The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-04-29
WHAT rs CONC ON IN EUROPE

the Russian yoke" Such, at least. was the Ian
guagc Of the Sultan in his manifesto to the ON
ccrs and men Of his fleet. Yet neither the
Christians in Turkey nor tho Mussumans in
Russia evnco any desire to be protected"
Tho Christian mcmbcrs Of the Turkish Parlia-
mcnt have publicly declared that their constitu-
onts were decidedly opposed to Russian inter-
vonton. and are perfectly ready TO serve in the
Turkish army and to support such troops rs
may be sent out TO their districts during the
coming struggle. On the other hand. tho Mus
sulman population OF Russia shows its rcluc-
lance to be protected 10y the Turks in a still
more eloquent manner. A division of advanced
guards has lust been formed at Kischcncn con-
slsting Of three mounted regiments Of Ural
Cossacks. one infantry regiment Of Tcrck high
landcrs and n field battery OF six guns, the
whole force under the command Of the we'll
known partisan warrior. Gen. Skohclon
Nearly all the men composing this division are
Tarars. consequently Mussulmans or the
twcniy-six officers OF the Tcr'k highandcrs
only three are Christians. including the COM
mandcr and the paymastcr. I'll division was
to leave for the front at once. and to be employed
exclusively in outpost duties. Tho first troops
the Turks are to meet on the Danube are thus
composed of their own cOrcligionists. whom the
Sultan is so anxious to proto {.
\ private letter from a foreign officer Of rank
at present in Constantinoplc gives us good
insight into the situation and prospects Of Tur-
kcy Tho war she will have 10 carry on will
necessarily be two-fod It will be an often
sSc war on the Black sea and in Asia Minor
and n strictly defensive one on tho Danube.
But no ono who docs not know the Turkish
troops and their invcterate hatred Of the Mus
covitc dogs can yet form an adequate idea Of
the lcrccn,ss with which the defence is likely
E., D., hot Inva al e., Iar lao
incalcunbc advantage Of fghtng Mt home
combined with the other advantage OF not hav-
INK to care Tor the devastation Of the soil they
fight on Bulgarla's suffering does not touch
them. Tho Russians. on the other hand. will
have to operate away from their frontier. TO
carry with them all their provisions and am
munition. and TO keep viglant watch on
doubtful allies in their rcar.
The command " the Black Sc is another and
immense advantage to Turkey. She will block
ade all tie Southern Russian ports and. If she
cannot attempt to make any landing of troops
IN the Crimea or on the northern coast, she can
certainly do so on the Caucasus. partisan
corps. some 1000 strong. has already been
formed for that purpose. and Is probably by this
time on its way TO some point on the eastern
shore. II cannot accomplish much by itself in
the way Of invasion, hut its main object is TO
provoke an uprising among the Circassian
tribes. Should it succeed in this the army Of
the Grand Duke Michael. now on its way TO
KHrs ana Batoum. will have 10 rctrace its steps
and turn to the old war with the mouniainecrs.
Tn" Turkish fleet available for operations in
tho Black sen is composed IF sixteen large iron
| cials. with 10 guns OF the now It pattern. and
II some twenty-sevcn steamers with GOO small.
guns. Tho fleet is well manned and o1lccred by
| Turks as well as Alhanians. while all the en-
sinoors are English AMI Scotch. To this strong
| fleet Russia has but few gun and torpedo boats
TO oppose
Surprising. oven. the feet 10 be unable TO
achieve much in the way Of bombarding Rus
sian ports ct landing troops. it will still be II
| imm n~e - vice in transportation. Warna will
! naturally become great centre for supplies Of
| AN kinds. since they can be forwarded thence
- rall Ia Shumla and Rutschuk. and thus
| speedily distributed throughout the whole
northern territory Tho importance Of this
command of the Black sea becomes still clearer
when W. recall the fact that during the war Of
SIS Eussias success was determined entirely
| hy her possession Of that command. From the
moment her troops crossed the Balkans. all
their supplies were forwarded 10y sea. Not
! having this mighty resource now. shc will.
! probably. never dare TO cross the mountains.
| even If she obtains complete success in Bull
| gara. The roads in that part Of the country are
80 bad that land transportation is out Of the
| question. An eye witness gives graphic pic
ture Of the method OF forwarding guns 10 Rut-
schuk. Ton yoke Of bullocks to II gun. and
never more than an average Of four miles day
wl.ile in rainy days no progr-AA!s pad. Ut all,
| bullocks and gun sticking fast in the mud. How
| can the Russians bring their siege guns 10
| Shumla, or forward their provisions and am
| nluaition over the Balkans?
| Won Moltke's warlike speech on the occasion
Of his demand for additional appropriation
created violent. hut only momentary. scnsa-
ton. The Court OF Berlin, as the London Times
informs Us. is opposed 10 anything likelyto dis
turb the good understanding between the Gov
| 'rnment- Of Germany and France. and the
fresh assurance Of cordiaity which Kaiser
Wilhelm promptly Ind transmitted to Marshal
Ma Mahon is n satisfactory proof that no con-
fict between Germany and France need be- ap-
prchenled at present. The alarmists forget
thut no War Minister has ever asked for fresh
| appropriations without trying to show that the
country was in danger. unless the grant wcr,
made. Won Moltke has simply Put his argu
mcnt, an somewhat strong Language, suggested
ns il seems rs the now half-rctired Chancellor
NV that the Easter holidays are over, politi
cal life in Paris has revived. The ministers ar,
AN back again. and the Assembly has resumed
rs work. In IN" provinces the General Coun
| els nave been called tpE'lhrf ana give an uh
usual animation to the country. The Genera
Coun as are really provincial parliam'nis
Everything has been done TO deprive them %
q uoliu Al character hut nevertheless they viii
always IrcscrNc H. Thcconstitution. by invest
ing thn departmental Councils with the right @
clcilnr Scnntors has actually transiormrdth rs
provincial bodies into assemblies Of the low
est order Politics are supposed not 10 Ice touchc'
upon IN them; only petty departmental affair
are legitimate subjects If discussion. But thci
unofficial influence Is immense. Deputies an
electors meet 1T private, social gatherings, an
the complexion Of the next elections is decided
Half OF tho Deputies and Senators are member
of General Councils, and if the fact is kept i
Wow that 1874 Deputies and "A Senators have t
come forward this year for reelection, the in
porau a. ot the meeting Of the General Council
will hc readily seen.
H. Spain the question Of religious toleratio
j. again seriously aRtatcd On Easter Suuda
SOME too Spanish and foreign rrot,s tants hn
met for dlNin" service in a back street in CnAi
p Tn" prcarher was in the middle of his -"rmo
| when armed policemen entered the chapel AN