The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-12-21
The War Cloud in the East.

The rumblings are ominotiS, to say the
least, though hopeful people regard the
chances of ultimate collision as less prom
inent than those of a peaceful solution.
The Servian question and Turkish atroci-
ties in Bulgaria would, in the event of a
general war, seemingly put the contest in
the light of Moslem crusade turned in
to & Christian advance; but, though the
Turk is apparently at the bottom of the
trouble, if the struggle assumes larger
proportions the real issue will be found
underlying other interests.
A prominent English journal, one per
haps rs reliable and of as high authority
as any, says, under very recent date:
''In the event of Russia crossing the
Balkan, our Government intend to, act
with decision, and to employ both our
naval and military forces in resisting the
advance of Russia to Constantinople.
The plan Of operations would be as fol-
lows: Fifty thousand troops would be
sent to Verna, from which point they
could operate with great effect, on the
communications of the Russian army,
and perhaps cut it off altogether from its
base of operations. The feet would at
once be moved up to the .Bosphorus.
Five army corps would be modified, and
this would enable the Government to
send almost all the regular army on for
eign service
In such event what will be England's
position? Seemingly very anomalous.
The English press, the English people
have cried out against Moslem fanaticism.
Eloquent voices and powerful pens have
urged seizure of the opportunity to
drive the hated in6del back to Asia; to
recover the church of St. Sophia at Con-
stantinople, now desecrated to the use of
mosque; to restore Palestine and re-
conquer jerusalem. Is this all hollow
! pretense? Shrewd observers say eng
lands quarrel is with Russia; the lion
fears that the bear will ravagc the cove
ted treasures of the far East. Moslem
isnaticism and Bulgarian outragcs may
do for an exceedingly proper and ccnven-
tional growl, but instead of throttling the
rurk, Albion will defend him, when by
so doing British interests can best besub'
served" Whether or not it is the truly
mercenary interest Of England to assist
Turkey forms debatable subject. Far
seeing men, totally unactuated by any
considerations whatever, either for or
against the religious aspect, claim that it
will be fatal to England's future, and dis
astrous to her present, to engage in a
warfare simply with view to prevent
arcessions to Russian power and terrific
risl limits. England is much more vul-
ner,.ble now than she was twenty years
ago.
Science has dawned upon warfare, and
so changed the egeneral condition of things,
that those features which were the Bri-
toms element of strength are now the
embodiment of weakness. Should Eng
land venture rashly into this war, a long
er stride will be taken toward the realiza-
ton of the TESTERS prophecy about the
New Zealander pensively surveying the
site of London from the ruins of London
bridge, than many people have imagined
possible.
Disaster to the English nation means a
great sorrow and misfortune to the civil
lied and cultured world. Let US hope
for the sake of humanity that it may be
averted.