The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-12-31
The War News.


SUFFERING AMONG THE SOLDIERS OF BOTH
ARMIES.
LONDON, December ga special dis
patch from Bucharest to the Times says it is
imposslble to procure full information re.
garding the condition Of the Russian and
Roumanian soldiers and the Turkish pris-
oners on the way TO Bucharest during the
snow-storm, but from disconnected details
it is evident that there was terrible suffering
among them.
ENGLAND's RESPONSIBLE POSITION AS MEDI-
ATOR BETWEEN RUSSIA AND TURKEY-THE
LONDON PAPERS ON THE SITUATION.
LONDON, December 29.-The Times to-
day, in its leading article, says: "The an
nouncement that the Sultan has invited her
Maiesty's Government to approach the Car
with ayiew Of bringing about negotiations
for peace will tend to calm some OF the
fears which have been exciting the country,
and to hold out the hope that dreadful war
may be brought to close more quickly than
by the shock OF battle. The Sultan has taken
the only course consistent with calm
review OF what the war has already done,
and what it must do il it lasts much longer.
The circular to the Powers showed that the
peace party at the Porte had for the
time got the upper hand. 1t proposed
terms which would no doubt have been in
admissible even before the war, and which
would not bear discussion after the terrible
battles of the last six months but the
Porte did not intend the circular to be
taken as it's last word. Now that all the
Powers have courteously but firmly de-
clined TO approach Russia with Impossible
conditions, the Sultan has wisely asked this
country to use its good Offices to bring
about negotiations for peace. 1t is impor-
tant that the Government should conduct
negotiations in a spirit absolutely free from
partisanship. We are not parties to the
present contest. AS mediators, our essen
tial duty is to convey message from one
Power with which we have no quarrel to
another Power with which we have no
quarrel. We have doubtless great interests
at stake-politica as we'll rs commercial
and they will be urged at the proper mo-
mcnt; but, meanwhile, it is our duty to act
as friend y intermediary, and not as rulers
of the Indian Empire. 10 take side with
one of the two Powers which we must bring
into contact would simply be to make our
mission useless and destroy the prospect OF
peace. Our Government will have TO aScer-
tain whether Russia is willing to open me-
gotiations, and what are her conditions Of
peace. 1t will then have to offer Turkey
such advice as may seem proper, and present
her answer. 1t may have to reason in an
earnest spirit with both belligerents in
order to secure q common ground. 1t
may be obliged to urge the Porte,
on the one hand, to be wise in time,
and Russia, on the other, to demand such
terms as would goad the Turks to desperate
courses, and thus multiply the perils of
Europe, while q mediator may seem to act
now Of one party and now of another. The
arguments must be dictated purely by a
spirit of Cancellation. No doubt the Gov
eminent would have to consider the in
terests Of England; but the presentation
of them would come in good time, and there
is not the slightest reason to fear they will
be neglected."
The Daily Ne1S says that the OTTOMAN
Government declares its desires that nego-
tiations for peace may be brought about on
the present basis OF facts, and as its profess
sion must be accepted as sincere, the
public will wish it success in its new
policy. 1t cannot be necessary to point
out that even upon he most limited
interpretations of the office it has
assumed the Queens Government has
assumed task OF great delicacy. The pres
ent war primarily concerns Russia and
Turkey, but the Eastern question is one
which must be considered by Europe. By
its present action, our Government has
taken upon itself the character OF an inter-
cessor for one unfortunate belligerent
| while acting officiously for Europe; but it
has to harmoniZe this new character with
declarations which it has repeatedly made,
and with whole course Of conduct OF
which the least that can be said is that 1t
has not prepared the world for the part it
has now undertaken to play. On her Maj
esty's Ministers may very much depend
whether the Eastern question may now be
settled, at least for many years to come, or
this war be followed by mere truce, the
prelude to war even greater and more
disastrous than that Of which we are now
spectators. We are bound to hope that
they will prove equal to their responsible
ties.
THE NORTH GERMAN GAzETTE's VIEWS.
BERLIN, December 29.-The North Ger
man Gazette says if England merely seeks
to sound Russia respecting her willingness
to make peace, and the chances Of the sue
cess Of direct application OF the Porte to
st. Petersburg, credit may be awarded TO
Great Britain for her meritorious inten-
tions. In any other case the theory Of the
Agence RuSse that mediation, unless solicit
ed by both beligerents becomes interyen.
ton, may assert itself. Regarding inter-
yention, Russia, in the fultiIment of her
mission, can scarcely be stopped, even by
the cleverest moves on the political chess
board.