Year: 1877

Russian Empire could be hurt by an inya-
sion the Turks might hurt it now but IL is
not conceivable that they will be SO Ill
advised as to waste their vigor in the
tanks of that colossus, wheie dozen
armies like theirs might be lost ere
vital spot was reached. 1t is much
more likely that the absolute failure OF
the Russians in Asia Minor will result IN
the reinforcement OF the Ottoman army on
the Danube by large part OF the command
of Mukhtar Pacha. 1t may thus happen
that tho same troops will fight both Russian
armies. 1t could not have been thought a
month ago that the Moslem soldiers who
left the Danube army while the Russians
were in Roumania might reach Armenia,
sec the Russians there showing their heels
and get to Europe again i'll time to sec the
first of the fighting in Bulgaria.


Until the details of the Russian fiasco in
| Asia Minor are known il can only be re-
garded broadly MS one of the most astound-
| ing events OF the time. But a few days ago
! the Russian army was Overwhelmingly
victorious, and the Moslem troops fed before
it, or in the few cases in which they staid to
fight were beaten. Now the conquerors
are in such hasty retreat that they hide
their cannon by the way and the beaten
enemy is at their heels. BY what
suddenly developed difficulties or by
what imbecility in the commanders this
wonderful change was brought about we
shall know in due time Meanwhile we can
L., hate <ha ho m
renew their operations early enough to pre-
vent the use of the victorious troops Of
Mukhtar Pacha against the Russians in Eu-
rope. On the Danube all seems to 60 on
admirably with the invaders thus far, and
change such as has occurred in
Asia is perhaps not possible, though
war is ever fruitful in startling sur
prises. Indeed, the Russian scheme Of
acting with two armies-one to engage the
Turks in Bulgaria, the other to move
directly across the Balkan rs if the army in
Bulgaria did not exists on ingenious con-
ception for making such use of great re-
sources as seems to render failure impos-
sible. This plan is already developed sui-
fciently to alarm the Moslem authorities, to
compel the commander of the Ottoman
army to call for an army Of reinforcements,
and to change the Minister Of War.


They are perhaps not far astray who in
terpret the elevation of Mehemet Ruchdi
Pacha to the place lately held by Redif
Pacha as preparation for making peace,
and for making peace palatable to ''the
people," Constantinople troubles the
Sultan more than the Russians do. All that
the Russians want is his promise to be de-
cent, with some guarantee that he will
keep it; but Constantinople will want,
if he makes the promise, his throne
and his life. Hence the policy of
putting forth a '1nan to make peace
who is respected Tor his honesty and whose
name will commend this course to the
country as wise and good. This attention
to the mischievous elements Of the popula-
ton OF Constantinople does not come too
early, for indications have already appeared
thut the great crisis of the war may occurat
any moment in that city.


Fermentation Of the most active descrip-
ton was to be expected in Constantinople
when to the disorders that are endemic
there there should be added the pressure Of
distress through arrangement of the finances
and the excitement consequent upon bad
news from the armies in the field Much OF
the disturbance, therefore, that now threat
ems the peace ofthat city, and endangers the
lives of all foreigners as well as the throne
of the Sultan has been ''discountcd," and
scarcely surprises the outside world-which
sees in the threatened revolt of murder


ing horde of wretches, brought forward
from barbarous countries, only the realiza-
tion of it's anticipations. 1t may, however, be
certainly assumed that the reality of trouble
in Constantinople is yet destined to belittle
all antcipations. So slight is the i'm
preston made by any conception of
what may happen there that it will
be forgotten altogether when the terrible
drama rises to the iull development of its
passion. 1t has not happened in the pres
ent generation that the horde of savage
butchers which hovers in the rear Of Mos
lem armies when these are advancing and is
| in the advance when these are retreating, has
wreaked its will upon any great city but it
| has happened in other times, and it may be
seen by reference to the bloody chronicle
of Mosem wars that no story of fiendish
malignity in the wars of civilized nations
can approach the internal horrors of such
Nh event. In the Bulgarian massacres of
last year the world had an opportunity to
witness an event of this nature, but with
the cruelty and savage temper that led to
such horrors on the Danube let loose in
populous city the chronicle will be such as
to convince even England that it is time the
Turks were hidden from the world in the
obscurity of Asiatic deserts.


The principal danger is from the So
called irregular troops" In any coun-
try in the world irregular troops arc