The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 1878.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 231, 26 January 1878, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 1878.

The latest war news is not of a reassuring character. The armistice which had been proposed has not taken place, having been frustrated, possibly, by the additional successes achieved by the Russian arms while negotiations were proceeding. It is becoming more and more apparent that a fear of armed intervention from the powers is the only thing that will make Russia give effect to any proposals for the cessation of hostilities. .■•'.. In the early part of the war the Turks were able to hold their own, and, doubtless, astonished their powerful foe not a little by the unyielding front they presented. But a comparison of the strength of the two nations did not allow of any | reasonable doubt as to what the re- , suit of protracted hostilities would j be. The superiority of Russia .has now asserted itself ; and, as m a novel or drama, towards the termination, there is a rapid concentring of events and characters for the final denouement, so the events of this war are rapidly -working up to a climax. The Russian forces are approaching that spot the occupation of which by them will either signal the downfall of Turkey op the armies of Europe into the field. If the struggle remains between the two powers only, the end is near. Russia sees that end, and the thing she dreads mast is interference ; she does not want to be thwarted m lasting to the f ull the sweetness of revenge. Flushed with success she will never voluntarily make peace, or give even brief x*est to her foes,

until she has made them abjectly bite the dust at her feet. Certainly, after triumphing so far as to assume the character of a victor, it would be magnanimous on the part of .Russia to propose peace instead of prosecuting the war to the last bitter extremity But magnanimity is a coin not admitted into the Russian state currency. fctolbng as the gpwers do not assume a decidedly hostile attitude, Russia will go on battering her fallen foe. The longer she can avert interference the more secure will be her ground for dictating her own terms of peace. Undoubtedly, this is the reason for her lending an apparently favorable ear to the proposals of the powers. Russia wants to gain time, and she knows that while England holds the pen she is not likely to take the sword. It is, therefore, good policy to encourage the idea of amicable mediation and so keep England employed m devising means and making proposals, while the Muscovite is making the subjugation of his foe more complete. The " Daily News " is imported to have considered the withdrawal of Kußsia from the armistice treaty as the beginning of an intrigue to involve England m the war. This appears to be a very unreasonable supposition. At the beginning of the Crimean war a cartoon appeared m the "London Punch" representing the big boy "Russia thrashing the little boy Turkey whilst John Bull was looking on. The lithe s:butly is now at his old game again, but it is scarcely m the nature of this or any other bully to intrigue with a view to give his small foe a powerful ally. Undoubtedly, the Muscovite fought shy of the proposal for an armistice because it was just a little too definite, there was danger of a speedy practical result, and he wished to be left alone with the Moslem for a while louger. The more thorough he makes the defeat of his foe the better terms he will get, even though the European powers propose those terms. But so far from wishing to draw England into the fray, Russia is again disposed to listen complacently. Indeed, the telegram which we published m our last issue might fittingly suggest another cartoon for " Punch," — the Bear smoothiug down with his oily tongue the ruffled mane of the Lion. The telegram states that Russia's reply to England concerning terms of peace was less reserved than was anticipated. What this means we cannot exactly say, but it is pretty evident that Russia wishes to mollify England aud keep up the hope of peace being brought about without armed intervention, for Russia is well aware that a knowledge of the cost of war will prevent England from taking up arms whilst there is any hope of peace being established by negotiation. The occupation of Stamboul by the Russians would probably bring the war to a termination, as between Russia,, and Turkey ; and although such a consummation is precisely what England is pledged to^disallpw, it is quite possible that Russia may calculate on British Ministers" reasoning m this wise. As we have delayed interfering until the war has . come to a natural termination, it would be folly to plunge Europe into a fresh .war by interfering now. Whether such will be the dishonorably pacific resolution we cannot say, but certainly it cannot take much longer to shew whether the war is to remain a national duel merely, or become something more formidable.