Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-29

passed upon the dispatch of its st. Peters
burg correspondent, to
Russia Prepares the effect that RUS
fnr wer2 STA was rapidly and
secretly preparing to
make war on Germany" has had all the
publicity its author may have desired.
1t has besides fired to fury the pan-ger-
manist press Of Germany It has proved
certainly that Russia is regarded even in
Germany as the compelling power in
Europe, either for peace or for war
fortunately the prevalent opinion is
that Russia desires peace, not war, and
that II she is preparing for war 1t is
simply to regain the position she lost
temporarily in Manchuria.
The statement OF the Koelnische Eel
tung. semi-of1cial German journal, was
promptly denounced in ST. Petersburg as
a simple invention. At Berlin. however,
and this was taken as a bad note-the
statement was received in silence and
this fact afforded the pan-germanist press
an opportunity to lash itself. and. in
deed. all Germany. into excessive fury.
There is much speculation over the hos
tile outbreak against Russia. On the
one side. it is said the charge that
Russia would war against Germany is
Aiciely preteht 10 prepare the way LOT
a new military law and still another aug
mentation of the German army, against
which there is opposition in the reichs-
tag. On the other side Germany would
force the hand of Russia in the matter
of securing better railway conditions in
Asia Minor.
The German press asks the reason why
Russia is accommodating reserves of troops
on her western frontiers and why the
periods of military maneuvers are in
proaches the Russian and French prepare
lions. never thinking, apparently. that
these preparations have been simply in
spired by the determination to Offset the
recent formidable angmentatfons of the
German military forces.
The koenische Zeitung complains of
the apparent dependence Of Russia upon
France, and that such relation prevents
Russia's friendly relations with Ger
many. The German journal writes at
Of Russia and Germany and that now
Russia would turn her arms most WILL
ingly against her former friend"
What can have happened to have in
hysterical reflections? There has been
some trouble over the attitude of Ger
many at Constantinople. certainly. But
was 1t not quite natural that Russia
should be disquieted to see the defense
Of Constantinople handed over to the
German Gen Liman Won Sanders, when
the question of the Bosphorus and the
Dardanelles contained a vital interest for
Russia?
When NJ. Goremyldne succeeded NJ.
Russian council he said that Russia
would maintain relations as good neigh
bors with Germany, but the Franco
Russian alliance remained the firm basis
of Russia's exterior policy
Is 1t possible that Germany has been
deceivfng herself that she could in any
way dissolve the Franco-Russian alliance?
II SO. she has strangely misinterpreted
the European spirit which is the basis
of the two great international groups, the
triple alliance and the triple entente
The koelnische Zeitung in it's long
article exposes the state Of mind of the
German press. RUSSIA is charged with
ingratitude toward Germany; Russia has
Germany notably in the war in Man
churia. Russia observes actually a pa
cif1c attitude in appearance, but only be-
cause she does not think herself ready
for war. But Russia is arming: she is
founding cannon and augmenting her eff
fectives. In 1917 her military reorgani-
zation will be terminated and her artil-
lery perfected. Germany then will be in
great danger. All this armament is
against Germany, and Russian opinion
does not oppose war. for the Russians
who have gone to study in Germany re-
turn filed with hatred against "the
Dutchtum.'
The personal feelings of the car are
kind. but those of his ministers are
hostile. NJ. Sazonof is a disciple of NJ
Delcasse and partisan of NJ Poincare
That attitude of the Russian ministers
tends to destroy effectually the legend
of the historical Russo-German friend
ship.
And the author concludes. THE vital
interests of Germany command her not
to wait until 1917 to summon the car
to come out for Germany or against her.
Alliance with France Is and will continue
to be the obstacle which prevents Rus
sian official policy from having good re-
lations with Germany (ruckhaltlos CUTE
Beziehungen)."
Why should the Koelnische publish this
pronunciamento now? The answer may
be found in the
Germans IN fact that the Ger
St. Petersburg. Psn s0as.ie ,a at st.
pended its strength in the overthrow of
NJ. Kokovtzof. a man eminently pacific,
but cited in Berlin as too faithful to the
French alliance" NJ. Kokovtzof over
thrown, the coterie believed that Ger
man policy might benefit by the change
1t concealed SO little its hopes that II
announced on every side the speedy re-
tirement Of NJ Sazonof-a new era was
about to open at st. Petersburg. But it
proved cruel deception. Emperor Mich
olas for certain interior reasons. of state
changed his premier. But he had no in
tention of changing his exterior policy.
nor ceasing for one moment the reor-
ganization of his land and sea forces.
In order to comprehend the depth of the
deception of the German coterie at st.
Petersburg it is necessary to recall the
history of Russo-German relations. The
German coterie is composed largely of
partisans Of absolute autocracy. They
understand quite well that the Russian
people will not accept indefinitely the
subordination of Russian politics to the
combinations invented at Berlin. They
favor the return to absolutism pure and
simple, as the only means to maintain the
dynasty.
They represent finally France in the
foyer of institutions and customs the
most subversive. They keep before the
car the peculiar methods of Combes.
Caillaux and Juares. which are not easily
But the car and his min
listers are not misled and know that even
Berlin and Rome possess kindred types
Of naturalization and anarchsm. The
car and his ministers know also that
Germany favored the campaign in Rus
STA not for love Of Russia, but that Ger
many might have her hands free in Eu-