New-York tribune., 1877-06-16
RFGJyNJNG OF ACTIpE VAR.


II must be clear to everybody, at last, that
the time for rumors of peace Is over ne
occupation of many imaginative correspohu-
ents at Paris, Vienna, and Belgrade IS gone
it is now soemnly announced, as piece Oh
important news, that neither the Russians nor
the Turks will listen to any proposition Oh
peace.-as if this had not been the temper OF
both. from the very beginning! The broad
antaeonism of their views then, has been
simply increased by all that has since oc-
Cured, and the expectation OF some ADJUST
ment was nothing but the expression OF a
hope to which England has desperately clung'
Fierce and stubborn resistance on the one slde'
and powerful, unhinching attack on the other
are the features, already manifest, of the open
ing campaign.
Whether or not the Russian armies in Rou-
mania have completed their preparations and
received their necessary supplies they are
compelled to cross the Danube at the earliest
practicable moment. 1t is no slight military
task even with great preponderance OF men
and material but the watchfulness or the
enemy, and his facilities for concentrating
troops at one or more points, are increased ny
the delay. The Turkish army thoroughly un-
derstands the immense Importance OF holdlns
tbe line Of the Danube to the last moment,
and it will surely fight with heroic determi-
nation. We do not consider 1t at all uOuotlui
what the end of the campaign IN Armenia VIII
be: we allow for great eXaggeratloh III al
news received by way of Conslantlnople; yet
there can hardly he much question OF tenn
nororv pause i'm the Russian advance, partly
occasioned by the greater activity and bold
ness of the Turks. The latter have always
fought well behind fortifcations and they
cannot easily be maze to give up such
stronghold as Kars. The probability Is that
Batum will first be reduced, which Will throw
the valley of the Djoruk into Russian hands,
and thus allow the movement on Erzerum 10
be renewed. Time, on this field OF the war,
Is of less importance, because there Is no Sec
ond defensive line to be carried. The posses
sion of the Armenian plateau gives Russia
control of the entire province, and renders
even 1rebzond unteuablc
The commandments and reported Turkish
successes along the CircaSsian shore or the
Black Sea must he received with great caution.
An extensive rising of tine native tribes OF the
Caucasus is also very improbable at this stage
of the war; although it is quite likely to take
place if the Russian arms should suffer few
serious reverses. But Turkey is much more
gravely menaced by the attitude OF Greece
and the signs of coming revolt i'll Crete
Neither will the proclamation OF Jihdd or
Holy War, be very eflcaciouS, if the reported
Bedouin revolt in Syria he correct. Last OF
all there is the restless, dangerous element III
Constantinople which the Ottoman Government
must be victorious, to repreSs. All these forces
Will rise or sink, according 10 the iate OF the
battles soon to be fought. The armies slowly
gravitate toward each other, and even the
most cautious strategy cannot much longer
prevent their collision. 1i;l present is the
greatest crisis for centuries, III the history 0i
the East. This time it is not simply Russia
and Turkey which stand face to face; not
alone Christianity and Islam; not even the
question of Russian or English supremacy III
Asia,-but the power of the Past, dark re-
stricted ossiIlcd in its forms, confronting the
great, hah-dclincd, irresistible forces which
are now changing the world for the genera
tons of the Future. 1t u only one phase oi
wider war; which will OutaSt the century.