The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-05-17
ENGLAND AND THE WAR.
Russians Attack on Asiatie Turkey n Matter
sse~of Serious Import.
From the London Economist.I

Russia's Attack on Asiatic Turkey n Matter 1
ssr- of Serious Import.
Iron the London EconomistI |
It is evident that any great military
changes in Asia Minor would, in the
opinion of the best military authorities,
tend to affect India and the security of 1
our hold upon it. The growth or ex-
tension of strong military power there
would, it is argued, tend to throw upon
India and ourselves more serious per-
manent charges for military defense
than those we now bear. In certain
conceivable eases this should, Of course,
be submitted to. Were an indigenous
peaceful power to'grow up in these re-
gions, however strong it might be, it
would be our clear duty to accept any
additional charge which would be
thrown upon US by. the mere neighbor-
hood of such power, however peace
fully inclined we might know it to be.
To act otherwise would be to commit |
the mistake of France in trying to pre-
vent the unity of Germany in 1870. But
there are other cases in which the ques-
ton is not so simple when the military
power is a foreign one and of known ag-
gressive character The question, it is |
urged, would then arise how far it
NAV be expedient to tolerate the APP
proach of such new neighbor, whether
there can ever be any thing more than
an armed truce between US, and whether
we should not seek to avoid permanent
military burdens of an Oppressive kind
by open temporary warfare. The ques-
ton is especially important for England,
because it is quite Ineligible that the
introduction Of highly developed state
of military preparation would alter our
social and constitutional arrangements
to an intolerable extent. At present we
are the only one among the great
European powers which has a small
army, and that army raised by volun-
tary enlistment condition of things
which has many advantages to compen-
safe its drawbacks. But if we-are to be
placed in dread of immediate attacks by
land from great military powers Onvital
points of our imperial position an army
of this sort may no longer suffice. And
the existence of great military power
such as Russia in Asia Minor, within
comparatively short distance of the
Euphrates Valley, and even of the Suez
Canal, especially allowing for the cir
cumstance that the same power is en-
camped in Central Asia, and may make
demonstration" against India thence,
would certainly raise the question
whether our military preparations should
not be wholly changed in kind.
We have thus a keen interest to see
what Russia does in Asia Minor, and the
first events may be of great Importance
to us. 1t may be the most prudent pol
icy to let events take their course, to al
low Russia to add to her trans-Cauca-
sian territory, and submit to the increas-
ed burden of military preparation rather
than 90 to war; but we shall henceforth,
if Russia succeeds, according to the best
authorities, have the two alternatives,
and this is the inconvenience of the poll
cy Russia is pursuing. The received
policy on which our statesmen have long
acted is that we should not anticipate
possible future wars by present ones,
but it is likely enough now that there
will be strong counter-feeling, and
there will also be much popular discon-
tent if an increase of our military bur-
dens is proposed, as the result of the
present Russian proceedings. No
graver questions of policy could
well be raised than those which are
likely to come before us, should
Russia have a great success on the Asiat-
ic frontier of Turkey. We should GER
tainly recommend the postponement of
any hostile action until Russia, as the
prize of success, proceeds to make seri-
Gus additions to her territory in Asia;
but we fear the possible excitement on
the subject, and we can not say that it
would be wholly unjustifed.
Our conclusion then is that in Rus
sian attack on European Turkey we
should stand by for the present, but a
Russian attack on Asiatic Turkey will
be a very serious matter. The measures
to be taken, if any, should occupy most
seriously the attention of the Cabinet
and of Parliament. In any case the de-
velopment of the Russian attack both in
Asia and Europe viii require the utmost
vigilance. If an event occurs to dispose
either eombatant to make peace, the
Government should be prepared with
every means to use that event to the ut
most, and so prevent the extension OF
the war.