Balder Ex-Libris

Author : Stead William Thomas
Title : Truth about Russia
Year : 1888

Link download : Stead_William_Thomas_-_Truth_about_Russia.zip

Chapter 1. Why this book is written. In London in the spring of 1888 there existed a widespread feeling of uneasiness and of anxiety as to the possible outbreak of war in Europe. The Continent had just passed through the scare caused by the alleged concentration of Russian troops on the frontiers of Germany and Austria. Germany had enormously increased her armaments, Austria was preparing for war, and, to add to the general unrest, the rise of General Boulanger to notoriety in France seemed to menace with convulsion the disturbed quasi-tranquillity of the Continent. In military circles the talk was all of war. General Boulanger was going to overthrow the Republic, and then finding that he must do something to justify his ascendancy, it was gravely declared that he would probably attack England ! London, with its incalculable wealth, lay at the mercy of a daring adventurer. Russia, it was added, was preparing to rush Constantinople, under pretext of an expedition to re-establish her lost ascendancy in Bulgaria. The air was full of premonitions of the panic which subsequently had a somewhat abortive issue in the columns of the Baily Telegraph and the speeches of the Duke of Cambridge and Lord Wolseley. ...