The New York herald., 1876-10-20
The war In tho East.

The War In the East.
All eyes naturally turn toward England,
for upon her course depends the peace of
Europe. 1t is evident that if Russia moves
into Turkish territory and Turkey is not
assisted by Western Power that the event
Will be SO unlike the collision Of equal
forces that it may be called an armed occu-
patton rather than war This will be even
more fagrantly apparent if Austria takes
part In the invasion. In its moral charac-
ter, also, the Russian movement is unlike
ordinary hostile operations. In the politics
OF the German Empire certain warlike acts
are called federal executions;" they are
wars, to be sure, but wars not Of fury or am
bition, since their aim is to enforce upon
some delinquent State the common will of
the other States The present movement of
Russia is of that nature. She moves to en-
force the will of the civilized States of Eu-
rope upon o semi-barbarous State, and the
mere demonstration of her force will compel
submission if Turkey remains unsupported.
But if England shall undertake the active
support of Turkey the war may be made
obstinate and bloody by her resources,
courage and skill. That England is
now actively engaged in warlike prepa-
rations does not necessarily mean
that she will espouse the Sultan's cause.
She has interests of her own SO COM
plicated with Turkeys interests that she
cannot protect one without seeming to pro-
tect the other but she will know how to
rQ ha 1ipa hon ba 10
her intention to draw such a line. That
she will not supinely contemplate the trans
fer Of Constantinople to Russia may be con-
ceived, and that she will 'stake bond Of
fate" in Egypt is certain. And the present
attitude of England would be the same if
she intended to do no more than protect
herself at these important points. The re-
ports that the British Ambassador has gone
to Livadia, the residence of the Emperor Of
Russia in the Crimea, and that the Care
witch is on his way to London, indicate dis
tinctly that a great effort to preserve the
peace is on foot t.between the two important
governments.
On the other hand, the report that the
Russian troops have crossed the Pruth--if
not premature-shows that war is actually
begun. Russias operations will scarcely be
limited to one continent-certainly not if
England becomes o party to the war for
then operations on England's Indian frontier
will be added to those contemplated in
Armenia and those actually on foot in the
valley of the Danube. But the immediate
scene of activity is in the latter district BY
the arrangement made with the Roumanian
Railway Company for the transport of Rus
sian troops the Czar may in two weeks movea
quarter of million men from Bender, on the
Dneister, to Rusckuk, on the Danube, within
three or four marches Of Schumla. and the
imminent probability of the appearance Of
such body on the Danube will compel
Abdul Kerim, the commander of the
Turkish army in the neighborhood Of Alex
inatz, to consider his relations to line Of
retreat 1t would be q splendid stroke of
skill and energy if o Russian commander
should move rapidly enough to cut off and
capture this important army, and the feat
is not impossible. 1t was demonstrated by
Field Marshal Diebitsch Zabalkansky that q
Russian army with its train and artillery
can march over the Balkan almost as rapidly
as it can march anywhere else, and if the
SHOWS do not prove an early impediment
there may be a foot race for Adrianople
between the Russian troops and Abdul
Kerim's army-an event that would
give an immediate military interest to
the operations. There is no likelihood
that the Turks could dispute the
march Of their enemy to Adrianople.
They might at that point be able to fight;
but whether they are or not the great inter-
est of the struggle will begin there, for at
that point the giants will come within strik-
ing distance of one another. England's
fierce resolution to defend Constantinople
and Russia's patient determination to have
that city will give an epic interest to the
conflict, and must lead to q gigantic display
of force on either side. England may learn
the difference between Stamboul and
Gibraltar, and between Russians and
Spaniards at great cost. The report in our
Belgrade letter in regard to the use England
may make of Sepoys in the war presents her
in the peculiar light of a Moslem Power
but the number of Sepoys that she can send
is stated far too high.
The price of the HERALD to-day and hence
forth ,ciu be three cents.
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