any kind were taken to pro-
tect the Russian battleships against a
sudden attack.
On the 18th OF January. 1904. a grand ball
was given at the Winter Palace. Every
body was expecting the outbreak Of the
war at any moment and for some reason
II was believed that the Car himself would
announce the beginning Of the war on
that occasion. But the brilliant affair
vas not disturbed hy any such announce
.nent. No one spoke about the approach
ing war. but all felt the nervous tension
Of the moment.
At the supper table one OF the guests
began to talk about the conflict with
Japan. and Nicholas himself participated
In the conversation.
The wife Of the Russian Ambassador
to England. Countess Benkendorf. was
seated at the right Of the Car. Sud-
denly in the middle OF some unimportant
remarks she turned to the Emperor and
asked:
.Your Majesty. will there b q wal
With Japan?'
She noticed that her tactlessness en-.
harassed the Gar. and she added:
Il am not asking this out OF mere
curiosity and not as the wife OF your Am
bassador in London. but rs q mother.
have a son in Port Arthur
The Gar was moved, and he answered
without hesitation:
There will be no war. do not want
any war and have done everything to
prevent q war"
He made this statement after n. had
sent the despatch to Aiexcyev ordering
him to attack the Japanese. To this day
II 10 not known whether he was con-
sciously eager to conceal the truth or
whether n his naivete he believed that
Japan was merely jesting, and that at the
last moment Japan would decide agains,
irritating the Russian Empire.
A week before the attack the Car was
dancing at the Winter Palace. Before the
impressions Of this entertainment at the
palace had been forgotten fatal crisi.
appeared in the history OF Russia.
On January 20 while the officers OF the
Port Arthur squadron were amusing
themselves at the birthday party o
the AdIniral's wife three japanese
destroyers advanced slow y and noise-
less to the very side OF the battleship pe
Tsesarevich. Pobieds and Retvisan and
hurled thair mines at them. Thus the
war commenced
Tho Gear at tho sane time was appar.
ntly confident that japan would not star
the war without an official proclamatio ion
although he himself had instructec
Alexeyev to attack Japan without await
ing the firing OF the first shot by the enemy
While staying at Tsarskoe-Selo he be-
leved that what the Russian Governmen
was doing in Corea. the secret man pu
lations OF the Russian officials there, tn,
building of fortifcations upon forcigI
territory did not interfere with inter
national law.
In his manifesto proolaimins the begin
ming OF the war Nicholas referred &c
japan rs the intrigu ng enemy Blu,
even the first defeat made no deep IN
precision upon Nicholas. During thes
dsys tho Czar Was ia happy frame q
m nd, and he regarded the beg'nning O
tho drama very lightly.
Vhan thapopresentative OF the Kishine