The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-09-06
The Eastern War.


There is mystery surrounding the
prosecution of the war between the Ser
vians and the Turks that is perhaps not
fully eXplainable by the data received
thus far from the theatre of hos tilities.
1t is conceded that the telegraphic CON-
munlcations are uniformly inconsistent
and unreliable. 1t has been repeatedly
announced that the SerYians had been
routed, their troops slaughtered, their
strongholds captured, their country
ravaged and desolated, and the Turks
everywhere triumphant. And yet we
find that the Seryians are still defend
ing their frontier, that the Turks have
not reached any advanced position, that
the popular cry among the SerVians is
for the vigorous prosecution Of the
war.
Granting that there has been disaster,
that the SelVian troops have been re-
pulsed, that their frontier positions have
been in some instances captured, does
all this demonstrate their failure? Have
we forgotten the opening events of our
own late civil war, when our forts were
taken in the South, and our army routed
at Bull Run? And yet our peoples voice
was not then more sternly attuned to
war than the Servian cry is now. Time
and again the dispatches to Europe an
nounced the collapse of the Union and
the triumph of the rebellion. And yet
the strife was not ended. Something of
this may now be true of the situation in
Servia. At all events, the fierce demand
of that people for the prosecution OF the
war, and their unflinching requirement
upon their Prince, MILAN, to persist in
resistance to the Turks despite intima.
tions for peace on terms of surrender,
do not indicate conquered people.
Moreover, we are now reading of Turk
ish repulses, of the failure OF Turkish
supplies and munitions Of war, of rapid
reinforcements of the Servian army by
the advent of their race-kinsmen from
Russia, of Russian officers, even from
the Imperial Guard of the Gar, coming
as volunteers, by imperial permission,
to join with the struggling Seryians
against their common enemy the Turk,
and taking high command in the SerVian
armies. We read also of hospitals and
hospital outfits, of skilled surgeons and
nurses, of medicines and ambulances,
furnished by Russian volunteers for the
Servian sick and wounded soldiers.
And yet, with all this, we are assured
that Russia is sincerely and decidedly
opposed to the war and in favor OF
peace.
But diplomacy is not always what it
seems. The official showing and the act
ual doing may be utterly different. Rus
sian diplomacy, while distinguished for
its profound ability, has never been emf.
nent for its deep sincerity. But, without
attributing the-slightest degree of insin-
eerity to Russia's declarations, in the
present instance, there are, neVerthe-
iess, counter-currents, both as regards
foreign complications and her public
opinion ut home, that must be met and
consl,t cred in the guidance Of her policy.
The BriSish Ministry has virtually de-
clared for the Turks, while the English
people are largely in favor Of servia. The
Ministerial jealousy Of Russia
has lea the British Cabinet to defy
public opinion. Russia, ON the
other hand, however much she
may dread a collision without suitable
alliances, is impelled by the public opiu
Ion of her Empire to espouse the cause
Of the seryians, the kindred clansmer
pt her own people. Austria, meanwhile
10 willing to dismember Turkey, pro
yided she thereby can augment her ter
fitofy by the annexation OF adjacent
provinces, and secure transit to the
Iouian Sea through the Straits OF Otran
20. Germany, with all her dynasti'