The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-06-29
SERyIA AND AUSTRIA.
What May Possibly Follow the Declare
tion of Servian Independence.

What May Possibly Follow the Declare
tion of servian Independence.
The Chicago Tribune, discussing the
situation in Europe, says: " 1t is not i'm
possible that new element will arise in
the Eastern complication that may lead
to general war, growing out OF the
manifest determination OF Servia to fol-
low in the steps of Roumania, and sever
her connection with Turkey. Notwith-
standing the strenuous efforts of the
Gar and Prince Gortschakoff to keep
Servia quiet and neutral, it now looks as
if she would declare her independence,
and prepare to maintain it by force, as
soon as the Russians are over the Dan
ube. 1t is no secret, also, that at the
recent meeting of the Gar and Prince
Milan Mt Ploiesti an arrangement was
concluded allowing the Russians passage
across Servian territory, if they desire
to approach Turkish soil from that direc-
ton. Any movement which tends to
draw Servia into the conflict, which
threatens to change her relations toward
Turkey, and constitute her an independ-
ent Slavonic state, or which indicates the
possibility even of an occupation by Rus
STA, must of necessity involve Austria in
the struggle and compel her to occupy
Bosnia, Herzegovina and Servia as far
as the valley of Morava, thus realizing
the cherished dream of her millions of
disconnected Sclaves of uniting these
principalities in one grand Sclavonic en-
pire. The mobilization of the Austrian
troops in Transylvania and on the Servi-
an frontier, which has already been de-
cided upon, is an unmistakable indica-
ton of Austria's policy and of the pre-
dominance of the Sclavic element in her
councils.
"And what then? Will Austrian &C.
cupation localize the war in Bulgaria, or
will it increase it's area and drag in other
powers? Will Russia consent to this
occupation, and, if she objects, how far
is she able to oppose it, The answers
to these questions undoubtedly depend
upon Germany, and what response the
sphinx in the spiked helmet will make no
one can foresee. Russia certainly will
not care to encounter Austria and Tur-
key combined, while if Germany sides
with Russia for the sake of securing
the German provinces of Austria,
most certainly England must side
"ioii @oooAiA, VI o iS"oe "
pose Russia, for the sake of securing
Egypt and the Suez canal, which, in
turn, must antagonize the Mediterranean
states, whose interests might be men
aced by English monopoly of the canal.
1t is evident that it only needs the match
to fire the material which has been
heaped up for a general conhagration.
The success of Russia does not depend
altogether upon the issues of the battle
field. She not only has to cut her way
through the Turkish forces and fortress
es, but she must follow very tortuous
diplomatic path without treading upon
the interests of other powers, which are
as thickly strewn in it as torpedoes in
the Russian harbors. If she can local
ize the war and confne it to Bulgaria on
the one hand and Armenia on the other,
there can be no doubt of the result. A
very slight misstep, however, like the
Servian complication to which We have
alluded, may precipitate Austria, Ger
many, Italy, and even France, into a
struggle whose duration and final catas-
trophe no one can foresee."