Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1878-04-04
Russia and England.

iisueu news or opinions only when
1t suited her convenience or served
her purpose. There were periods
whom her army officers were great
news disseminators; and, again, there
were long intervals when these same
officers SAID nothing themselves nor
allowed anyone else to say anything.
The periods of silence covered eras
OF preparation, and the communi-
cative MOODS we're inspired by re-
suits accomplished. Throughout the
whole campaign this policy was
maintained. Judge by the rule OF
the campaign, the recent semi eff
cial cutburst from ST. Petersburg is
significant, in that it indicates that
Russia has perfected her plans, has
completed Der preparations, and
is ready to meet tho crisis. Her
readiness to declare what she did do
under certain contingencies, means
that she is ready to precipitate the
contingencies, or. in other words,
that she is ready for action.
In such crisis readiness for &c.
ton on the part of Russia involves,
or may involve, such tremendous
issues that the nations of Europe
may well contemplate the prospects
with many misgivings. As matters
stand now, Russia has settled sever
al questions that have agitated En-
rope, or at least has opened the way
to settlement, but war with Eng
lend will unsettle all these, and add
new and confusing complications
every where. The attitude of Rus
STA would indicate that, notwith :
standing all rumors to the contrary,
satisfactory arrangements have been
made with Germany and Austria !;
that an alliance with Turkey, IN the
event of War with England has been
concluded, and that the neutrality
of other powers has been secured
1t has been difficult task to make
all these arrangements without UNI
doing the work of the war, but the
very conditions under which the
Russian diplomatists speak argue
that the difficult task has been 40.
complished, or that Russia believes
it has been accomplished.
A Turkish Alliance is to Russia,
engaged in war with England. a
necessity, and with the new English
policy 10 view, such an alliance is
important to Turkey as well. Eng
land, to thwart Russia, would give
all of European Turkey TO Greece.
Russia, to thwart England would
preserve the Turkish power in Eu-
rope and give Bosnia, Herzegovania,
Albania, and even part of Macedo-
dia to Austria. Englard's policy in
vites DO strong allies, while Rusaia's
policy gives to an important power
a new coast line on the Adriatic and
new port on the Egean. Ia her
counter play against England Rus
STA is forced to abandon her traditi-
onal policy; but while maintaining
her position as to Bulgaria and the
straits, she makes friends with both
Austria and Turkey, and, for the
time being isolates England.
With Turkey as base, Russia is
ready for battle at once, and If she
has decided on war it may be assum-
ed that she will by bold demand
force the retirement of England, or
precipitate a conflict. England, on
the contrary, oven if determined on
war will delay hostilities until her
preparations are complete. With
her ironclads within a few hours
sail of Constantinople, and the Dard-
anelles, she can well afford to do this.
is impossible to say what prep
arations for this great possible con
fict have been made in and about
Constantinople. The operations of
the Russian army since the dcclara-
ton of peace have been as complete
~ yelled as though there were no
communication between the army
and the outside world, With the
exception of the brief announcement
as TO concentration at Constantinople
we know as little about the Turkish
army either 10 Europe or Asis. We
knt W that the Grand Duke Nicholas
is the guest OF the SGlian we know
that Osmap Pasha has been released
by the Russians, and is in high favor
at Constantinople !; that Gurko and
bis staff have been sent on some se-
cret mission that there must be in
Turkey, between the Black Sea and
the Dardanelles, 100000 Russian
Soldiers and one-third as many Turk
ish troops, and that all movement Is
OF troops or fleets have been studi.
ously concealed. AS a war with Eng
land would involve campaigns in
Asia as well IS in Europe, all these
things are significant
On the other hand, The prompt
ness with which England moved her
fleet to Constantinople ard the Wig
or with which she has entered upon
the work of preparation. would indi-
cate that what che has done in Sc
cret is formidable. She will strike
at unexpected points, and as such
tremendous interests are involved,
will enter upon the struggle az she
has entered upon no struggle since
the old wars that made her the mis-
tress of the seas. English diplomat
lists understand Austrian politics and
Turkish character we'll enough to
make possible, complications that
may be embarrassing, if not fatal to
Russia.
While there is possibility that
everybody is talking for effect, and
that both England and Russia are
trying what virtue there is in bold
words before they come to blows
the remarks of Russian diplomatists
on one hand and the action of the
English Government in calling ont
the reserves on the other hand, indi-
cate that war must result from ex.
listing differences. The conflicting
reports as to the attitude of Austria
come from correspondents, while the
reports as to England and Russia
come from those in authority. 1t has
been said hundred times during the