The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-10-28
Progress of the Turkish Struggle.

The Russo Turkish game goes on slowly, but
still each mail brings us nearer the solution
Last week we heard of the Sultan's concurrence
in the sentiment expressed by the Grand Nation
al Council: the papers of yesterday, and the int
resting telegraphic intelligence given in another
column, contain the accounts of the first overt act
towards break out of hostilties. Fifteen days
are granted to the Russians to evacuate the Prin-
| cipalities According to the rules which guide
| private individuals, such a cautious mode OF
proceeding with an intruder seems almost super
1uous; but nations move more slowly. Precipi-
fancy in an affair in which such momentous in
terests are involved, and which can hardly fail
to cost the lives of thousands Of men, would be
criminal; and diplomatic usage, which is based
in this particular on the dictates of humanity
and forbearance, requires that the Russians
should be placed still further in the wrong be-
| fore shot is fired. OF course neither the Sui
tan nor any one else expects the Russian troops
to move during the period prescribed The
form Of notifying them that it has expired will
probably be gone through and then the work
will commence in earnest
Active preparations are being made by the
Porte in anticipation of the final appeal to
arms. The British and French fleets have been
invited to repair to Constantinople, and yolun-
teers from almost every country in Europe are
being enrolled in the Turkish service Offers
to enter the Sultan's army have been received
from vast numbers Of Poles, Hungarians, Ital-
ans; and refugees residing as far away as our
selves have signiIied their willingness to march
against the Gear. Whatever may be the value
in military point of view of an army thus
recruited from all the oppressed nations of Eu-
rope, il is certain that it will carry with it the
sympathies of the whole civilized world.
1t can hardly be expected however to save
Turkey. Even without abiding to the newt
able prospects Of dissensons in so hetorogene-
Gus host as the Turkish army the inexperi-
ence OF its leaders, and the financial embarrass-
ments OF the Porte, there is enough in the DO
sition now occupied by the Russian troops, and
in the high state Of dien;rl; 'Livn ,ney
peen brought, TO render the issue of the
contest tolerably certain. Fighting on Turk
ish ground, the losses incidental to the war
will be borne by the Sultans subjects and
this consideration will go far to strengthen the
antipathy with which we are led to believe the
Turkish government is now regarded in Mol
davia and Wallachia. Furthermore. the chances
of war are almost invariably in favor of the in
vader. Men fight desperately, it is true, for
their homes and their native land but il would
seem as though this desperate valor. often as It
leads TO noble instances of individual daring.
yVnu M for ba nd ~
thirsting for conquest, and flushed already with
the first tokens of success.
How long the conflict may last and under
what circumstances it may be brought to a
close, we can only conjecture on general
grounds. 1t is possible that no definite acts
will take place this winter. But, according to
all the probabilities before US it would seem
more than likely that the fate of Turkey will be
decided before twelve months pass over In
other words, we see every reason for supposing
that before November 1854, Russia will have
consolidated her hold Of the Provinces and
made such encroachments on Turkey
proper as will require immediate action
on the part Of the Western powers. We
have already stated what we expect that
action to be. Neither England nor France can
afford to permit Russia to hold the whole Of
Western Europe. Nor can they venture upon
attempting to uphold a power that is behind
the age. and must fall to pieces ere long from
iDcurable intrinsic weakness. The establish
ment Of new Christian State ut CONSTANT
nople, under the Joint protectorate Of Great
Britain France ana Russia is the only scheme
that their interests and their safety will suffer
them to propose. OF that we are confident
they are already convinced and will insist on
its accomplishment. under the alienation Of
war. The choice viii he left with Russia.