The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-20

| BRITISH BLUsTER IS MAINTAINED
LONDON, May 4, 1878.
| met yesterday an English friend OF mine a cap
tain in the Royal Artillery. Like nearly every officer
Ia almost every army Of the world he is emphatic
ally In favor OF war at any price, The prospect of
becoming major would justify to his eyes the whole.
sale slaughter OF 100 600 OF his countrymep TO say
nothing OF several millions OF Russians, Turks and
the like. French author used speak OF q Chi
mandarin, and to ask his friends whether the
of it beng sufficient Tor tho satisfaction OF their
dearest ambition, that tho said mandarin-whom
they did not know IN the east-shoud Instantly die,
and they would hesitate in pronouncing men.
tally upon his fatef Tho candid answer was always
IN the negative Is thcrc military who docs
not skill tho mandarin every morning In his life?
Apart from that narrow view OF International CON-
plications which is generally taken by iioutonants
and captains, my military friend feel bound to de-
clare, Is NJ the same time perfect gentleman, an
lightencd professional man accomplished
tactician.. felt. when him St James
street. that had come tho right person 10
get some kind OF information from the
opinion in British military circles, and began in
consequence to question HIM. II glad TO hear
your country is decidedly not to ngagc absurd
war; said with a confident tonc which, to tell
the truth. was entirely artificial "The de-
cidedy peaceful to-day, and will be much surprised
II there not ere long some kind OF compromise sat
isiactory to both partes.' As spoke almost re-
GREETED my words, deeply concerned at my piece OF
news seemed to be gallant friend 'You don't say
SO? 7" ne exclaimed. "You don't moan 10 say that tho
coniounded dipiomatists are again patching up the
ftarrcs" 81 DO, and truly glad Of 1t am, for Eng
land and for everybody. Things have taken such
turn that II would be sheer madness Tor you to
bark INTO war. You might have done with the sup
port or Austria. But you now without an ally in
EuIopc; your army, though a splendid one indivi-
duaIly. quite under the mark IN point OF numbers.
cont venture TO say you would get beaten, Heaven
Knows: but you would undoubtedly lind hard work
before YOU and Tor what purpose pray you tell meY
For tanning three million four million Turks
IN possession vi Of the duest lands Europe and
preventing three million four million poor wretches
Of Bulsarians from getting roef You had decidedly
better remain at home" AS spoke tho captain was
silently clinching his fist ana biting his upper lip.
s.You think SO ?" said hc at last .Can you give
half an hours atlcntion2 ! will show you the oppo-
site side OF tho case. Just como with me up to the
club"
SMOKING CAMPAIGN.
When installed in tho smoking room and
had Ut cigars the captain began els 1t possible
that you do not perceive the fact that the Rus
sian army Is i.ietrievaby lost?" 'Tho Russian
army-ost! What Russian army, for goodness
sake?" said l, In utter amasement "Thc Rus
army OF tho Daaube-the army Of tho
Balkans-tho army OF Constantinople, whatever
be its name" resumed the captain III say irretrlov
ably lost" He took war map upon the table, and
unioIdediL Then, putting his foreinger nYst tho
Pruth, then the Bosphorus:-"Look at that line
40o niles long This IL the limo OF communication of
tho Russian army 1t is cut up places by ono of
the Biggest rivers IN Europe, the Danube, and OF
most inaccessible CHAINS OF mountains the Bal
kaEs A rather neon venlent ditch ana wall across
Ak 1 O. tis n
almost the sano length from the mouth OF tue Danube
70 Widdin, and from san stefano to the Upper
Moravu Valley; and in those extreme points ~ ind
aguiu such slight accidents Of ground rs tho Rhodopo
range, with IT'S labyrinth OF rocks and dencs Do
you suppose that some three hundred thousand mon,
as tue Russians tho The pen nsuIu of
the Balkans, are suiclent Tor holding strongly such
would not be too mucn." .'You think, then, that
they have acted imprudently IN advancing south Of
the Baikans, or at least cast OF Adrianopcfn ~ 10
und the Russian War ONCE would raIner think, is
pretty much now OF the Same opinion. This Is why
the Grand Duke Nicholas has just been replaced by
General Todlcoen, aud this Is also Why you have
heard much lately OF Simultaneous falling back
mated from the Russian staH which felt it's position"
"rhc position docs not seem to be very dangerous,
alter all" 1t much so that will bet you any
thne like that Will boar ere long Of Russo
Turkish Convention Tor a backward movement OF
the Russian army on Adranopic. The latter must
do II, II may nnd itself at any moment dos
perafc position You Will CONSIDER, In the first pacc
that the Ottoman army IN ana around Constantinoplc
Il now splendid force OF about So first class me H.
commanded by such leaders us 0sinan and Moukbtar,
supported In ASIA Minor by at least double mum.
Der OF reserves and icvics. Then there rs the
insurgent Mussulman force OF Roomcia, which II
would be rash TO attempt va.uing. as IL Increases
hourly but which extends now TO the whole OF inc
tuinous district on tho southcas and north
slopes Of the Rnodope range, holding almost
imprcgnablc POSITIONS
STRATEGY on PAPER
- hen, there is Shuma north of tue Balkans which
has hot yet boon given up to the Russian army, any
more than varna, aud which IS hcd ny a strong
TURKISH garrison aud commands tho Dobro; Pass, tho
best aui most direct route between AarianopIe and
the Danube Then, there Is IN tue rear OF the Rus
SANS, the Roumanian ARM, which, alter having, by
It's retreat Obliged them occupy the slrategical
points aioug the Danube as we'll along their road
through the princlpaiity, and having thus proper
tionaley weakened their coutre, Is now chiefly
massed on Tho rransyivanien frontier, In po-
sition whe,o 10000 men might go loug way In
assing rctreating army. Now, suppose to DO
suddenly declared by England aud British army
corps dscnbarscd at Saonica or III the Gull oil Ssros
giving the hand to the Mussulnan Insurgents al
Demotica, while both tho Turks and the Roumanians
the offensive, British fleet steam
ing up the Bosphorus would cut tho Black Sea com
municaiions Of tue Russian host. l mn afraid II
would be another sedan ON a larger scale ana al tho
eartlworks OF General Todebcn would only help TO
complete the resemblance VITA trap, IN which tho
Russians now arc. And they begin to suspect IT,
tool"
MILD OBJECTIONS.
remained for moment silcDced by tho dom onstra-
ton whilo tho captain pulled his smoke out with tr
umphant defiance. soon recovering, however, 1 nc
gan opposing some faint objections the theory
All that was very well On war map. but things aid
70 this way IN practice Supposing that the iinc
OF tho Russians really proved too much developed,
anu TOO on us Ccuues nOtnIEb Was easier Tor
such experienced commander as General 1odlebcn
than TO perceive the danger and to parry NJ to take
strong position the southern slope OF the Balkans
anu the quadralera, ana there to deity the combined
forces vi his toes. The combination Itself
Tar from being IN accomplished fuct:
the real dispositions OF the Tursish rulers
most doubtful. that OF the Roumapians
BY 10 means asccriaincd; the scryians aud tho
Moutcncgrns ought also to be into account;
the British government ITSELF there little
probability OF It's taxing SUCH nomentous and do
cisIve step ABRUPT declaration -! war,
supposng 10 do 80, there SIN the question OF
necessary delay between the topographic order OF
stcaining from Malta and the Jiscmbarkment OF an
army corps on The Ottoman coast
COUNTING oNk's CHICKENS
The captain Laughed heartily. Necessary delay
Turkish ruicrsl Scryiansl RoumanIansi wish
could be Tor one hour only he Prime Munster OF
Engiandl You would the work u man can 60
wllnln hour Iu tho hrst place, would scEa
word 10 the Suan--niaintc Danco vi the intcg.
rity OF his cmpro; u ~c succeed in driving ogt
The Russians; with ono condition., howcvcr-uainvly
the cession 10 Greece vf Thrssaly Epirus. Our
pocy ougat TO DO 10 reconcile tno two oman
elements III tho peninsula OF the Bilknus aud moth