The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-06-21
THE EUROPEAN WAR.

The slow progress of Russia in effect
ing an entrance into Turkey has enspirit-
ed the Turks, while disease, the lack of
success and the climate, which is very
warm, have dispirited to certain de-
gree the armies Of Russia. Some fight
ing has been done around Kars, which
resulted disastrotlsly to Russia, though
the forces of the Car are still able to
continue the seige, and will no doubt,
in the course of time, capture this strong
hold of Turkey, unless the Sultan brings
to the relief of the besieged garrison an
army from without sufficient to compel
the Russians to retire. This is not likely
to occur, as the forces of Turkey will
necessarily mass upon the Danube, and
if Kars falls very small force will still
be able to hold the invading army at bay
in the mountains of Asiatic Turkey.
Along the line of the Danube the great
est activity has prevailed for several days
past, and it is expected that the Russians
are striving in earnest to cross the Dan
ube and make an end of the war, but it
is now impossible to get reliable informa-
tion as to the contest there, for the mill
tary have charge of the railroads, of the
telegraph lines and of the mails, and
strictly forbid any communication of the
plans or movements of the armies from
being made to the outside world. The
best military opinion Of Europe seems to
indicate belief that Russia will be able
to cross the Danube, and that the cross
ing will be most probably effected be-
tween the mouth of the river Aluta and
the town of Rusachuck, in few weeks
at the longest.
While the military operations are 60
ing on thus slowly, the complications of
the war have been increasing, and old
Mars seems destined to ensnare more
than Russia and Turkey in the meshes of
this conflict, which threatens to become
continental not only in its results but
also in the combatants actually engaged.
A few weeks back it was almost certain
that the war VIC I'D not involve other
powers, and, indeed, there was every
prospect of settlement between Russia
and Turkey, but to-day there is a very
strong probability that England and
Prussia will become involved in the con-
test at an early day, and, if SO, peace will
scarcely visit Et .ope again until every
nation has been drenched in blood and
the map of Europe totally changed.
England has not committed herself to
any course except to protect "British in
terests," and under this apparent policy
of neutrality she has been giving her
moral aid and support to Turkey to such
extent that Russia is provoked beyond
endurance, and has demanded of Eng
land to define her position by declaring
war or declaring her neutrality and keep
ing it strictly. This demand is under
stood to be endorsed by Germany, and if
England refuses to notice the Russian
demand, made through Count schowaloff,
the Russian ambassador to the Court of
St. James, or if she should declare war
upon Russia, thu complications will be
very great, and the prediction Of the issue
to the war in that event would be beyond
the power of prophesy.
In any event the Eastern trouble seems
to be assuming not only very interest
ing, but also an intensely important
phase, which will repay the attention it
is likely to receive for the next month
from the reading public of the civilized
world.