ON THE EVE OF WAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9036, 24 April 1888, Page 5

ON THE EVE OF WAR.

OUTBREAK IN MAY.

RUSSIA TO ATTACK AUSTRIA.

EXTRAORDINARY PREPARATIONS.

HOSTILITIES INEVITABLE.

London, March 16. The following communication from a correspondent at Kieff appeared in the St. James's Gazette on the 13th instant, having been written five days earlier s—

" However emphatic and apparently sincere the assurances given by Russia that she is bent upon pursuing a policy of peace, howevor satisfactorily it may be shown that ehe has absolutely nothing to gain and everything to lose by trying conclusions with Austria, it is none the less a fact that we are on the eve of a war. As the expression of an opinion, this, no doubt, is not new to those who follow the march of political events, and are capable of translating the dialect of diplomacy into the every-day language in which the story of Russia's military movements is set forth by foreign correspondents and commented on by the Press. But what follows is something more than a mere subjective reading of events by one who has carefully studied them; and in any case it is based on a large number of significant and perfectly trustworthy facts, one or two of which cannot but interest the public in England." WHEN WAR WILL BREAK OUT. "To begin with the least convincing: Two well-known generals, fresh from the Council Chamber of St. Petersburg (where they have been constantly closeted with the War Minister, General Vannoffsky), and who will command 20,000 men each in the coming war, have mentioned May as the date for hostilities to commence ; and this in such circumstances of time, place, and surroundings as to leave no doubt of their sincerity, and still less of their acquaintance with the topic of conversation."

MASSING OF TROOPS. " Of courso, as long as tho issue is contingent on the will of one man, no forecast can be wholly free from the element of doubt, and tangible facts are our safest guide in the matter. The following one ie significant:—Some time ago considerable numbers of troops were transported by two steamers of the Russian Blacls Sea Steamship Company from Batoum and Poti, and landed in a surreptitious manner in the neighbourhood of Sebastopol, not far from where special trains awaited them. They were then dispersed so as to arouse as little suspicion aa possible. Those troops are now being gradually brought up to the frontier—some to Bessarabia, others to the Austrian frontier. Trains carrying them run occasionally at hours when trains do not generally run, and snowstorms, which have been rather plentiful of late, are welcomed as natural allies. The last trains before a line is officially declared blocked, and the first few trains before it is officially re-opened, carry the troops. There are besides, large numbers of troops just now between Tula and Brest-LitofFsk, wending their way by easy stages and in small parties in the direction of Kieffand tho south-west." WORKING DAY AND NIGHT. "Elizabethgrad, a city of 43,000 inhabitants, in the government of Kherson, within easy distance of the River Dniester, is the head-quarters of the South Russian Cavalry. Tho sprinkling of foreigners in the population is practically null, so that less disguise is necessary in going forward with military preparations than elsewhere. Among the signs and tokens in which this district abounds is the purchase of cavalry horses on a large scale. They are not being bought exclusively nor even mainly in tho vicinity of Elizabethgrad ; tho other districts of Kherson and other governments supply a large proportion. The horses are being in reality expropriated, for the sale is compulsory, whereby the prices paid range from 50 to 150 roubles (from £4 to £12), and are always less than that fixed by the tariff drawn up by the Government in 1884. Cavalry accoutrements, arms, &c, are being wrought, repaired, and furbished up ; blacksmiths are working literally day and night, and the followers of Wksland's noble handicraft have never known busier or better days than the present." FORTIFYING ODESSA. " Lastly, the preliminaries of putting the harbour of Odessa in a state of defence are being carefully carried out, in as far as the weather does not prove an obstacle. The plan of defence heretofore accepted by the Ministry has been thrown aside, and a new ono is being worked out. It is only a question of the number of torpedoes, the places where they are to bo sunk, &c. ; whicn was determined long ago, but is being changed again now." PUBLIC OPINION IN RUSSIA. "The feeling in the country is universal that the Government is merely temporising till the frost and snow disappear. As soon as the weather clears up a little Russia's intentions will become more evident." PREPARATIONS IN WARSAW. According to intelligence from Warsaw, some of the Russian railway-stations, not included in the former order to prepare for the transport of troops, have now received by telegraph directions to the same effect. It is added that all the goods vans are being provided at Kieff with benches to seat troops while travelling. Russia, it appears, therefore, says a correspondent of the Standard, means to continue arming until she can present at the frontier so formidable an aspect that her further proposals with regard to the affairs of Bulgaria will have to be accepted, unless Europe is prepared to face war. NAVAL ARRANCMBM ENT3. Tho Croiistadt Messenger slates that " There is much talk in naval circles of reestablishing tlu: ancient naval divisions, each forming a separate squadron under an admiral, with a ireoond admiral also attached to each squadron. According to this arrangement, tho Baltic f'.ccit would be composed of two squadrons, oho Black Sea of one, and the Pacific of another. The number of ships' cr 'wi3 on service would also be increased. Thu Baltic <ieet would have nineteen instead of eight, as at present, and the Black Sea fleet si>: its place of two." THK FKELING AMONG THS TROOPS. Military parades are almost of daily occurrence in the presence of the Emperor in front of tho Winter Palace, and it is not unnoticed, says the St. Petersburg correspondent of the Morning Post, that the feeling that they may be soon called upon to enter the field gives the troopa more animation and spirit than has beon the caso for years. Every effort is being made to attain efficiency, in view of the contingency of having to fight tho most efficient foe in Europe. None the less the terribly severe winter Russia is experiencing precludes all thoughts of early active operations, and it will not be until a decisive change takes plaoo in ths weather that Russia will show her hand. Such an arctic winter has not been known in Russia for generations. For two and a half months now an unbroken intense frost has prevailed, ranging here from zero Fahr. to 32deg. below zero day after day ; and although we are now well in March, blazing fires are maintained in the streets to warm the sledge drivers and policemen night and day. In Poland and the South hoavy snowstorms block tho railways ovory week, rendering tho transport of troops and provisions altogether out of tho question.