The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-09
WHAT ~ GONG on IN EUROPE

cn'ckeu INC very next uHy. 1nCy u'W'i'h tio
vanguard of the CzarewltcI's army under
Prince Svatopok- Mirsky. captured Elena. and
compelled the Russian forces to retreat to Jaco-
WITT. fortified position some fifteen miles
south OF Trnova. The engagement cost the
Russians over 5000 men and nearly II dozen
guns. On Wednesday Suleiman pasha removed
his attack. but Prince Mrsky proved able TO
hold out till the division OF Gen. Dellingshausen
arrived 10 reinforce him. flank movcmcnt
effected by another detachment OF tho Care
witchs army forced Sulciman To rc'race his
stcps. Popkoi. which was captured simulta-
ncously with Elena. will have To- be evacuated II
Sulcimnn Pasha requires more troops to opcr-
ate with on the Jantra.
In Asia Minor operations are AT stnndatill,
on account of the heavy snow storms which
have been raging for several days. Probably in
the hope TINT close to the scashore the weather
will be milder. the Russians propose 20 attack
Batoum
Erzcroum ia stll reported by English corre-
spondcnts and military attaches Of various Gov
ernmens ns unable to hold out against scgo
or q wcll-supportcd assault. Tho Russians
have however. not attempted either. They are
auarterrd in tho villages around tho city.
Possibly for want Of military topics To discuss
at the present moment the London Tunes mas
taken Of late TO arguing the question OF bcnev-
olcnt neutrality" which the German Govern
mcnt started during the Franco-P russian war.
The truth is that neutrality. either benevolent
or any other kind. is n dead letter to-day. The
Russians arc supplied with gunpowdcr and
arms by Germany and there IL occasionally n
strong out"ry against IT, But other nations
supply the Turks with all the ncccssarics Of
war Tho Ottoman Government procurcs arms
from America. whence they are conveyed in
English vessels. Ottoman troops were conveyed
TO Scutari and Batoum in Austrian Lloyd's
steamers. Biscuits for Turkish soldiers go
from Marseillcs in Mcssaseries Maritimes
boats. The Stafford House Committee pro-
vded Turkey with magnificent hospitals FREQ
OF charge, and the Turkish Compassionate
Fund" has supplied the Sultans treasury with
money. II all this is neutrality. then the word
must have entirely changed it's meaning of late.
In France, as was predicted in these columns
n fortnight ago. the Cabinet of utilities formed
by MacMnhon has had to withdraw to make
room for more influential parliamentary COM
binaton. Tho President seems to have con-
cedcd to NJ. Dufaure ample liberty 10 form a
Cabinet which should be acceptable to the
Chamber; then all ut once to have changed his
mind. md claimed the right to select himself
the Ministers Of War. Marine. and Foreign Az
fairs. The three men whom Marshal Mac
Mnhon seems to be DESTROYS to have stick are
the Marquis de Bonneville. Gen. dc Grlmaudct
de Rochcbouct. and Rear Admiral Baron Rous-
sin.
The first is man about sxty-flve years Of
age, who has passed through all the grades Of
the diplomatic career. In 1859 he represented
France ut the Congress of Zurich. After that
he occupied the posts of Minister at Munich and
Berne. The last two years of the empire saw
him Ambassador at Rome. Under Theirs he
Mt,.f.s H.. To y, NJ,
archist and Catholic. and man of conciliatory
disposition and enjoys the reputation OF an
able dipomatist
The second was up to last week tho COM
mander OF the Eighteenth Army Corps. sta
toned in the military district OF Bordeaux. He
IL a man over sixty. and one OF the old men,
beers OF the Jockey Club. He Is horse artillery
officer. and commanded IA field battery ut the
siege OF Rome. lie took part in the siege Of
Sebastopol, and commanded an artillery brigade
ut the battle of Solferino. In 1870 he was the
commander Of the artillery Of the army Of Metz
H. Is a Royalst.
The third il a nephew Of NJ. Dufaure. and a
former de-de-camp OF the Prince Dc Joinvle
He has been for many years working hack Of
the Marine Department. and at the time OF the
Tours and Bordeaux Government, temporarily
filled the place Of Admiral Fourrischon. Up to
his call to the Cabinet he was Under Secretary
Of State for the navy.
There can be little doubt that Dufaurc would
have readily retained these three members OF
the Cabinet. had Ma Mahon merely requested
him to do so instead Of giving peremptory or
der and asserting it To be his right to select
these three Ministers. One Of them being his
CDuiaurcsl own nephew. he would probably
have maintained in power all the three men for
the sake OF that one But az an old lawyer. he