The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-12
Tn. U...,,l.a s.ssl.m.n. OF Turkey.

The Uassttled Settlements OF Turkey.
Austria does not have an easy limo Alto
eether in the occupation of the territory al
lotted as her share in the partition Of Tur-
kew in Europe. She has lost thousand
men. Nine hours of ''sanguinary ighting'
were necessary to obtain possession OF one
fortified town. Her divisions encoun-
ter insurrectionary forces superior in
number to themselves and her conf
manders call their collisions with these
bodies victories. But in order to Sc
cure these victories the ''devoted valor
of well disciplined soldiery is called for.
1t is little war, perhaps, but 1t Is not
a trivial one. 1t is a conflict in which the
Austrians have to deal with the same sort OF
resistance that in Montenegro exhausted
the efforts of Suleiman Pacha and Mehemet
Ali. In weary months of hostilities
in the Montenegrin valleys those resolute
if somewhat bullet-headed commanders
wasted the force that might have sufhced to
win an important battle in the Valley of the
Danube, and they left the country uncon-
quered at last. Austria will of course con-
quer the country and hold it, unless ere she
has completed this difficult labor OF con-
quest there should arise some event to act
as diversion in favor Of the Bosnians, as
the war in the Danube Valley favored the
Montenegrins. But the conflict makes an
unpleasant position for the Austrian Minis
try Italy was annoyed and offended at the
gift of the country to her neighbor, the Of
toman government was exceedingly cha
grined, and inside the Austro- Hungarian
monarchy the event was regarded with even
less favor than outside, for the Hungarians
based their opposition to the campaign
against Turkey in great part on their objec-
ton to possible acquisition of Slavic coun-
tries by Austria, and with all this jealousy
awakened against her the Congress did not
give her provinces but war-a troublesome
and expensive war.
Every government represented at the Con-
gress of Berlin claims to have made great sac
rifices to secure the peace Of Europe. Will
these sacrifices prove of no avail through the
revival of actual fighting by Austria's adj
vance? Will the resistance of the Bosnians,
last some interference or serve perhaps as
the pretext for new complications? 1t may
be remembered from how small flame the
recent great war arose. In the very country
now in dispute collision of the people with
the Moslem soldiers in mountain village
provoked official repression, and that in its
turn led to extended instruction through
out Herzegovina. Despite the military
measures of the Porte and the persistent
diplomatic efforts of several governments
the resistance was continued until Servia
added her endeavors to those of her
neighbors in the general attempt to
rid themselves Of the Moslem yoke.
Bulgaria intended to join with Servia,
but was anticipated by the Moslem
butchery Of great part Of her population
an act which in its turn led to the attempt
to reorganize Turkey by the conference at
Constnntinople. Turkey rejected the
scheme and Russia declared war to enforce
something like it. Thus from mere col
lision of oppressed peasants with tax gath
erers arose q fierce and bloody war between
great Powers. But such causes produce
such events only when the conditions are
favorable Are the conditions such now
that the resistance in Bosnia may light up
another war? It cannot clearly be said
that they are Yet all the populations
involved in the recent settlement made at
Berlin are disconnected, and no government
is pleased with the results of the Congress
if we except the British government These
discontents and dissatisfactions do not seem
to be good basis for permanent tranquility,
and it is not easy to say but in the strug-
gle now actually on foot some one of these
many susceptibilities may be touched in q
way that will lead to an extension. of the
circle of hostilities.
1t seems to be thought for instance, that
the Italia iridenta party or other agitators
in Italy will not let slip an opportunity to
prevent the completion Of the programme
of Austrian occupation. They are likely
to figure in this conflict as the generation
of filibusters on this side of the Atlantic
formerly figured in all the disturbances
within the territory of our Spanish-Ameri-
can neighbors and it must be remembered
that in Constantinople the Austrian occu-
patton is still regarded as an invasion.
Austria executes "the commission of Eu-
rope" but it is commission the Sultan
has not assented to, and it is executed ON
territory that he regards as still part of
the Ottoman Empire. He has never ceased
to protest against its being considered
permanent acquisition, as Austria regards
it; TO demand that Austria should name the
limit of time for her occupation, and he
has at last appealed to England, though
vainly, to stay the Austrian advance at
point named In order to give further oppor-
tunities for agreeing upon this limitation
of time II the Turk should DRIFT into
position Of hostility against Austria, q
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