Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-03-09
.fortiall al.lus.
THE EUROPEAN WAR.

As the term approaches for the
opening Of the Conference at Vienna,
the probability Of any concessions on
the part of Russia dwindles away into
misty and most uncertain tenuity.
The brilliant success Of that great di-
plomatic coup, the prompt acceptance
by the Czar of the proposed basis of
negotiations. puts him, for the mo-
ment at least. in comanding position
and renders it certain that, under what
ever appearances hemay agree topro-
posals for peace, the only real basis on
which ne will now consent to arrange
the quarrel is substantially that Of the
status quo. BY accepting the Four
Points he has thrown Austria back in
to adoubtful position, while he retains
Prussia in his leading strings. and
gains time to bring all his reserves and
new formations of troops to the FROM
tier before hostilities can begin. The
very act OF negotiations having been
agreed upon, sets free at once as many
Russian soldiers Of the army Of
observation on the Austrian From
ties as can be replaced in two months
or ten weeks-thatis, at least sixty to
eighty thousand men. AS the whole
of the late Danubian army has ceased
to exist as such, the fourth corps hay.
ing been in the Crimea since the end
of October, the third corps having ar
rived there in the latter part Of De.
cember, and the rest of the fifth, be-
sides cavalry and reserves now being
on their way thither, these troops
must be replaced on the Bug and
Dniester by fresh men, to be taken
from the western army in Poland, Vol.
hynia and Podolia. Accordingly, il
the war is TO be transferred to the GEN.
ter of the Continent, two or three
months time are of the utmost impor-
tance TO Russia; for,at the present mo-
ment, the forces she has scattered on
the long line from Kalish to Ismal are
no longer sufficient, without reinforce
ments, % withstand the increasing
number of Austrian troops opposed to
them. That time she has now gained
and we proceed to show what is the
present state of her military prepara-
tons.
We have often said that this wal
would not have that military interest
which properly attaches to European
wars; until Austria should declare her
self against Russia. Even the efforts
in the Crimea are nothing but great
war upon small scale. The enor-
nous marches of the Russians and the
sufferings Of the Allies, have hitherto
reduced the contending armies to such
numbers, that no really great battle
has been fought. What are fights
where but from fifteen to twenty five
thousand men on a side are engaged?
What strategical operations of really
scientific interest can concur within
the small space from Cape Cherson to
Bakshiscrai? And even there, what
ever occurs, there are never troops e.
nough to occupy the whole line. The
interest consists more in what is not
done, than in what is done. For the
rest, it is anecdote, instead of history
that is performed.
| But it will be a different thing should
the two grand armies, now facing each
other on the Galician frontier, come
into play. Whatever the intentions
and capabilities of the commanders
may be, the very magnitude of the ar
mics and the nature Of the ground ad.
NIT of no sham war and of no indecis.
ion. Rapid concentrations, forced
marches, stratagems and outhankings
of the largests kind, changing bases
and lines of operation-in fact ma.
noeuvering and fighting on a grand
scale, and according to real military
principles, here becomes a necessity
and q matter of course; and then The