The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-10-07
WAR IN TILE EAST.

WAR IN THE EAST.
To THE EDITOR: Please answer through the
medium of your valuable columns the following
question::
What is the general opinion in military circles
as 10 the result of war between England and Rus
sia?-JoHN A. AITKEs, Grayson, Ky.
II is not easy to answer SOmrade Aitken's
question direct, for the reason that it is not
at all likely that in the event of war Eng
land or Russia will fight single-handed.
The present operations are all manuvers for
alliances. England holds that it is just as
much the duty of the other great powers of
Europe 10 hold Russia in check as it is hers,
but they do not accept that view with the
enthusiasm that she wishes. When she
went TO war in the Crimea 80 years ago she
had the alliance of France-then the most
powerful military nation in the woodland
of Turkey and Sardinia, each of whom put
fair-sized armies into the field alongside of
hers. Then Austria, torn and demoralized
10y the great rebellion of FIVE or six years
before, was unable TO participate on one side
or the other Prussia was the smallest of the
Great Powers at that time, and was not in
position to take sides to advantage.
Now the situation is radically changed
Prussia, or Germany, is the strongest power
in Europe, and it is believed that she would
Sida NTH PuSSia ~, ,bo avant of xvar What
France would do is mere guesswork. Her
statesmen are shrewd enough to see that
there is everything TO gain and nothing to
lose by keeping her intentions q mystery
Her deepest-seated emotion is, of course,
hatred to Germany and desire for revenge
But England has been her enemy with few
intermissiOns since the beginning of their
respective histories, and there is much fric-
ton now between the countries on account
of the clashing Of their commercial interests
in foreign lands. France also feels that to
England she owes much Of her humiliation
at Prussia's hands. 1t is positively asserted
that there is an alliance or at least an I'M
Outstanding between Russia, Germany and
France on the Eastern question, and many
things appear as proof of this
Austria is to-day much stronger than she
ever was. She has many reasons TO influence
her to side with Russia in driving the Turks
out of Europe and dividing up their posses
sions, and she has also strong reasons toimpel
her to take the opposite course. The recent
speech of the Premier TO the Hungarian Par
Lament is taken TO be significant of her inten-
ton TO side against Russia. The remaining
great power is Italy, which has risen from
insignifcance since the Crimean war. She
has as yet given no indication of how she
will act in case of war.
There is not the slightest reason for ex-
pecting that if England and Russia began
the war they would be allowed to fight il
out single-handed; but supposing that they
were, il is not clear where the victory would
lie. Russia has an immense army, and is as
near the disputed territory as we are tC
Mexico. She has population of nearly
100000 from which TO draw fighting men
while England has not much more than c
third of that number-if We exclude India
But on the other hand, the Russian finances
are in a wretched shape, and her civil and
military administrations are hopelessly cor
rupt She was defeated in the Crimea n
much 10y the utter rottenness of every de
partInent as by the arms of the Allies.
England has splendid system OF admin
istration, only equaled by those of Germany
and the United States; her wealth is practi
cally boundless, her navy can oyerpOwer an,
probable combination of ships brough
against her, and her fighting men are great.
, superior TO the Russians.
To SUM up, no one can more than CUES
! what will be the issue of the struggle, whej
it is once begun.