New-York tribune., 1919-04-24
Still Cnawing

a marvel. Refuted and exposed, chased
again and again to their holes, their
noses, like those of other rodents, peer
out at the first opportunity Ancient
fables are repeated or new versions in
vented.
Now the Sukhomlinoff- Yanushkevitch
story, bearing on Russias action in re-
ply to Austria -Hungarys mobilization,
is in circulation. 1t is insinuated that
after all, Germany was warranted in
declaring war. Sazonoff Russia's For
elgn Minister, is presented as a plotting
devil, resolved to precipitate the con-
fiict. 1t is said he lied to the Czar and
to the German Ambassador, saying Rus
sia had not mobilized against Germany
when she had
After the Russian revolution Suk-
homlinof, the Russian War Minister,
was tried for corruption and convicted.
One Yanushkevitch was chief of staff.
Testifying in his own behalf, Sukhomli-
noff said that the Gar on the morning
of July %, 1914, signed the decree for
general mobilization and gave it to
Yanushkevitch to get the counter sigma
lures of the three ministers required by
Russian law; that at p. NJ Yanushke-
witch met the German military attache,
and with the rescript in his pocket. al
though not yet validated, told him no
general mobilization order had been
issued; that the same evening the Gar
received a telegram from the Kaiser
urging Russia to "remain d spectator in
the Austrian-Serbian War; that there
upon the Car countermanded mobiliza
ton, but that instead of obeying Suk-
homlinoff ordered mobilization to 90
ahead. Sazonof, it is charged, was
party to these decets.
Sukomlinoff, manifestly poor wit
ness, was on trial for his life for guilty
commerce with Germany. He thus had
strong motive for falsehood. He knew
how strong was German influence in
Petrograd and was aware he was plac-
lng Germany under obligation by max
ing the precise confession" he did. The
German people and neutrals had become
incredulous of the Russian myth and
were doubling whether Russia had DELHI
erately provoked the war.
ct the bare word OF an acknowledged
CRIMINAL IS accepted against the nositive
demands of reputable persons and MANY
contradictory circumstances A pacjfst
like III. n. Rrailsford, hugging Sukhom-
hnoit' exelaims that Sazonofr and his
military colleagues lied to the Gear. to
Germany and to the Allies.
fass'ng over the credihinty of Suk
AomlnoiF consider some of the known
circumstances which contradict him or
make his revelation of little signiheance
It is established that SaxonoW pursued
on 'ne vital issue aingularlv straipht
ana open course from the bepinninr or
'"e Crisis AS soon as he knew Of the
austrian forty-eight-ho ultimntn,n NJ
'u'y "a he declared that Russia ,yon1a
not permit Serbia to be crushed
10 the British Ambassador on 1,i,.
- aiter saying the action of Austr;a
hungary was both "provocative and
IMMORAL he made his famous s,,n1.on
tion that the only hope of mainta;n;,,.
peace lay in Great Britain io;n;ne. d.
s'a ana rance IN common declaration
But Russia would fight rather than aban.
don her Slav sister, and GERMANY m;ob+
night two powers while she mioht not
fight three.
When Great Britain declined n ;o;a
IN an expression of solidarity and
brought forward conference pronosals
RUSSIA signed blank check in favor Of
Sir Edward Grey, saying she would
heartily support any and all mediatinp
proposals, but if they came to NOTHING
ahe would fight for Serbia. The situa.
ton thus spoke for itself, and Russian
mobilization orders were directed against
austria Hungary, never against Ger
many. Russia, Of course, preferred a
single opponent TO two. Germany
claimed mobilization was directed
agalnst her. but this was her own in
ference, and in all the exchanges Rus
Sia denied it's validity Poland'g from
tiers faced Austria Hungary as we'll az
ocrmany, and mobilization in Poland
"as not necessarily directed against
Germany.
me issue between Russia wsx MT
+ over mobilization, but over wb.+bo. p.,a
ha snould abandon Serbia The tcre-
grams between the Kaiser and the czar
MAKE tnis clear. The Koieer,a Gxa.
telegram Faid it was TO the interest If
III EGvEfelyfig to hermit the .>,,ssl