The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-04-17 00:00:00

THE COMING WAR.

The Eastern crisis has reached its most alarming
stage. Everything points to the fat that Europe is
on the immediate brink of a tremendous war. The
alarmist telegrams which have been received from
time to time from Constantinople, f nom St. Peters-
burg, and from Berlin may occasionally have had a
spice of exaggeration, and may, in c insequence, '
have failed to command universal credence. But the
case is very different with a formal discussion in
the House id Commons, in which responsible
Ministers expresii their deliberateand carefully-worded
opinions. In the debate the tither night it is impossible ,
to avoid recognising the tone of hopelessness with
regard to the maintenance of peace. The expression
of the Chancellor of the Exchequer that although
the Turkish answer was by no means of a favourable
character, and therefore left room for the greavest
anxiety, yet it was not hopeless that even yet the
danger of war might be averted, was the most pacific
sentiment used. In every other quarter it seems to
have been almost taken for granted that immediate
war between Russia and Turkey is the only possible
eventuality. No aneiuut of debating can be ex-
pected to bring the House to a unanimous opinion
as to the question of responsibility. On the one
hand, Mr. G 'when declares that England ha.s been
baffled by Turkey and checkmated by Russia: whilst
aeconling to Mr. Roebuck, if we are to have war, the
blame must be held to lie with the Russian Govern-
ment and the late Administration. The charge
,
brought against is that they have followed a policy
which can only lead to war, and at the sense time that
they have not offered that protection to the Christians
in the Turkish tributary states which was to have been
expected and desired. The Secretary for War meets
this by stating that we have no sacred commission to
right the wrongs of injured Christians all over the
world, and that whilst the Government has done its
best for peace, it is compelled to 'maintelus and
support, here and in every part of the world, the
honour and interests of the tnited Kingdom." Such
a sentiment may or may not imply that there is a
point at which England will interfere. But it
is as difficult to unileret.ind how our armies can
fight with the Turks against the Ruesiane as it
is to believe that they will join the Russians againet
the Turks. Of the imminence of the coming war
there seem, unfortunately little doubt. A statement
comes from Berlin to the effect that a formal declara-
tion of war had been made through the Russian
Charge d'Affaires at Constantinople. This story, as
yet, has not been confirmed, but the signs of the times
are too strongly marked to admit a question aa to their
meaning. The assertions that the Russian army is
already moving, thotigh it has nit yet crossed the
frentier ; that the Czar will almost immediately Pet
out to join his traps; that a manifesto will be pub-
lished immediately; and that at St. Petersburg and
elsewhere the whole of the reserves have been called
out, have all, it is to be feared, some foundation in
truth. From Constantinople there is heard, quite
as unmistakably, the din of preparation. A
further complication exists with reference ti the
' relations between Turkey and Montenegro. The
delegates who for the past few weeks have been
trying ti
_patch up a peace have failed in their
efforts. They have had a final interview with
Saf vet Paella, and are expected at once to return home.
The armistice between the two States expired Friday
night, and according to the law of nations hostilities
may at once recommence. In every quarter the
atmosphere of politics is hopelessly gloomy. If
present appearances are not deceptive, a very few
hours will see a decisive step taken. What may be
the ultimate consequences of that step the boldest
prophet would not venture to foretell,
killed,
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