The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-04-25 00:00:00

THE WAR IN THE EAST.

THE all-engrossing topic of discussion is still the
war with Russia, and many are the anxious inqui-
ries from all classes of the people as to its progress
and prospects. In these days of rapid communi-
cation, by means of railway and electric telegraphs,
we are apt to anticipate events and look for news
before the actual occurrence of the circumstances ;
but we must learn to moderate our anxieties, and
exercise more patience than we have been recently
accustomed to, before we can hope to hear of any-
thing decisive having been effected. We have had
a series of accounts of the shipment of troops in
fast-going steamers, and of the despatch of power-
ful fleets to the scene of expected contest ; but,
however rapidly this portion of the business may
be performed, the actual operations of a campaign
of imposing magnitude require far more time to
be developed. The last war is, to the present
generation, a matter of history, and little more
do the majority know of it than the records
of brilliant victories ; but such events required
many months of active preparation, and these
we have only just entered upon. The ex-
pedition to the East has not yet reached
the scene of anticipated strife, and it was only last
week that the COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF left the
gaieties of Paris to enter upon the active duties of
his office. The Baltic fleet, it is true, is already
there, in force considered ample for all that may

be opposed to it ; but a battle, whether on sea or
land, requires an enemy, and Russia has, as yet,
pursued her ancient policy of retreating before a
foe able to cope with her.. Without an opportunity
of engaging the Russian fleet, Sir CHARLES
NAPIER has orders to effect a rigorous blockade, a
duty which he will, no doubt, well perform ; but
it of necessity involves delay, and furnishes but
little occasion for those stirring bulletins which
excite popular enthusiasm at home. In the East,
also, the same causes operate to render delay
almost inevitable ; and though powerful steamships
may have conveyed our soldiers to Malta, and sub-
sequently to Gallipoli, with a celerity impracticable
during the last war, the advantages there cease,
and the marches over the Turkish provinces will,
necessarily, prolong the time before the English
and French army can have an opportunity of
showing their military prowess against the hordes
of Russian serfs whom they are sent to drive be-
fore them.

In the meantime, the electric telegraph is not
idle, and we have almost daily rumours of
military movements, and sanguinary encounters
between the Turkish and Russian forces. So many
of these report have, however, been manufactured,
merely for stock jobbing purposes, that few of
them receive credit, until their correctness is
confirmed through a more trustworthy channel.
It would appear that Russia still perseveres in her
aggressive course ; following up her occupation of
Moldavia and Wallachia by crossing the Danube,
and that whatever may be the retreating policy at
sea, full opportunity will be afforded our troops to
show the advantage of courage and discipline over
numerical superiority.
A treaty, offensive and defensive, has now been
definitively concluded between England and France
for the defence of the Turkish territory, the osten-
sible object being the preservation of the peace of
Europe, by the resistance of Russian aggression. ;
Austria, it would appear, is more favourably dis-
posed towards the policy of the Western Powers
than was evident a short time since, though the
young EMPEROR is more pleasantly occupied with
the preparations for his approaching marriage than
with the sterner business of State diplomacy. The
greatest obstacle to European union is the vacilla-
lation of the KING OF PRUSSIA, the godfather to
our PRINCE OF WALES, who has shown by his
recent conduct that he has about as little claim to
sanity as the EMPEROR OF RUSSIA, and he has,
no doubt, been the means of the other Northern
powers holding aloof, and professing to observe a
strict neutrality which they will find it impossible
to maintain. It will not require much, however,
to set all this right. If the opportunity be but
afforded to the Baltic fleet to sound the thunders
of British cannon in that sea, the whole of the
neighbouring ports will be at our command, and
we may then assume the tone that " he that is not
with, us is against us." Let the same duty be
performed in the Black Sea, and Russia will be
driven to her own resources, her Empire blockaded
from the rest of the world, and not an ally in
Europe to look to for aid or assistance, except it
may be the petty kingdom of Greece, which will
become extinguished in the struggle.

THE WIVES AND CHILDREN
OF SOLDIERS.

AN earnest appeal is now being made to the benevolent
feelings of the inhabitants of Liverpool, on behalf of the
funds of the Association which has been formed in the
metropolis, under the sanction and patronage of the
highest dignitaries, in aid of the wives and families of our
soldiers ordered to the East. The4objects of the Associa-
tion will be found detailed in our advertising columns.
I
It' will there be seen that, according to the regulations of
the army authorities, only a small proportion of the sol-
diers' wires, who have been married with military sanc-
tion, are allowed to accompany their husbands in the
expedition ; the remainder have their passage paid to the
parishes where they have a settlement, and there, in the
majority of cases, the Union Poor-house is their only
resource. It is then that the Association interferes to
spare the wives and children of those who are fighting the
battles of their country abroad from such a humiliating
alternative, and this appeal is made in order to enable it to
do so. The aid is not intended to be purely gratuitous,
but asylums will be found for the children, and employ-
ment, as far as possible, provided for the mothers, so that
they may be enabled to maintain themselves. It can
scarcely be necessary to urge the performance of so mani-
fest a duty, which must be prompted by every considera-
tion for those who are hazarding their lives in their coun-
try's cause; It would be base ingratitude to leave the
soldier's wife and children to the Poor-house, while he is
called away to danger, and perhaps death ; and it should
also not be forgotten, that the knowledge that such provi-
sion is made for those he must leave behind him may
prompt many to fill up the ranks, which the stern necessi-
ties of war may require replenishing. It will, no doubt,
be urged by some that this duty should be performed by
the State ; but let it be remembered that the State has no
other resources than the taxes levied on the people, and far
better is it that the aid should be the spontaneous act of
benevolence, than that it should furnish an excuse for some
additional tax, which would prove a more grievous burden.
HER MAJESTY and PRINCE ALBERT have liberally contri-
buted to the fund, and the General Committee comprises
some of the highest personages in the kindgdom. A
highly-influential local Committee has been formed in
Liverpool, at the head of which is the Worshipful the
MAYOR, and contributions will be received at Messrs.
Moss's bank, as well as by the Treasurer and Secretaries.
Let us hope that Liverpool will justify her high character
for loyalty and munificence, and set an example which
other towns will be studious to emulate.

TO XIIE EDITOR OP TIIE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.
SIR,—A question having been proposed in reference to
the contemplated collection in aid of the Association for

the Relief of the Wives and Children of Soldiers now
ordered upon active service, why the families of seamen
of the fleet should not be included, we beg permission
through your columns to state, that we conceive no exclu-
sion was intended by the Central Association; but that
it does not appear that any steps have hitherto been
proposed by officers of the navy, possibly arising from the
circumstance that the regulations provide for the sailor's
wife drawing a portion of her husband's pay while absent.
This the soldier's wife cannot do, from the simple fact,
that, after the usual deductions have been made for
rations, for which the soldier pays and the sailor does
not, the former has only three shillings per week to
meet the supply and wear and tear of boots and clothing ;
while the sailor, with his larger pay, clears from 9s. 6d. to
10s. per week. If sailors' wives were left in the same
destitute condition as those of soldiers now deprived of
their usual means of subsistence-, it cannot be doubted
that the most perfect union would prevail between both
services in obtaining and administering the assistance
that might be required.—We are, Sir, your most obedient
servants,

Jour B. CONOR, M.A.,
lion. Secretaries.
S. WESTMACOTT, Capt. R.E.,

PRAYER AND HUMILIATION.

To-MORROW (Wednesday) has been appointed, by Royal
Proclamation, as a public day of humiliation and prayer,
so that we may humble ourselves before the ALMIGHTY,
in order to obtain pardon of our sins, and send up oar
prayers and supplications to the DIVINE MAJESTY, for
imploring His blessing and assistance on our arms for the
restoration of peace. Business generally will be suspended.
Divine service will be celpbrated in all churches and
chapels, and in most of them the offertory will be devoted
to the fund for the relief of the wives and children of the
soldiers sent to the East.