The Cairo bulletin., 1913-11-07
SAN STEFANO TREATY
SIGNING OF Russo.TuRKisH PACT
VERY IMPRESSIVE.
Witness Tells Of Famous Historical
Event That Occurred on Sunday,
March 8, 1s7s-Peace or War
Hung In the Balance.

am inclined to think that l wit
messed the most impressive sight OF
my life Sunday, March 3, 1878, the
day on which the signatures were at
tached to the treaty of peace between
Russia and Turkey at San Stefano,
In order to arrange terms OF peace
an armistice had been declared Janu-
airy 81. and slowly the rumor spread
that when Sunday, March 3, a review
was to take place in honor Of the
cars acceptance OF the throne, there
was more than possibility that peace
might also be concluded that day. In
consequence, large number of ex.
cursionists from Constantinople ar
rived at San Stefano by steamboat
shortly after dawn, and when, as early
as six in the morning, the whole of
the Imperial guard magnificent
body OF some $4,000 men-paraded be-
fore the quarters of the Grand Duke
Nicholas. even at that early hour
crowd of over twenty thousand spec
tators had assembled.
Slowly the hours passed, and two
O'clock In the afternoon came and
went without any movement from the
house, so that at last the dread fear
began to pervade the expectant watch
ers that even now some difficulty
might have arisen which would pre-
vent the signing of the articles Of
peace.
Happily, however, this fear proved
unfounded, War, after all, was not to
break out. The review was delayed
owing to the fact that the grand duke
was waiting for the signatures to be
attached to the treaty, which could
not be done until the Russian and
Turkish copies of that document were
complete.
Whether the delay was caused by
the well known dilatory tactics of the
Turk | know not The fact remains.
however, that 1t was not till close on
five in the afternoon that the grand
duke rode up to the diplomatic
chancery and asked at the door If the
treaty was ready, AS he waited for a
reply the agitation of the crowd grew
ing point. Groups Of anxious watchers
whispered nervously: rs 1t to be
peace or war? Was the PROSTATE and
gasping Turk to be called upon to
once more put up the best defense he
could to the relentless and ever-ad-
vancing Russian forces?"
The grand duke, wheeling sharply
round, galloped off to the hill on which
the army was drawn up, and few
minutes afterward a carriage was
seen rapidly driving toward the spot
AS he approached the commander
in-chief, General Ignatieff, rose and.
speaking very slowly and distinctly,
said, Il have the honor to congratulate
your highness on the signature Of
peace"
A roar OF satisfaction rose from the
soldiers In the ranks The grand duke
rode between the lines and, hating on
a small hill, exclaimed: Il have the
honor to inform the army that. with
the help of God. we have concluded a
treaty of peace" Again the cheering
rose and swelled, for there was not a
man present who did not experience
a feeling Of intense relief that all pos.
sibility Of a renewal of war was now
| at an end
All the officers then dismounted. the
soldiers knelt and, OF q sudden, a
great hush spread over the crowd
which had only a few seconds before
been noisily elated with excitement.
The sight was one shall never for,
get.