"From the shores of the Pacific to the northern seas the Russian war forces are moving forward. "The dawn of a new life is opening upon you. May the Sign of the Cross shine forth from this dawning symbol of sufferings and resurrection of nations." The Grand Duke Nicholas Nicolaievitch, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Forces, also issued an order making it known to the active army and the whole population of the Empire that Russia was waging war in consequence of the challenge thrown down by the common enemy of all Slavs. The order proceeds: "The Poles in Russia and those of Germany and Austria who show their loyalty to the Slav cause will have the special protection of the Russian Army and Government in so far as their personal and material security is concerned. "Any attempt to interfere with the personal rights of Poles who have not been guilty of acts hostile to Russia will be punished with all the severity of martial law." The moment was ripe for the issue of such a proclamation, for it naturally tended to unite the Poles on the side of Russia. It was not, however, a proclamation drawn up on the spur of the moment and published in August for the sake of its immediate effect. As soon as the news was known in Paris, M. Gabriel Hanotaux, writing in the _Figaro_, made a remarkable announcement in connection with the Tsar's rescript granting self-government to all three Polands. M. Hanotaux revealed the fact that the Tsar himself, as long ago as eighteen years, then a young Sovereign, confided to him his dream of reviving Poland. "In this memorable interview, of which I took down every detail, he himself broached the painful subject, and said, 'I know what my duties are towards our Slav brethren of Poland.' For eighteen years I did not breathe a word of this interview, but I can speak now. Since then I followed the gradual and wise demonstrations of the Imperial will. At various intervals pacifying measures, too often hampered by the bureaucracy and by certain parties at Court, proved that the Emperor had not lost sight of his purpose. When lately, against the wish of the Council of the Empire, he promulgated _proprio motu_ an ukase announcing that his Imperial Majesty wished Poland to preserve the official use of her tongue and the right to direct recourse to the supreme authority, I felt that the moment of realization was at hand." On the same subject, Mr. Sidney Whitman, another well-known authority, writing to the _Pall Mall Gazette_ (August 21st), said: