The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-07-19
Tho War Panic in Europo-RussiA and
Great Britain Coming TO tho Front.


Great Britain Coming to tho Front.
Not yet can we announce the actual
commencement Of war. Our cable dispatches
from the different European centres are, how
ever, abundant and suggestive. The confa-
grafton is not yet, but the confagration Is
scarcely any longer to be doubted. On the
part of Prussia and on the part of France
preparations for war are carried on with
amazing rapidity and on scale Of magnitude
which revives the memory of the wars Of the
first Napoleon, and which reminds us all of
our own doings in the hottest days Of our late
civil war. In both countries hundreds OF
thousands of men are moving towards the
Rhine. At any moment we may learn that
great battle has been fought-a battle not
decisive, but giving us foretaste OF the
gigantic and deadly nature Of the strife.
Meanwhile the various European Powers are
ranging themselves, sympathetically at least
on the side Of one or the other Of the intending
combatants. Few have had any anxiety
about the possible course which Spain or
Italy or Switzerland or Belgium or Holland
would take. It has not been thought that any
one of these Powers would. unless forced.
take any active part in the impending strug-
gle. The question has been whether by any
possibility Russia and Great Britain could or
would be dragged into the conflict Either or
both Of those Powers becoming active parties
in the strife, it has been universally admitted,
the war must assume proportions not safe to
limit. We cannot say that either Great
Britain or Russia has actually taken sides;
but we are now no longer permitted to doubt
that in certain emergencies both will draw the
sword. ~
Yesterday immense excitement was created
in London and Liverpool in other commercial
centres in Europe, and even here, by the
announcement that Russia had pronounced in
favor of Prussia, and that she was already
mobilzing her army. Later news confirms
the announcement. In London and Liver
pool this news had paralyzing effect. The
London papers Of yesterday leave us no room
to doubt the sentiment Of Great Britain. The
Post tells us that 'sany violation of Belgian
territory ends England's neutrality" Another
cable despatch has it that Lord Lyons, the
British Minister in Paris has been in commu-
nication with the Duke de Grammont, and that
he has demanded that the soil of Holland be
considered neutral. In another place we have
shown how difficult it will be for the two con-
testing parties to keep away from the Neither
lands, the time-honored battle ground between
North and South, and how closely the honor
of Great Britain will be touched If the neu-
trality of either of the little Kingdoms is VIC
lated. The London Tones, which is always a
safe index of the dominant British sentiment of |
the hour, very emphatically charges France
with having, without shadow of excuse,
plunged Europe into war Of which no person !
living may see the end" If these dispatches |
prove to be correct it is no longer possible to |
doubt that the struggle already commenced !
may ultimately involve every nation in Europe |
and become the most general and the most |
disastrous in the whole history of mankind.
So long as the other great Powers remained
silent and inactive it was permitted us to con-
template the approaching contest in the light
of great duel. Now, however, it seems we
must look less exclusivelyto France and Prus-
STA. and enlarge our horizon SO as to include
the whole of Europe.
In what circumstances is Russia likely to
interfere9 Possibly if France attempts to
force either Spain or Italy into active alliance.
Certainly If Austria joins France. Certainly,
too, if France comes out of the struggle sue
cessful and attempts to remodel the map Of
Europe. Russia gave France full opportunity
in Italy. She was not unwilling that the
Hapsburgs should be driven from the PENN
sula. She has not taken any interest in the
affairs Of Spain. South Of certain line
France, 80 far as Russia was concerned,
might do what she liked. But north of Ger
tain line France must be taught she may not
NEEDLE. Even in the event, of France win
ming the glories Of another Jena Russia will
not permit France to annex the Rhine
provinces, at least not without the sanction of
q European congress, and probably not at all
without adequate compensation. As we have
said already Great Britain cannot see Bel
GUM aud Holland overrun. She was q power
full party to the treaty of Vienna which
guaranteed the independence of the kingdom
of the Netherlands. Later, in 1881, she was
a principal party to the division Of the Neither
lands and the establishment of the little king
dom Of Belgium. Should the rights of
Belgium in any sense be trampled upon she
must draw the sword or lose her honor.
If her allies, because they are weak, are to be
left to their fate, she must abrogate her right
there are other possibilities which could
scarcely fail to drag Great Britain into