The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-05
War Prospects in Europe .


Many people in this country fancy that
one of these mornings We shall all wake
up to learn that war has broken out in
Europe. But the prospect does not sus-
tain the representation.
Recent events at Constantinople and on
the Danube, as well as the conference at
Berlin and the general warlike prepare
tons give ample reason for supposing that
n conflict Of some sort or other is not un-
, likely to take place on the Balkan PENN
sula. The distance, however, between war
like preparations aud an actual outbreak
of warfare is very great, aud ia this antici-
patton of hostilties in the old world our
wish may have been the father of our
thoughts. Without being DESTROYS to see
boodshed in Europe and human life sac
rihced, nevertheless we cannot help seeing
that such a war would be of great ma
terial benefit to u.s. Our grain and pro-
vision trade has already considerably
improved, on the mere supposition that
such an event may take place. In our
factories OF arms, too, there has been re-
vival Of activity; and should war break
out, the general stagnation of business
would disappear US II by magic. Instead
of exporting gold, we would export prod
uce. and the brisk times for which we
are all looking with such anxiety would
Bet in. Everybody understands this: and
consequently people tacitly wish for il,
although considerations of humanity do
not permit them 10 express such desire.
But let US see what are the chances for
these apprehensiops being realized.
To begin with, who is going TO fight, and
with whom? Is England going TO form an
alliance with the Turks and fight RussIal
Such a supposition is absurd. The whole
regular army Of Great Britain comprises
some hundred and twenty thousand mon;
and according to the law of England that
army alone can be used in foreign war,
the volunteer force-even il it were avail
able, which it is not-being reserved ex-
cluslvely for defensive warfare at home.
The total of the Turkish forces on war
footing amounts TO some 10000, including
all the reserves, the auxiharies, aud the ir-
regulars These troops are scattered over
very large territory, a considerable por-
ton Of them being required far away in
ASIA Minor Assuming, however that an
Auglo-Turkish alliance could prove capa-
Bile Of bringing into the field even as large
an army as 100000 men, IL would by no
means be a match for the forces of the
great northern empire, which consist Of
l,AO,0V0 regular troops, with at least 500,-
900 more OF Co,sacks and other irregular,
but very efficient semi-savage warriors.
Next comes the question OF finance.
Money forms tho siuews OF war, and the
emptiness OF the Turkish treasury has be-
come proverbal. In case of an alliance of
this sort, Eng and would have to bear tho
EXPENSES not only of her own contingent,
but of an allied army four tunes as large
~ her own. This she cannot AFFORD to do,
aud II she could, she would not. RIA via,
though comparatively in a very uusatis-
factory hnancil position, won d have
an lncalculable advantage over Eng-
hand, first Of all, because her army Is
rec uted on the principle of oDligi-
tory service, and consequently Is much
hes expensive than the HIgllsh army (;
anu IN the second place, because she
could cover the needs of the war 10 a
"a at extent by requslious. III she had 10
h9ht M hong, the country would provide
The ratnns If she had 10 fight on Turkish
Doll, the invaded land would have to do 80
while England would have to setl 10 in cash
Tor iut the requirements of her army from
the moment It leaves the native shores.
These arguments are so strong AMI self
evident that q moments reftsetion dis-
pisses all thought Of the possibility 0f ANY