The Times correspondent at St. Petersburg, telegraphing to Friday's paper,
tells US that the prevailing view in the Russian capital is one of depression. "That 'Austria will now issue an ultimatum to her small neighbour, and that military opera- tions will ensue, is regarded by Russians who have followed the intricacies of Austrian diplomacy as a consummation which can scarcely be avoided. Austria, they argue, apparently feels that she has gone so far that she cannot go back without some territorial gains to justify the enormous expenditure she has already incurred." This pessimistic view is supported by an alarmist telegram from the Standard correspondent at, St. Petersburg, who in Friday's paper states that the troops are reported to be massing on the Russian frontier. "Urgent orders, indeed, were issued last night to .011 the Governors of provinces bordering on the Austrian and German frontiers to collect the archives, military papers, everything of import- ance in fact, together with all the moneys of the Treasury and State Bank, and pack them in readiness for removal to the interior on the moment that mobilisation is declared."
