New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-24
BACK FROM THE WAR ZONE
Correspondent Gives His Ideas and
Impressions Obtained on the Spot

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Having returned from Europe
on Monday last by the steamship Teu'
tonic and having travelled through
large parts Of the Russian Empire dur
ing the month of July Il crossed the
Russian German border by the last
train available or August -, beg TO
give you my impressions of the great
European conflict.
Immediately after the assassination
Of the Austrian archduke Russia start
ed making warlike preparations. In the
middle of July last the most important
Russian newspaper the "NOyoe Nrem,
va" published a sensational article to
the effect that Russia would be ready
to completely crush Germany and Aus
tria in 1916 and TO establish a great
Slay empire in Europe. OF course this
article was translated in German news
papers, and il goes without saying that
IL made a very deep impression in Ger,
many and Austria. Germans asked
themselves. "Why should we oblige
Russia by waiting another two years %
Tho "Berliner Local Anzeiger" wrote
Rather have an end with terror than
a terror without end" On July 81 the
great Russian liberal paper. the
"Retch,' wrote that if a great Euro
pean war should break out the cause
would have TO b. laid at the doors Of
the "Novoe Vremya" for It's warlike
article. As the "Retch" continued in
agitating for peace. this newspaper was
ordered 20 be suspended by the Rus
sian Government. On July % last a
council OF the Russian Cabinet min
isters decided on war and ordered q
general mobilization Of the Russian
army and navy the only Russian min
lister who spoke tor peace was the Min
lister OF Agricultural. On July 25 7
travelled rom IIelsingfors TO Reval,
whore saw the whole Russian Baltic
fleet assembled On July % | wit
messed hostile demonstrations of a big
Russian mob before shops and hotels
owned by Austrians and Germans IN
Moscow. On July 30 Germany asked
Russia TO stop modifying, but Russia
declined to do so. On August | a
snUadron Of Russian Cossacks crossed
the German boundary on the River
Wharf.-The
As we Anglo-SaXons have always
pridcd ourselves on our love OF far
play. ! ask you whether Germany was
not justified under these circumstances
100 declaring war am not al all an adj
mirer Of the German Emperor. nor do
! like the German military party. but ]
think that the verdict Of history has
20 take into consideration the happen
ings In Russia in July, 1914, before
putting all the blame on the German
war lord. spent August > and 3 in
Germany. where | found great enthu-
siasm for o war with Russia, but there
was not the least hostile feeling against
France and England. Our great Amer
lean writer Norman Angel wrote on
August i'm THE London Daily Chron-
icle" that the epd OF this great war
viii be a European continent dominat-
ed by Russian Cossacks. The ambition
Of the powerful Pan-Slays is 10 bring
under the paws of the great Russian
bear all the Slay nations Of the Bal
kan peninsula, Austria and Germany.
Through her declaration OF war against
her kindred German cousins, Great
Britain will assist Russia 20 build up
the greatest empire that the world has
over known. Whether this Is in the
interest of civilization | leave 10 your
own judgment spoke with many
Englishmen, who shared my ideas, and