The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-06-09
The Russians on the Pruth.


There are two important dispatches
from Europe, tho one of comforting, the
other OF an alarming nature.
The comforting one is that which denies
the report OF n misunderstanding between
the Sultan and the Khedive. A quar-
rel between these two rulers would has q
been very grave complication under
the present circumstances; and the interest
which England takes in Egypt, both
stlntegically and financially, gives to every
accident OF this nature n universal i'm
| portnnce. II IS therefore pleasant to learn
that the reports circulated of the Kbedive's
being summoned to Constantinople are
officially contra,lcted.
The alarming telegram is that the Servian
forces are marching to the Bosnian frontier
with their commauder-in-chief. the Rus
sian Gen. ToHERSAIEFF, at their head, and
that nj the same time strong corps OF OBJ
servation has been collected by the Car
on the ever Pruth. This looks very much
like war, but there are several points
which ought to he kept in view while
reading these tclegrams.
To begin with, a SerNian army, even If
IL be 5000 strong ms is reported, does not
amount TO much. Its operations may be
stopped by mere order of the European
powers. The fact of such an army moving
toward the fIoltier was tG be anticipated,
for it has been preparing itself for war all
along. and since IL is ready. there is no use
keeping il at Belgrade. 1t is well known,
besides, that the Servinns intend declaring
themselves independent. They must, in
invasion, and we are more likely to hear
of the Turks crossing the Servian frontier
than of the Servians crossing the Turkish.
The fact of "A Russian q eneral being ut the
head of the SeTv an army is mere acct
dent. Gen. TcHERNAIEFF is no longerin the
service of the Car Some ten years ago, at
the very beginning OF the war in Central
Asia, ho was in command of the troops
there. but ovcTstepped the instructions of
the Government, made conquests on his
own account us it was then said, and was
recall ed and ordered 10 hand in his res e
nation. The fact of n man of the Ger
man party, Gen. KAUFMAN, being SUBJ
sequently appointed in his place. and the
other fact Of TCHERNAIEFF's predictions
having proved just concerning the imposS-
bihty Of stopping the Russian advance in
Asa until the borders of Afghanistan were
reached, have made him II great favor
tie with Russian patriots. On his leav-
ing the service he left st. Petersburg too,
and went INTO commercial business with &
wealthy firm at Moscow, the head OF which
| was at the same time the head of the
| SlavOuic party. Ii was thus that Gen.
| TCHERNAIEFF has been made n Slavouic
propaganda and induced 10 accept the
proposals of the Serviau Prince TO become
his commander-n-chief. With this ap-
| pontment the Russian Government had
no more 10 do than our Government had
with Col. LoNG's entering the Egyptian
army
The collecting OF a corps of observation
Oh the Pruth is also rather graver in APP
pearance than in fact. IL would be uu-
| natural for Russia TO leave the southwest
EN- corner or her frontier unprotected
| under the present uneasy and uncertain
state OF affairs. TO interpret the Assem-
| blage of such a force rs the result of an
| intention TO cross the frontier would not
| he justiiiable. Russia cannot enter either
Moldayia or Turkey without being in per-
feet understanding with Austria. for the
moment she crosses the Danube she has
Austria in her rear, at liberty to completely
cut off the retreat of her advancing army.
This has been the great point in all wars
winch Russia has waged in Turkey.
Whenever she has had success il was
always with the assent Of Austria that she
/ obtained it. In 1854, the Russians were III
" very fair way OF progress In the DO
brudjn, and Slistria was but few hours
from surrender, when the Austrian Cab
met, won by French and English intiu.
cnce, sent note to st. Petersburg, and
compelled the Russians Immediately to re-
treat.
The situation has not changed since, and
we may be confident that Russia will moi
cross the Pruth until she has gained the co
operation OF Austria. Moreover, she can
not begin q war there by water. becaus,
she has no fleet in the Black Sea, nor ever
n sufficient number OF merchant vessels tC
transport her army.
But is it not possible that the Russians
relying on their alliance with Germany
may disregard Austria, and provoking
ho,tilties on her part, invade both til,
Austrian and Turkish territory? Tina
would imply rupture OF the alliance
which is supposed 10 exist between tn
three Emperors and the formation OF anew
one in which Austria would have PLACED
herself on the side of Turkey. or tn
likelihood Of any such combination w
have ms yet no indications.
1t may, of course be supposed that tn
consent of Austria has been obtained 10
this advance Of the Russians, and that it l
; to be the signal for war. But, as we sal,
; the other day, there is no reason for ap
/, pretending any great conflict SO long a