The New York herald., 1876-09-30
The End or tne Truce In servia-
More War.

The cannonading heard at Nisch in the dl-
rection of Alexinatz is probably either an at
tack on the Turkish lines in front Of that
place or a reconnaissance in force. On the
previous day General Tchernayef was re-
quested TO come to belgrade, but declined
on the ground that he was preparing to at
tack the Turkish lines. 1t is not likely that
if he had the intention thus attributed to
him he would send word oft so publicly that
the correspondents would get it, and il
seems more probable, therefore, that he Is
endeavoring to ascertain as o preliminary to
a forward movement just what force the en-
emy has in front Of him at the present mo-
ment. There have, Of course, been great
changes in the respective positions Of the
troops in the two weeks past, and it is possible
that the Turkish positions in front OF Alex
inatz are feebly held. There has been bad
weather; it is reported that the plague has
been in the Ottoman camp, and that the
Moslems were badly supplied. With the
Servians on the contrary, there have been
great accessions and there is consequent
revival of spirits, and vigorous forward
movement may give very different aspect
to the war-a possibility upon which the
Servian commander evidently counts and
one that has made him restive under the re-
straints Of the truce.
An evident attempt is made by the English
correspondents to throw upon the Servians
the whole burden of responsibility for the
resumption of hostilities. But this is not
just. They have persistently demanded an
nrmistice which would practically end oper-
ations for the present year, and they do not
seem to have changed their position in
that respect. What they have now declined
is to continue mere suspension of hostili-
ties, which is, it appears. rather nominal
than real discontinuance of active oper-
ations-a truce regarded with little or no
respect by the Turks, who are reported
having passed the Drina since the suspen-
sion Of hostilities and as having constructed
two bridges across the Morava. These are
not acts that q truce can cover. The Ser
vans may be impatient which results from
natural impulse to take advantage Of
changes in the situation favorable to them /;
but they have only refused to continue a
truce that was the temporary convenience of
the Turks, when the Turks stolidly refuse
to consent to such definite arrest Of oper-
atoms as will givo the whole winter to the
peacemakers.
In this new stage Of the war it assumes
different character from that it possessed at
the date of the suspension of hostilities. 1t
is war on new conditions, with new parties
and different purposes, and with very diff
ferent possibilities as to its result. With
the countenance of England, and with an
English feet in Turkish waters, the Ottoman
government fought to suppress insurrection
in its provinces up to the time Of the truce
and the provinces were unable to resist her
while Russia looked on in apparent apathy.
Now. Russia is party to the war, and the
Appearances are that in a few weeks the
Turks will be in retreat before Russian
army under Servian colors. Now the war
is not for the suppression of an insurrec-
ton it is not even on the part Of the Slavs
merely for the amelioration of their condi-
ton under Turkish rule. 1t is for indepen-
dence, and therefore for the ACKNOWLEDGMENT
of the Turkish Empire. Unless the courts Of
Europe shall force peace upon the Porte
before the thousands of Russians that are
thronging to the Servian colors shall have
time to force the Turkish troops out of oil
the territory inhabited by Slavic people these
territories will be lost to the Empire of
which they are now part Hitherto the
most that the governments of Europe have
ventured in the cause of these oppressed
people has been to advise changes in the
administration of the government. Every
government in Europe knows now that such
projected changes are of no value; that the
reforms are never carried out by the Turks,
and that the expressions are every year worse.
and if the Turks are once driven out no
peace making Congress can possibly restore
the Slavic provinces to their possession.
Perhaps a consciousness of this fact was an
element in the impatience Of the Servians
to have one more chance at the enemy be-
fore the winter, in order that they who have
to make peace should find the situation one
that would justify tho exclusion of the
Turks from countries north Of the Balkan.
But though The time is up and the fight
ing has begun again tho diplomatists, who
werc at the las. accounts, earnestly endeavor-
ing to reconcile tho differences of the various
propositions for peace, will probably con-
tinue their labors 1t will be remembered
that the Porte laid down the terms upon
which it would consent to make peace, and
that these were SO extravagant that in st.
Petersburg and in Berlin they were pro-
nounced impertinent. Then the Porte re-
quested the Powers to suggest notifications
or propose terms on their own part. This
they did. and the Porte has hitherto not ac-
cepted these terms. 1t promises an answer
on Sunday, and it is reported that it is ready