Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-05-18
PleSen! Position Of The HaSlGrn Var
General Survey of the Ground.
From the London Times, Apr.


Several days have elapsed since the
receipt of any Intelligence OH which re-
lance cnn be placed. from the seat OF
wa. in the east, AMI we have not tho'i
the scaniy and uncertain reports that
have reached US worthy Of serions dis
cussion. Blu, this luil which apparent
~ precedes so great tempest. is in II
self a fact Characteristic of the state of
Europe: for although all the elements of
discoIl are abroad. The pacific relations
which have subsisied for SD many years
ate broken. fleets AID armies are almost
within cannon shot Of each other, and
still mere powerful armaments are on
sheir way 10 the scene OF hosti,ities.
the position Of the briigerent powers
and the test of Europe is by no means
accurately defined. and the actual course
Of events depends Oil causes stiil very
mperfec.iy known. The seizure OF 'he
Princi pali,ies of the Danube by Russia.
and the tone of Prince MenschkoT 6
mission, which led TO that invasion
were undoubtedly daring acts Of aggres-
sion; ani hal Russia been able TO follow
up the policy she then frs, avowed By a
vigorous and i'm nlnlediste attack on Con
s.antir pie and the Turkish Empire. it
would not heye been easy for the Wes-
tern powers. at this time. 10 oppose er
effectual barrier 10 her progress. Blu,
Russia. after having committed an act
of lawless aggression which reused all
the o,he. States of Europe TO resist tance
and hostility. stopped short on the Dan
uoe. either for the want of the means or
of resolution TO take advantage of her
superiority al that moment. She had al
ready gone too far for the maintenance
of peace-she did too little for success
In war. The interval which elapsed
since the passage of the Pru,h. enabled
Turkey 10 assemble a large army and
improve her military position on the
Danube and the Balkans. while the Wes-
tern Powers have occupied the Black Sea
ani the Baltic. and their armies are on
their way 30 the theatre of war. Thus.
in fact. the war. which began by bold
but useless step Of aggression. seems des-
tined TO assume at very early period
on the part OF Russia. q defensive rather
than an offensive character. In point OF
military tactics, it becomes serious
question whe .her Russia can attempt 20
advance upon the centre of Turkey in
Europe. i'll the presence Of the forces
now collected upon the Danube, with
the sea occupied by hostile fleets. and
with the certainty thu, on Angl O. French
army will arrive III time TO land upon
the flank o: the Russian line of march.
Had the Russians felt themselves in @
.condilion TO advance. the next step after
fhe passage Of the Danube and The occu-
patton of Dosrudska, must have been to
Jay siege to S,listra. and they had the
strongest iGiucement TO attempt TO :ake
shat important place before the arrival
of the European reinforcsments. But we
are not informed that anything of :his
kiad has Get begun.
These military obstacles are by no
..ssns the most r,rmi.iable which the
Emperor Nicholas has to sLrmosnf.-
TIE language and attitude OF the u @fman
powers. though not yet entirely salts
factory to US. is far less SO to him. lie
has palpably failed in obtaining not only
their cooperation, but even their neu-
traliiY. He sees that those Govern
men.s which he regarded as his frmest
allies. have been driven by his miscon-
duct and by sense Of their own inter
ests and Independence. to sign protocols
identifying their policy in principle with
that Of the powers who have already de-
clared wsr against him. Although he
affects TO regard with scorn the popular
Judgement of free nations. he sannot be
insensibIe to the fact hat his policy has
been condemned throughout the world.
and that from the confines Of Finland TO
shoss of Hungary. an ardent desire has
awakened Ia Europe 10 shake off the in
cubus OF Russian supremacy. In return.
therefore. for the menaces he addressed
year ago 20 Turkey. he is menaced with
the loss of the dearest objects of Rus
sian policy. The Baltic is entered by o
feet of matchless power. and the Scan
dinavian nations on either cost II the
Sound. hail with enthusiasm the flag Of
Napier and the floating bulwarks Of Eng
)and. The Hanse Towns stictly forbid