The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-05-09
THE WAR IN EUR0P

hundred thousand men On the Dan
ube, and it's blue waters are filed
with torpedoes and other Constructions
that prevent its navigation, to the
confusion Of the peaceful commerce
that was wont to be carried over its
classic and placid bosom. Besides
this force Russia has in the Caucasus
another army of one hundred and
twenty i've Thousand men. To meet
this confident advancing host it is
said that Turkey has but one hun
dred thousand men on the Danube
and fifty thousand in Asia Minor
So far there has been but one en-
gagoment few miles from Bajajld
which was without result so far as we
are informed by the dispatches. For
a "sigk man" the Turk has shown a
remarkable yigor, and in the diplo-
matte controversy which has just
been closed by the declaration Of
war, the laurels were decidedly with
him. Russia was forced TO assume
the aggressive, and the war is on" Of
religion, the only basis upon which
Turkey could hope to battle success
fully with the Russian Bear. The
Cross and the Crescent have renewed
their fierce conflict for supremacy
and upon that issue Turkey can with
reason expect assistance from her
subjects in Asia and Africa and with
total population of forty-three mil
lions. she ought in q life and death
struggle like the present be able to
nut million or more soldiers in the
Geld. Single handed there is but lit
tie doubt but that, surrounded with
revolted provinces and natural enc
mics in Europe, Turkey in Europe
would finally have to snccumb to the
immense army that Russia can also
bring into the field, but it is almost
certain that some, if not all, the
European Powers will be drawn into
the war. .a
Austria, q much sicker man than
the Turk, is already alarmed and is
putting her army on a war footing
Prussia is ready for war but seems
to desire peace. France has no pre-
sent interest in the war and it is Ger
tain that for the time being but she
and England will declare their neu
trality, but England will watch the
course of events with interests at
stake that are almost certain to draw
her into the conflict before the wal
shall have progressed much further
In the peace negotiations Russia
gave assurances that in the event OF
war with Russia, Constantinople, The
key that would lock her out of the
Black Sea, should not be troubled
To make the assurance double sure
England is making buried prepare
tons to strengthen her already pow
erful navy, and in the event of hel
having to take sides with Turkey il
the war, the fleets Of the two powers
combined could easily crush any ma
val force that the other combined
powers could send to the Mediterrear
and Black Seas. The superiority o
Turkey over Russia in this particu
lar will give her, unaided, the advan
tage of Russia, and ought now to b.
Of material assistance to Turkey II
preventing the crossing of the Dan
ube by the Russians. 1t seems, how
ever, that Russia through some un
derstanding with Austria has fillet
the river with torpedoes and thus Gu
off any cooperation of the Turkish
fleet with the army. This woul'
seem to imply sympathy betwee'
Russia and Austria, but does not nc
cessarily prove that they will be al
lies in case of general war. Be
tween two powerful neighbors, bot
land pirates, the natural allies o
Austria would be England an
France if drawn into the war, becaus
the former in her own interest an
the latter in that of Italy, are desil
Gus of maintaining the present bal
ance of power in Europe. Franc
; besides has her eye upon her recen
enemy, Prussia, or more properly
Germany, and would like nothin
better than to try again the wager c
battle with her sworn foe. The nea
future may witness the most Cigar
tic war of history and the preser
marshalling OF mighty hosts ma
presage the deldgiug of Europe i
blood. ..-
-~~--~~~--~~-ae s--~-~-~----~O-~
MAY, pretty May, like that ga
damsel of sweet sixteen, smiles upo
49,. \