, 1877-06-20

ton of Diarbekir. OF the advance Of the
main forces towards Erzeroum we are
daily receiving ambiguous or contrOdlcto-
ry items of intelligence; but it seems, as
we have pointed out in our accounts OF
the progress of the war, to be the inten-
ton of the Russian commander, having
masked Kars, 10 await the arrival Of the
danking expeditions from Olti and Bayazld,
and then TO attack in force the strong po'
sition of Hassan Kale in front Of Erzeroum.
It is here that the crisis of the first part OF
the campaign will be decided. Efforts arc
being made in certain quarters to prepare
this country for the annexation OF Arme-
MIA by Russia, should her arms prove sue
cesSful iu battle. Fully recognizing that,
in the event of a Turkish overthrow, we
are the only Power who could compel
Russia to abstain from Selling this prize, and
knowing That Russia would not acquiesce
in the deprivation of the fruits of her sue
cess, Jules. compelled by force, these per-
sons assert that our interests are in no way
affected in the matter, and that we have
no concern in the fate of Armenia, or of
the Valley of the EuphrateS, That they
are correct in supposing that the Russians
intend t. acquire some increase OF terrific
~ is fully proved by the fact that this
lioerating army is accompanied by the
civil administration necessary 10 cope with
the government of whatever provinces it
may think fit to annex. We shall not
be attributing to the Russians, therefore,
any design which thy can repudlate as
false, wlen we say that they intend to
make their occupation Of Armenia as per-
manent as possible. Il mag be said, how
ever, that the Turks are not yet defeated,
nay, that there are rumours that they
have been successful /; and that, conse-
que0tly, we have no right to discount the
allow that it is just possible, but barely
probable, that the Turks may be able to
thvayt by themselves the Moscoyite am
bit.on.
But it must he admitted that the chan
ces are all the other way, and we cannot
wait to form our plan Of action, diploma
tic or otherwise, until the army of Ahmed
Mouktar Pacha is scattered and ia full
retreat. Erz.roum once occupied as we'll
as Diabekir, for the defence of which place
we can learn Of no precautions having
been taken, tie first and the chief line of
the Ottoman forces in Ash VII have been
pierced through. II, zonde, the. most
important port after O. ssa ia the Black
Sea, is but 1870 miles from Erzeroum,
ard the road connecting them is the best
in ASH Minor. There would be little
difficulty for the Russian army, having
defeated the main Turkish forces before
Erzeroum, to secure this seaport, and with
its occupation Russia would then have
acquired that large extent Of territory with
which, as we pointed oIt the other Gay,
her ambition would, at the most mOder-
ate estimate, be content. This question
must present itself to every one-Are we
to permit this? Are we to tolerate SO
sweeping a Change ia the existing state
of affairs in Western Asia? The advo-
Gates OF Russia among us tell us at once,
"Certainly we are.'' for it is no concern
of ours we have no interests to defend
in this quarter, nor does it affect the Sc.
curity of our road to India, the only con-
sideration which would justify us in re.
sorting to such an extreme measure as
war. In asserting this dangerous paradox
they do not represent the opinion of any
considerable number Of Intelligent English
men: quite the contrary. That our inter-
ests in Armenia and Mesapotamia are at