Evening journal., 1913-08-07
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
How Russia Befriended Us
in Cival War Days
By Holland

"I have been both annoyed and in
a way amused by a statement which
Iahve recently seen in various news
papers which attempts to belittle the
service done by the Czar of Russia
to the United States in one of the
darkest periods of the Civil War, "
said Postmaster General Thomas
L. James to me a few days ago on the
eve Of his departure for Europe
These statements asserts conf
IDENTIFY that the appearance Of the Rus
sian feet of warships in American
waters both upon the Atlantic and
upon the Pacific sides did not rep
resent any friendly feeling of the
Car of Russia for the United States,
but instead their sojourn in Ameri-
can waters was nothing more than
an incident in the itinerary of a cruise
of the Russian navy.
Whatever may be the present feel
ing on the part of the citizens of the
United States toward Russia occa-
stoned by political conditions, l know
that the people of the North and the
administration of President Lincoln at
Washington we're rejoiced that the
Russian fleet should have appeared in
the harbor of New York at the time
il did.
'I know. furthermore, from per-
sonal observation which my official
duties made possible, that the Rus
sian feet visited the United States
solely for the purpose of assisting
the American government in case the
United States navy at that time
needed assistance.
Il was at that time an officer in the
custom house in New York The au-
thorities had received confidential in
formation that a Russian fleet would
visit the United States and would be
for some time at anchor in New York
harbor. We were also informed that
after a visit to New York, unless some
special emergency arose. the feet
would sail for Chesapeake bay and
very likely would go up the Potomac
river to a point in the vicinity OF
Alexandria That would make con
venient an exchange of Official
courtesies between the Russian naval
officers and the administration al
Washington.
"I learned informally that it was
expected that the visit of the Russian
naval officers to Washington and theil
acceptance of official courtesies would
/ be regarded as a literal demonstration
of the friendship of Russia toward the
United States. The custom house
authorities of New York we're expect
ed to extend every possible courtesy
to the Russian fleet, and these ex'
! pectations were more than fulfilled.
81 went down New York bay L
visit the feet. Il was a splendid
navy which lay there at anchor unde
! the Russian flag, but it as not Ion.
before | realized. although no sailo
myself, that the feet was prepared
! for the sternest kind of emergencies
! There was every evidence of thor
! ough preparation for sea fighting.
IL learned, too, that the great gum
! of the Russian army were ready e
be double-shotted if the occasion
arose. and ] realized from the atti
| tude of the officers, and especially tn
petty officers. that they were keye'
up to a high pitch, not knowing
whether at any time they might no
be called upon to get into fighting
trim and even to enter into action.
"On my return to the customs hous
made some inquiry, for it was evi
dent that the Russian feet could no
enter into any action with the nav
! of the Confederate government, TO
there was no navy. All that the Con
federates possessed was a few priva
teers of the Alabama type and. o
course, vessels of that type woul
give a warship wide berth.
| "Why. then. was the Russian flee
ready for instant action?" was tn
question which ] asked. and ! was toll
] that France and Great Britain were pre-
I pairing to break the blockade of th
Confederate force and when that wa
done 10 recognize the Southern Confed
eracy. But with the Russian fleet j
American waters. which, thereby demon
strated the friendship of Russia for th
United States, a note of warning woul
be sent to France and Great Britain tina
in case those two countries took thi
step Russia would enter into friendl
defensive and offensive alliance with tn
United States.
"This was precisely the result actu
ally produced by the appearance of th
Russian fleet in American waters"
Copyright. 1913, by F. J. Edward
All rights reserved).
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell 4,
"The Sealed Orders Which Brought 10
| e. I ircoIrfu TahfpatN