SITUATION IN EUROPE.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 6971, 26 January 1888, Page 5

SITUATION IN EUROPE.

[per press association I Received January 25th, 10 a.m. St. Peteusbuug, January 23. All goods traffic has been suspended on the souther a railways, as all available rolling stock is required fox* the conveyance of troops aui stores. The heavy snow which is now lying in Galicia has stopped the movements of troops in that quarter. Russia failed to raise a loan in Vienna aud Berlin. Paris, January 25. A telegram has been received from Nancy, a town in the department of Meurthe et Moselle, stating that a French gamekeeper, while shooting boars on the frontier, was assaulted by a German exciseman, who seized his rifle Constantinople, January 23. News has. been received here that the troops at Erzeroum are being reinforced, and the defences of the place attended to. Berlin, January 23. Lord Randolph Churchill is at present on a visit to this city. He denies that the recent visic to Russia was of an official nature, but says that he was merely travelling in a private capacity. He states that he observed yery few warlike symptoms on his tour through Russia. Received January 25th. 3 p.m. Londox, January 25. It is reported here that the Russian Legation at Bucharest has been ordered to break off relation* with Roumania on the ground of the wrongful arrest of a Russian official, and his subsequent release without explanation. It is asserted that Lord Randolph Chxirchill's head has been turned with the flattering attention shown to him during his visit to Russia, and that he is returning to England full of autiGerman projects. Received January 2Kb, 2 a.m. . St. Petersburg, January 24. A heavy fall of snow will prevent a renewal of Russian military transports to the frontier until the end of February. Berlin, January 24. Prince Bismarck states that he is somewhat confident that peace in Europe will be maintained this year. Tlie Times, speaking of an important article in the Invalids Susse of the 15th December on the reported massing of Russian troops on her western frontier, says it is to be regretted that the authoritative article in the Invalids, written, it is understood, under the supreme command by General Krapotkine of the grand general staff, is not calculated to allay the feelings o£ alarm and mistrust still existing on the matter in question. In the two neighbouring countries the article has caused a decided feeling of uneasiness in official circles. In Vienna the situation is considered serious. The article referred to states that " owing to the alarm raised by the Austrian press on account of the transfer of some Russian cavalry regiments to the Warsaw military district, we regard it as advisable to consider the military position of Russia and that of our western neighbors in the frontier districts, in order to throw light upon the question of- who is really preparing for the attack. During the past five years the peace effective of the German array has been increased by 65 battalions and 'd&i guns, and the strength of German troops on the Russian frontier by 21 battalions of infantry, 27 batteries of artillery, and 15 squadrons of cavalry. Since 1878 Germany has constructed in her eastern provinces 4850 kilometres of railways." After giving other facts regarding the concentration of troops by Germany and Austria upon the Russian frontier, the Jnvalide continues —"Whus is Russia doing in view of the threatening preparations of her neighbors? Notwithstanding her manifest danger, Russia considered that a European war would be a terrible misfortune for mankind, and was quiet amid the feverish armaments of her neighbors. Russia did not increase but decreased her defensive force. In 1881 and 1832 Russia reduced the peace effective of her army by nearly 100,000 men. It is true that in the following year she again raised her effective, but that step wae forced upon her by Afghan affairs, and also by the necessity of improving her preparedness for mobilisation when ncr neighbors were unremittingly raising their fighting strength. Nevertheless the peace effective of the Russian army numbers even in the present year 75,185 less than in 1881, while her neighbors during the same period have raised their peace effectives by 75,000 men. There is no doubt that Russia, in the event of war, will assemble a mighty army, but its concentration would be Incomparably more difficult than for her neighbours. Further en it continues:—" A glance at the map is sufficient to show by what a close network of railways the zone of the Russian frontier is surrounded, and on the other hand what an insignificant numbed of lines Russia has to rely upon for concentrating her forces distributed in the west. During a time of peace, not only from Germany, but from Austria-Hungary,is Russian territory threatened with a sudden invasion | therefore there is only one course, namely, to place the Russian fortresses in a better state of defence, and increase the military forces in the frontier provinces in order to guard against surprise. Russian military personages have no fear regarding the ultimate issue of a conflict. Even if all the forces of a peace league are moved out against Russia, yet they recognise none the less certainly that the defence of Russian territory is not yet assured, and that if the peace league considers itself justified for the development of its defensive measures to pro so far as to bring-Russian districts under the range of its moat advanced posts, Russia also has an undoubted right to provide for its defence, and take all measures to uphold the honor and maintain the integrity of her territories." In Berlin it is considered the article constitutes an indirect threat against Austria. The utterances of the Invalid? liusse, however, it is stated in well informed quarters in Vienna, will produce no change in the attitude of the Austrian Govern-

ment, which will wait to see whether Russia continues her threatening military measures or ceases them. Every preparation has been made in Vienna for the eventual despatch of cavalry to Gallicia, bat action will not be taken unless a fresh displacement of Russian troops occurs. Meanwhile the erection of huts for the troops will be proceeded with at Gallicia, as the present accommodation is very inadequate.