The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-06-17
TIE MOkNIre STAR AND CATHOLIC MESSKNGER, SUNDAY,

che might then have at last raised the
Russian standard on the dome of St. Sophie.
But again the fates wiiled otherwise. She
appears to have dreaded and to have been
iii prepared for n general European war as
the result of such q decided step, and the
peace of Jasay was concluded in 1871,
which only advanced her territory in Eu-
rope to the Dniester.
The next war wac not very remark
able one, and it lasted only year-from
1906 to lS07-cwing to the fact that after
the Russians had entered on their task OF
"drivipg ont the Turk, NapOleon's pro-
ceedings in the West compelled them to
bring every available man to another the.
atre of operations. Bat, brief though it's
duration WAS, il was unfavoTab.e 10 the
Turks, who bad, as the result, t" submit
to the temporary occupation by Russia of
Moldavia and Wallachia. We may add
that it was during this war such a curious
light was thrown by the English Admiral
Duckwor on the all important subject OF
the attack and defence OF Constantinople.
That Cffic Ger ia order To force the Porte to
renouuce the French alliance, made his
way to the Sea of Msrmora despite heavy
canpoDAde from the shore batteries ut the
Dardanelles, and on bis arrival fond the
city at his mercy. Had he carried out his
threat of an Immediate bombardmeDt, his
expedition would have been completely
successful. But he was lured into delay
of three or four days by the diplomacy of
the French am bassador, aud then he found
that tho seq batteries that had in the
meantime been established threatened the
very existence of bis fleet, and IL fG him no
alternative but a speedy and ignomnious
retreat to the place from which he had
started.
The occupation of the Danubian princi-
palities might naturally be expected 10
lead in due time to an attempt at their au-
in ISI0 ancl oft Df vua
made, and the sixth war of the series we
are now contemplating was commenced
between Russia and Turkey. Those who
f. el surprised at the delay In crossing the
Danube at the present time may, perhaps,
he interested to learn that sixty seven
years ago the operation was begun
OstrovO as early as March IA, and was not
finally successful till late in May. Once
the Russians had crossed, however, the
Turks, according to their custom both in
previous and IN subsequent wars, abandona
done the line of the Danube and c@ncen-
trated on Schumla. The Muscovite gen.
eral ION his part, divided his army into
two columns, with one of which he made
an attack on Varna, while with the other
he proceeded TO occupy Bulgaria north of
the Balkans and reduce the fortresses in
that quarter. The attack on Varna failed;
80 did subsequent assault on Schumla
But Rustthuck-which, with its tete de
pont Giurgevo, was the fortress next es-
sayed-fell after enormous losses on both
sides, and by tho end of October the Rus
sian army was established in winter
quarters in Bucharest. But now the Turks
determined to make one great effort to roll
back the tide of war. The Turkish fleet,
having been reftted, threatened, early in
the following summer, a landing in the
CrImea. Three distinct corps were cent to
the Danube, and with one IF these the
commanderin-ch CHEF boldly entrencheG
himself before Rustchuk. Fortune, too,
seemed to favor tho Mahometan army, for
just then, as had happened once before on
a somewhat similar occasion, large por-
ton of the Russian force was, owing TO
complications with France, withdrawn to
the borders of Pollard. In short, the
Russians were defeated, and fed to the
other side of the river, followed by the vic
torious troops of Achmet Pasta. The end
however, was not what night have beer
expected from this commencement. Attel
having remained confronting each othel
for no less than three months, the riva
armies at last closed, at the instance o
the Russian commander, 10 mortal combat
| aud the Grand Visier was defeated, an(
| fed for his life. The PAsha second il
command held out for some time longer
but he, too, was at length compelled to ca
| pltulate, and peace was soon afterwald
patched up, owing to the influence OF Eng
land, which now became the ally and frient
of the Porte. By the treaty of Buchares
the Russian frontier was advanced to thu
Prutn, the navigation OF the Danube wa
secured, and ali the Turkish tortresses il
Servia were demolished.
Here, at the end of full century of in
termittent fighting between Russia AM
Turkey, we may pause to sum up. OF til
six contests we have surveyed, two prove
adverse to the Russian arms ; IN on
Russia was victorious, but was prevente
by the plague from reaping the full fruit
of her victory ; in ore she was arrested j
the very midst of career of triumph b
the movements of Napoleon and in tn
remaining two the intervention of othe
Powers 1t was which stood between her an
her prize. That is one way of looking q
the catalogue of results. Another wi
readily suggest itself to every carefr
student of history. Russia, up to the tim
at which we have now arrived, has eve
kept pressing doggedly EDWARDS to tn
South, and, though always meeting with
most stubborn resistance, and OCCASIONAL
beaten back OF diverted from the prosecu
ton of her purpose, has, in spite of al
kept that purpose steadily in view, and hs
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