Rumors Of War Fill Vienna.

New York Times 100 years ago today, November 23, 1912:
Russian Cossacks Mobilizing, 'Tis Said, and Austrian Reservists Called.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
Dispatch to The London Daily Mail.
    VIENNA, Nov. 22.— The important state visit, which Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria is to-day paying to the Kaiser, coincides with an almost imperceptible aggravation of the international situation.
    The rumors, which have been persistently circulated in Vienna for the past few days, of Russian mobilization are beginning to take definite shape. Reports are current to-night in military circles here that the Don Cossacks have been mobilized and that the Russian, authorities are holding all the available railway rolling stock on the lines running to the Austrian frontier.
    It is an extremely significant feature of the situation that the Vienna Bourse, which has hitherto resisted the action of alarmist rumors regarding the state of the Austro-Russian relations, opened very weak this morning on the news that reservists, employed in banking circles, had been called out and on reports regarding the military activity on the Austrian frontiers.
    It is understood that Count von Berchtold, the Foreign Minister, in private conversation with politicians at Budapest, reaffirmed the official denials, already given to the rumors of Austrian mobilization.
    It is certain, however, that certain army corps have been brought up to increased peace strength, and that final measures can now be taken with extreme rapidity.
    The large bridges, spanning the Danube at Vienna, have been closely watched since yesterday. The sentries have been doubled and every precaution has been taken to prevent any tampering with the bridges, on the safety of which the railway communications with the northern part of the empire depend.
    During the past fortnight troops have been drafted in small detachments from all points of the dual monarchy, whence they could he conveniently spared, to Bosnia, where, at present, there are understood to be some 80,000 men. The troops on the Russian frontier to the north have been similarly reinforced.
    The eventuality of Southern Slav soldiers proving unreliable in a war against Russia or Servia is to a great extent being guarded against by the manner in which these reinforcements are distributed. In the south the troops are understood to be concentrated at Sarajevo and Foca for possible transport to Durazzo to hold the Montenegrins in check.
    The troops withdrawn from the Italian frontier since Count von Berchtold's interview with the Italian Foreign Minister at Piza, have passed into Bosnia.
    In the event of war with Servia the Austrian military plan will probably be found to be a concentration of the army near Temesvar in Hungary, whence Belgrade can easily be reached.
    According to my information, Austria is counting on Rumanian support in the event of hostilities with Russia. It is stated that on the outbreak of war Rumanian troops will enter the Russian Province of Bessarabia.
    Russia, according to rumor, is massing her troops on a line facing Pomerania.
    As for the active support, which there is reason to believe Germany has promised her Austrian ally, I hear that the Germans are massing forces in Pomerania.
    Great political importance is attached in Vienna to the Archduke Francis Ferdinand's visit to the German Emperor. I have reason to believe that the expectation that grave decisions will be taken, as a result of the conversations between the Emperor and his guest are not destined to be realized.
    It is more probable that the object of his visit is the ratification of decisions, already taken at the important conferences, which have taken place at Budapest between Emperor Francis Joseph and his military and diplomatic advisers and with the German and Italian Ambassadors.