The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-06
ASPECT OF TIE WAR.

ASPECT OF TIE WAR.
fITom the London Times, April 20.
Several have elapsed since the receipt Of any intel
gence which reliance be- placed from The seat Of
In the kast and have not thought the tcanty and
uncertain reports which reached worthy Of
rions discussion Du; this uli which apparently pre-
cedes SO great tempest Is in itself fact CHARACTERISTIC
of the state Of Europe for although all the elements OF
discord abroad the pacific relations which have sub
sisted for SO years broken fleets aud armies
almost within cannon shot OF each other. aud still
powerful ornaments are their way the
Of hoses, the position OF The elgerent Powers and
OF the rest of Europe by no means accurately defined
and the actual Of events depends svery
mpeecy known The seizure Of the PrincpStes Of the
Danube by Russia, and the tone Of Prince Mcnschikons
mission which led to that invasion undoubtedly acts
dar agrresson and had Russia been able to follow up
the policy she then first avowed by vigorous and i'm
mediate attack Cons,antnopie and the Turkish
pre- would not been easy for the Western Powers
to oppose at that time eccfua barrier 70 her pro-
gress, But Russia :..sT having committed act Of
lawless aggression which aroused all the other states Of
Europe resistance and hostility stopped short on the
Danube either for want Of the means 81 OF the esoi
ton to take advantage Of her superiority at that moment
She had already done too much for the maintenance
of peace-she did too little for success In The In
teryal which elapsed since the passage Of the truth
ensb'd Turkey to assemble large army AMI to ina
prove her military position on the Danube and the
Balkans, while the Western Powers have occupied the
Black sea and the Baltic, and their armies are on the
way 10 the theatre of Thus, in fact, the war,
which began by bold but useless stroke Of agsres
sion destined 10 assume at very early ROD,
on the part Of Russia, defensive rather than an
offensive character In point Of military tactics, II be-
a serious question whether Russia attempt to
advance upon the centre Of Turkey in Europe in the pre-
the forces collected in the strong places OF
the anule with the occupied by hostile fleets ani
the certainty that Anglo French army will arrive n
trae to land upon tho flank of tAe Russian line Of mrch
Had the Russians felt themselves in condition % AT
The next tep after the passage OF the Danube aud
the occupation Of the Iobrudscha must have been TO
lay siege Ssta and they had the strongest induce
tempt take that important place before the
arrival of the European reinforcements But we are
not informed that anything Of the kina las yet been
begun.
These military obstacles are, however, by no means tho
formidable which the Emperor Nicholas has to sur
mount The language and atttufe of the German Pow
ers though yet entirely satisfactory to are far
less satisfactory TO him. He has palpaby failed in OBJ
tanning not only their cooperation but their neutrality
He sees that these governments which he regarded his
frmest allies, have been driven by his misconduct and
by Of their interests and Independence to
sign protocols identifying their policy in principle with
that OF the powers who have already declared against
him. Although be affects to regard with the pc
pular judgment of free nations he cannot he insepsibe
to the that his policy has been condemned through
out the world and that from the confines OF Finland to
those OF Hungary an ardent desire has been awakened
in Europe shake oil the incubus Of Russian supre
In return, therefore, for the menaces no addressed
year ago to Turkey he is menacel with the loss OF
the dearest objects of Russian policy The Baltic
is entered by feet Of macbless power and the Scand
navian nations either coast Of the Sound nail with
enthusiasm tie flag OF Napier and the floating ba'warss
Of England The Hanse Towns strictly prohibit every
attempt to supply the enemy with con'raband OF war.
The Courts of Northern Germany and possibly Of some
other northern States reminded that II they give
way to their private sympathy with the Russian alliance
they will forfeit the confidence of their subjects and
that even the neutrality they seek to preserve w be-
long a burden and reproach too grieyous to
be borne Austria has assembled powerful army on
the frontiers OF Waacha she has prepared herself to
take the field at moments notice and, from her
command Of the Upper Danube and Of the passes OF
the Carpathians she pour with irresistible force
on the rear Of the invading army AS long as
Austria keeps that position, and adheres TO the
language she has used throughout this dscussion abe
holds the advanced guard Of the Russian army in check
though not Austrian soldier the from
tier The position of Russia becomes not only of
defence but of danger; and the entire plan of the
gssn Is changed BY the variety Of the attacks 70 which
Turkey are Obvious enough az long AZ aHras on the LETT
and the possibility Of an Austrian movement the
right to advance the Balkan would be an act of in
fatuation and to hold the Prncpalties is cause
OF werknss and since her line Of opera
tons may be infersected BY the advance If Austrian
corps on Jassy or OF an Anglo French army operating III
These causes appear to account in some degree
Tor the suspension OF operations and the absence
more positive intelligence al moment when the curl
oey OF the pubc Is raised throughout Europe 70 tie
highest pitch The last propositions sent from 81 Re
fersbnfg amount to AN oier 70 evaeese the Principa
iies II exchsnge for the withdrawal Of sae eeta from
the Black sea and tire Bospbnrus aud. although the
Jnipcror Niclolnf cannot for moment have supposed
that the Western Powers would content themselves with
sterile result of their efforts sacrifices leaving
the whole question to be opened by Russia at more
season yet this proposal has probably been
mace TO satisfy the most pressing demand Of the German
Powers and to detach them from the Quadru pie
ference IT is important to that since the rejec
tocol of the four governments has nevertheless been
signed and have yet 10 learn what move Of
the Russian Cabinet will b. the receipt of this intel
lgenee.
While Russia Ia thus driven TO contract her pretensons
and 70 fall back the defensive after having threatened
the Porte with her summary vengeance the policy Of the
Western Powers which strictly defensive Mt frst
and s still defensive in principle has gradually led them
70 resolve upon offensive operations 10 red ice
Russia to accept terms OF consistent with the
raj interests OF Europe and the safety If the Turkish
ritories England and France compelled to attack her
and IN, tvAsn ~ hAr ~.
Black Sea portion Of those evils which Russia has
relentngly inflicted on others II H. indeed stated in
offensive and defensive treaty has length been signed
between the Western Powers Be this ii may II is
certain that England and France cannot lay down their
arms until they have eectuay prevented the posi-
bity Of repetition of these outrages Had the King
Prussia signed the quadruple convention when il
pre- posed TO him such engagement might have had
the effect OF limiting operations 10 the objects con-
templated by that instrument and the secret allies of
Russia would of course have used their influence and
position TO blunt aud the koennes aud force az
the attacks 10 which tie Emperor Nohoas justly OK.
posed But as that convention defeated BY the in
take sucl view Of the policy suggests
and the success OF arms Justify At present all
these eanses, paril, military and rat, political tend to
prolone Tor while the suspense which hangs like a
thunder cloud over Europe Tomorrow the bolt may
fall a the irst results of the war will clear away all
that is still indefinite and obscure.
THE CONTENDING ARMIES ON THE DANIJBE.
Mh lhirii w correspondence OF the London Times
The Latest and most Trustworthy accounts from the
Of Omer Pacha prove the urgent necessity
q the allied forces arriving the theatre war with
out loss Of time, there be desire to avoid a. General
Paraguay lier is said to have expressed il in one of
his dispatches the repetition land of the catastrophe
OF sinore competent person, who has very recently
examined AID with the greatest attention the line OF
the danube from Wddln TO Rassova and who has very
infinitely scruinizcd the effective force under the com
mand OF omer facha, with its capabilities and organiza.
ton, is not of opinion that Is able to meet tho Rus
sian army single handed or to oppose its onward
march to the south. No doubt is expressed as
to the zeal, the enthusiasm, and the valor Of
The Turkish army but the authority de-
clares that, notwiths audng the wonderful efforts
mrde by Omer fasht to introduce regularity and
order in tie host he mands there is still deplorable
deficiency in these respects With the exception Of Oner
Fscha himself who Is admitted TO be Of much in.
diligence, and two three others the most there is
'ad want Of military capacity among the superior Off
,ers and infinitely less among the subalerns 1t is true
hat Omer Pacha is full Of daring and petuoty but
hese qualities rather dangerous under the present
circumstances and 1t would be most desirable that he