New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-08-31
AUSTRIA IN THE EAST.

The unluckleSt OF the hapsDuIgs Has ho'
been allowed to retrieve the misfOrtunes oil
his reign without the strain OF an exhaustng
struggle. What at the outset promised to
be a holiday canter or, at most Sc
ries of military reviews, has become an
arduous campaign. From three centres
the insurrection in Bosnia has spread IN
every direction, and the army of inva-
sion is now encOmpassed with a fanatical
horde whose paradise is shaded with swords.
One column is actually hemmed in and well
nigh cut off from its base, and the main body
has been compelled to halt and wait for heavy
reipforcemcnts and orders have been issued
for the immediate mobilization OF hve
army corps. The MahOmetan caste is max
ing last stand and fighting desperately.
Under the heats of the race conflicts OF re-
cent years those distracted provinces have be-
come as infammable as dry finder, and when
once the sparks Of revolt were kindled, the
flames spread from village TO village
and even swept beyond the borders.
The Albanian brieands with their bands OF
marauders joined the Bosnian league and the
irregular sOldIery of Hadji LOdja and Hadjl
Kulinoyie and it Is even reported that
recruits have been mustered from Mon
tenegro and Servia. Certain it Is
that those principalities have no reason
TO aid Austria. for 1t was mainly through her
influence that ne conquests which their own
valor and Russian diplomacy hal secured for
them were Topped of at Berlin. That vet
Grams of the Turkish army have rallied under
the standards of the insurgents is clear
from the use which has been made of
artillery in recent engagements. Even If the
Sultan has the will, he has not the power to
repress the turbulence of his subjects; and in-
asmuch as the Austrians crossed the frontier
before the terms of occupation were arranged,
he may not have any disposition to restrain
the ardor of the insurgents. The negOtia-
tions of Count Andrassy and Caratheodori
Pacha will be fruitless so long as the army
of invasion remains on the defensive; and in
asmuch as religious enthusiasm is infectious,
the difficulties of occupation have been in
creased by the delay in dispatching not merely
reinforcements, but an army three times as
large as the force already engaged.
The Austrians seem to have repeated the
blunders of the Russian staff The military
reputation of the Northern power was fully
retrieved at the close of the war by the in
yestment of Plevna, the rapid marches across
the Balkan, the capture of an army at Shipka,
the storming Of Kars, and many other brilliant
achievements. Yet for months the Russian staff
were the laughing stock of Europe. After adj
yances that were as pFetentlous as they were
labored, their columns we're beaten back in
Armenia and the main army was crippled
before PleVna. The recOil of a single
defeat seemed to paralyze each army.
Snowy strategical plans and offensive opera
lions were abandoned, and each army of in
vasiOn was reduced to desperate plight.
Indeed, if Suleiman had not as Mr.. Forbes
says, Drained his army against stone walls,
the Russians would have been driven
across the Danube. Now there are many
things in the Austrian campaign that
remind us of the miscalcuIations of
last wear. Various columns were set IN
motion a comprehensive plan that required
double the force actually employed was
adopted the hussaTs were caught In a trap
at Tuzla just as the Russians made their first
staggering advance upon Plevna and when
supreme effort was made to overcome
the resistance the whole machine seemed to
be out of gear and In need of repairs. Yet
the Austrians have mastered the science of
modern warfare. Their Uchatius guns were
said to be the best feld-pieces in Eu-
rope their artillery brigades were or
ganized with special reference TO mobil-
ity; they had a fine body OF cavalry
and also a trained force of dragons for
outpost duty and Of late years they have Or
gained general staff on the German plan.
Yet with this minute attention TO the details
of their military system. their campaign is at
a standstill. before it has fairly begun. 1t is
no easy thing TO conquer race that does not
know the radiments of scientific warfare and