Washington sentinel., 1854-06-04
From the London Times, Nav 18th.

The accounts which we receive from every
part OF Germany confirm our impression that
the true cause OF the apparent inaction of the
Russian armies is the increasing apprehension
| that they will soon have to encounter other ad
versares than the Turks, and to turn the seat
of war from the banks of the Danube to those
of the Sereth or the Dniester. The Austrian
government had at first assembled its chief
| forces, under the command of the Archduke
Albert, on the frontier of Servia and the line
of the Save, and the presence of that army un-
doubtedly served to strengthen the Turks in
their position Mt Kalafat, and to defeat the
scheme of invading Servia, where the govern
ment of Prince Alexander was vigorously sup
ported against the Russian emissaries by the
agents of all the other powers. But, when this
movement OF the enemy had been prevented,
and the Russians had retired from Little Wal
achia, the interest of the compaign passed to
another quarter. 1t became known at Vienna
that the Russians, instead of hurrying on all
their available troops and reinforcements to the
Danube, were forming considerable depots and
cantonments on the line of the Sereth, from
kaminietz Podolsky, on the frontier of the
Russian province of Podolsk, to Fokshani, thus
making Moldavia the base Of their operations,
and turning their front to the west rather than
the south. s
These positions are, in fact, the same which
they occupied in the early part OF the year S49,
previous to the Russian Intervention in Hun
gary, and the passes in the Carpahians, by
which they communicate with Iransylvania,
were more than once hotly disputed in the
course of that war. An army in this province
has the advantage of being able to advance
into Gallicia by the north or into Wallachia by
the south, as the course of policy or of events
may prescribe and, in either case, it would
turn the flank of corps occupying the Bu-
kowina or the extreme eastern frontier of the
Austrian empire. We are left, then, in uncer.
tainty as to the next movements which may be
contemplated by Russia, but it is evident, from
the last measures Of the Austrian cabinet, that
| they think it necessary to prepare in earnest
| for the defence OF Gallicia, which is, perhaps,
more seriously menaced at this moment than
| the Turkish province of Bulgaria. According.
ly, the second division OF the army has been
ordered to march with allspeed to the north,
and General Schlick, who must certainly be CON
sidered one Of the ablest of the Austrian Off
GERS, is to take the command in that province
1t is extremely difficult to obtain any informa-
| ton as to the real movements of the Russians,
but there is reason to believe that the corps OF
the Guards is marching from the Baltic pro-
! vinces into the kingdom of Poland by way OF
| knowo, and that the strength of the first
and second divisions of the Russian army
is still concentrated in the Polish provinces.
| The fact that these troops cannot be moved
! in consequence of the uncertain and menac-
! ing attitude of one, at least, Of the Ger
man powers, has evidently disturbed the cal.
culations of Russia, and compelled her to pro-
| vide for her own defence, while she was threat
ening to absorb the territory Of her neighbors.
The strategical difficulty Of the Emperor Mich
olas in the present war is, that he is exposed
to attack on six or seven points, wholly distinct
from each other, but each requiring an army for
its defence.
To hold possession Of principalities he re-
quires at least 100000 men; the Crimea de-
mands an army of $4,000; Georgia and the
Circassian coast at least as many the king
dom of Poland, an imposing body of troops
capable of maintaining the inhabitants in sui
len subjection, and of watching the movements
both OF Austria and Prussia; the Baltic prov
inces, Finland, and even the neighborhood Of
Finland, are all liable to be assailed, especially
BY an enemy having fleets propelled by steam
in absolute possession of the sea, and troops
in sufficient numbers to throw formidable
body of men on any part Of the coast.
At this moment when the events of the war
are about to assume a more positive character,
it would be ofthe utmost value to the common
cause of Europe if the conventions recently
concluded between the western powers, on
the one hand, and the German powers on the
other, could be brought to include all the gen
eral interests represented by the conference Of
Vienna. If Austria is about to engage as
principal or an active auxiliary in this contest,
it is OF even more importance to her. than to
ourselves that she should place her rights and
her policy in strict accordance with the terms
of the French and English alliances, for that
alliance would render the western powers Joint.
ly liable for the defence Of her territories and
for the assistance it may be in their power to
offer to her, in the event of hostilities being
directed against her own domnions. The
court of Vienna has not concealed from itself
that, in the event Of positive rupture with
that Of St. Petersburg, il is not improbable
that the Emperor Nicholas may give way to
his resentment against Austria, and even with.
draw his troops from Turkey to punish re
verse which he attributes to the desertion OF
his ally for the events of the past year and OF
the present moment have again demonstrated
that no serious blow can be aimed at the
Turkish empire as long as Austria stands aloof
and refuses to participate in the spoils of her
neighbor. 1t is, we believe, true that even the
convention between the Austria and Prussia
provides that the incorporation of the Danu-
bian principalities, or any attempt on the part
of Russia to force the Balkans, is to be re-
garded as casats 6elli by both the German
States, and their declaration to the Diet is to
the same effect
Of all the mistakes committed by the Empe-
ror of Russia on this question--and they have
not been tew--none is more glaring than the
assumption that the policy OF Austria was en-
tirely subordinate to his own good pleasure,
and that the Emperor Francis Joseph was re-
duced to the condition OF Russian vassal by
the services he had received from his northern
ally in the perils of the revolution of lS49. 1t
is to the honor Of that young sovereign that he
has not turned abruptly or hastily from an alli-
ance which had undoubtedly rendered him
great services when they we're most needed.
He has testified his gratitude to the Emperor
OF Russia for the past, by endeavoring to facili-
tate his retreat on the present occasion from
position which is disgraceful to his reign and
calamitous to his empire. Disappearing the
Russian policy as much as the western States
Austria was nevertheless bound to show even
more forbearance towards Russia than the
western powers have shown. But she is not
bound to abdicate her independence or to sac
rifice her national interests and, although she