Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-04-16
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Monday Morning, April I6, 1877.
The Impending War.

All signs continue 10 point W Wal d"
Europe. Some faint efforts for peace yet
appear, but day by. day the probability oil
war increases. The opinion of the best
authorities in Europe and America APP
pears to be that hostilties are not far dis
tant. The Turks stand by their refusal to
accept the terms of the protocol, and has
ten their preparations for bloody strug-
gle. The Russians on their part are max
ing ready to bring into the field their war
like strength. The conflict. if it does
come. will be gigantic and fierce.
In this country the course of events is
watched with interest. Admiral Porter
and General Sherman have been consulted
and their opinions published. Admiral
Porter says the idea that Turkey is going
to be wiped out in a day is mistaken one
and that the Russians will never capture
Constantinople. The Russian superiority
in naval strength will be of little avail as
the war will be in the main land fight.
Admiral Porter says:
with eighty -four other good and substantial war
vessels. They have ,2lS guns and "a 900 men.
For the defensive this is good navy. They have
the great forts of the Dardanelles. all along from
its mouth up to Gsipolis. Here they also have
chains, torpedo boats, their iron-clads, sunken
hulks and other distractions.
The Russians have to PASS through these to Gal
lipolis, thence into the sea of Marmora, and then
they win have to fight their way up through the
torpedoes, iron-clais, &C., to the Bosphorus. As
hoy Mas nv n ROsphorus
they have twenty miles of forts to encounter, and
having passed these they are in the Black Sea.
You see, sir, the fight is by means to be all on
the side of the Russians. They have no fleet in
the Black Sea.
When Sabastopol was destroyed and their great
fleets blown up and sunken. and their navy yards
destroyed on the Black Sea, that settled their
fleets in that locality, and the European powers
have forbidden them ever since to rebuild in that
locality. The Russians have fine army, well dis
cipned, we'll differed, and doubtless their arms,
guns, and supplies Of the first class. They
not commencing this fight for sentiment sake. 1t
is the hope Of their lives; and they are now ar
rived at that point when the Emperor will be able
to get every and every dollar his people have,
20 IS to win the great contest of the nation. 1t
will be use, though, as it will end in disaster.
The Turks are thoroughly aroused. From one
end Of their vast empire to the other, the Mussul-
mans are crowdng together by the tens of thous-
ands. and already the religious fansticism of the
Turks Is discernible. Just think Of 100000 of
people! They will give every dollar and every
valuable they have to aid their side. They have
the best arms in the word-they were made by
our own people, and Europe has no better. The
large guns the Turks get from Krupp, and, of
course, these cannot be excelled. There is no
doubt that both sides have plenty Of arms and am
muniton.
After the Russians get very mach weakened
and the Turks have worried them q good deal,
then the Austrans and, perhaps, the Germans,
will have something to say. France is not partic-
ularly interested, landmark what l say-she will
not engage In this conflict. She will 60 on with
her exhibition, and it promises to be grand sue
cess. The war will not affect it in the least.
Austria 10 the country that is most interested in
the contest. excepting England, and just how
Austria Is going to act remains to be seen. She
will be In the fight, however, before the war has
gone on six months. England is the grand puz-
gle. You can depend on it she does not intend to
allow Russia to take Constantnople, even if she
could, and her time to enter into the contest will
be marked by the circumstances of the conflict.
The great good that this war is going to have on
our country cannot be computed We will not
only sell flour, wheat, corn, pork, clothing, arms
and ammunition 10 the contending parties but we
will sell all these things the other great nations
especially our cereals and provisions. If the war
continues two years, and my prediction is that it
will, we will have to plant for the whole world
The entire agricultural pursuits of the great grain
country Of the Black Sea will be stopped. 1t was
90 in the Crmean war. was q lieutenant in the
navy and commanded the Supply, then in the
Mediterranean squadron. and well do remember
the rich harvest our merchants reaped during the
war. This war will bring back again to us the
commercial supremacy we lost during our war.
General Sherman says the Russians and
Turks never had larger or better disci-
pined armies than now, having all the
advantage of the most improved arms
and modes of warfare. The result will
be one of the most destructive wars, as
far as life is concerned, the world has ever
witnessed, and the lives lost will not be
all Russians or Turks. He thinks the
Turks will hardly be able to withstand
the shock. In regard to the effect upon
this country General Sherman said:
1t will keep our people at work day and night
to provide for Europe, if there should be general
war, and that now seems inevitable to me. be-
heve all the great powers will be directly or ind-
rectly Involved before the year is out. In the
parts Of the country in which the field fights ill
certainly take place half million men on either
side can and will be used. The Russians will have
to pull along very fast through the summer, for
they get all their supplies by their railroads. and
In the winter these are rarely available.