The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-05-07

Thseass.ed General War In Europe.

Z ~ VhGe0 toned 0oner0l war IN EUropes
s'o Our latest advices from Europe go to show
= xLat the Polish question will almost Inevitably
involve 3 war between the great Powers.
Russia is making gigantic preparations for the
! coming struggle. She has ordered q general
devy OF troops In the seven provinces bordering
upon Poland. Each government is to furnish
at once eight thousand men. 1t is also stated
that General Berg, commanding the Russian
forces in Poland, has demanded one hundred
shousand additional troops. The Poles, fred
TO enthusiasm by their successes, are increasing
In numbers and boldness, and have successfully
resisted the attacks made upon them by the
Russians. force of hussars of the Russian
Imperial Guard were cut to pieces by the in
ssurrectionists, who killed and wounded three
hundred of them. In Volhynia and Podolia
the Instruction, once put down, has broken
out again. The Poles fight with a desperation
=and courage which the Russians seem unable to
overcome.
There can be no doubt that ere long the
Poles will have extended to them the aid Of
France and Austria and perhaps England
Napoleon I'LL, pushed on by the clamors of
the revolutionary party in his own
empire. has, to all appearances, warmly
espoused the cause of Poland. His Minis
ter, M. Bilault, speaking in the French
Senate, announced that the Emperor con-
sidered the Polish question q European
one, and that the sympathies Of all Europe must
concur in settling it, He asserted that the
government of France was animated by the
most cordial feelings for suffering Poland, and
D.. k,l all fOr
immediate answer to the representations of
France in its favor. 1t is also stated that the
British Ambassador at ST. Petersburg has
likewise insisted upon a speedy answer from
the Gar to the demands Of England in favor of
the Poles A rumor is circulated to the effect
that the Emperor of Russia, in answer to Eng
land. replied that his first duty was TO restore
peace and quiet in his dominions. If this an
-swer was made by the Gar it smacks strongly
of gunpowder. To add to the evaporation Of
Russia. the Swedish government are taking al
most an overt part in aiding the Poles. They
= scnd them guns and munitions Of war, and the
relations between Russia and Sweden are con-
sequently very cool. The Pope has expressed
great satisfaction at the attitude assumed by
4 Austria towards Russia apropos Of the Polish
question. His Holiness encourages the Empe-
TOR of Austria to act IN concert with Napoleon
in this natter. ik
It will thus be seen that Russia is universally
monased, and that her position is most diff
cult one. Were she to give way to the demands
of the great Powers in favor of Poland she
would at once retrograde to q second rank
among the nations Of Europe. She gave up
al! she could at the termination of the Crimean
war, and can recede now, as regards Poland, but
with loss Of prestige and power. The Gar is
evidentlyunwilling to thus give way, and the
probabilities are that general war in Europe
must cnsue. The Emperor OF Russia takes the
same view of the Polish question that our
government takes Of the Southern rebellion,
though the cases are certainly different. in
both instances the governments will listen to
naught save submission, whatever may be done
when that has occurred.
Russia is so powerful, and her resources are
so immense, she cannot submit to the coercion
of France and Austria. She must 60 to war
should they continue to oppose her free action,
aud she is evidently preparing for all emer-
gcncies Napoleon will more than likely seize
upon the opportunity offered to him by the
Polish question to withdraw from Mexico.
There he has failed, and has never had the
sympathy of his subjects. In assuming the role
O. defender of Poland he will, on the contrary,
be'supported blythe whole French people. The
chance is one which may not recur, and 1--WE
deem Napoleon too wise man not to take ad
vantage OF it.
England, whose great desire is to see France
embroiIed with other nations, will no doubt
urge Napoleon on to attack Russia but she will
some way keep clear of the melee Be that
az it may, the present aspect Of affairs in
Europe is indeed threatening. general war
seems inevitable, as Russia, it Is to be sup
= posed will not back out from her present
course Of action towards Poland, while France
Is so far committed that she cannot retract her
demands upon Russia without loss of prestige.
Austria will doubtless act in concert with
France and Russia may reasonably expect the
evaporation OF Prussia. The war would thus
bcco ONE general, and ere its termination great
and wonderful changes could but occur. We
shall await with anxiety the Cars final answer
to tie demands Of France, England and Austria.
EAnrnwoKKs VERSUS Inoy-CIADs-Thc COM
ments Of the English journals on the operations
against Charleston betray the anxiety with
which they were regarded on the other side,
not merely as to their effect upon the rebellion,
out as being decisive Of the disputed question
whether land forts can be made impregnab!e to
the assaults Of iron-clad vessels. Although the
news OF the failure Of the attack had not as
yet reached them they fully anticipated It, and
arrived at the conclusion. from what had already
taken place, both at Charleston and on the
Cgeechce river, that earthworks and iron