New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-04
THE EUROPEAN WAR.

THE EUROPEAN WAR.
The system of warfare carried on hitherto by
the Western Powers against Russia, has completely
broken down twill not do to carry on this years
campaign, if campaign there is TO be, upon the
plsp which has. SO far, been followed up. To con-
centrate the whole forces of France, England,
Turkey and Sardinia against one particular point in
the Crimea, point which, by using indirect means,
might have been gained an accessory; to fight for
that point eleven long months, and then to obtain
only one hafofi il; to neglect all other opportunities
for dealing effective blows at the enemy to such an
extent that Russia could obtain by the conquest of
Kars, a counterpart to the loss of the south side OF
Sevastopol-all that might do for a campaign or
two, in q war where the most vulnerable points OF
the opposing parties were covered by the neutrality
of Central Europe. But it will do no longer. The
| Council of War which has just been sitting in
! Paris, is the best proof that now we shall have
something like war in earnest if the war is to co.,
tinue at all.
The war, as hitherto carried on, has been state
of official hOstties, mitigated By extreme polite
ness, We do not here allude to ciyities marking
the unavoidable intercourse of flags Of truce, but
to the cyilites which the very councils of war of
the contending parties displayed to their opponents
/ That the war arose at ALL is the fault of miscal-
/ culaton on the part of the Emperor Nicholas. He
never expected that France and England would
/ join to oppose his designs upon Turkey; he looked
out for quiet little war of his with the Sultan,
which might lead his troops for second time to
/ the walls of COnstantinople, arouse European d.
plomacy when il would be too late, and finally give
! his own dplomatsts a chance Of gaining, as usual,
! twice as much in conferences and congresses his
troops could have gained by the sword. Uniortu-
nately, Unexpectedly, unwillingly, Russia and the
Western Powers were entangled into war over this
business before they were aware of it, and 10 war
tbey had 10 60, though none of them liked it.
Now, either party had a last means OF warfare in
perspective which it thought would brighten the
! other from resorting 10 eXtremities. Ii was
pected TO be war OF principles, and OF more or
less revolutionary character in which Germany
and her dependencies, Hungary Poland Italy
would have 10 parake. The ultima ratio of the West
was to be the setting loose of the oppressed nation
aties of Hungary, Poland, Italy, and more or less
of Germany also. The ultima ratio Of Russia, on the
other hand, was the appeal to Panslavism, the rea-
lization of the dreams fostered by enthusiasts for
the last fifty years, among the slayOnic population
Of Europe.
But neither the Russian Government nor that
Of Louis Bonaparte mot to speak of Palmer
stony choose to appeal TO such means
of action before the last extremity had
arrived; and in consequence the war has been car
/ ried on with mutual forbearance and urbanity
scarcely habitual between Legitimate monarchs of
ancient lineage, much less between such Upstairs
aud usurpers as the Romanoffs, the Hanoyerans.
and the Pseudo Bonapsrtes. The Baltic coast of
Russia was scarcely touched no attempts at per-
manent Judgment were made there. There, in
the White Sea, private property was much more as
sailed than Government property; and on the coast
of Finland, especially, the British fleets seemed
TO have no other end in view than to reconcile the
Fins to the Russian rule. In the Black Sea similar
principles were acted upon. The Allied troops
sent there appeared TO haye come for the purpose
OF making the Turks long for a Russian invasion:
for that is the only conclusion to be drawn from
their conduct ever since 1854 till now The most
innocent portion of the time they spent in
Turkey was during their stay at varna.
when, incapable OF doing good they did
at least no considerable harm except to them.
selves. When at last they started for the Crimes.
They managed to carry on the war in such way
that the Russian Government had every reason to
be highly satisfied with them. The Duke of Cam.
bridge has been, lately distributing plenty Of medals
TO the French troops returned from the Crimea:
but no medals, crosses, grand-crosses, stars and
ribbons the Russian Government can bestow will
adequately express the gratitude il owes TO the di.
rectors OF the campaign Of 1854 and 80. In
deed, when the south side Of SeyastOpOl was
abandoned by its Russian garrison, it had COS;
the Allies in dead and invalid 2J0, 900 uien.
beside millions on millions Of money The Rus
slams. always worsted III battle, had regu-
larry defeated their enemies in resolution. activity.
and the skill Of their commanding engineer.
Ii Inkermann was an indelble disgrace to the
Russians the building up of the redoubts on Sspun
and the Mamel0n By the Russsns, under tie very