The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1878.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 31, 5 February 1878, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1878.

The war news received within the last few days are calculated to raise feelings of grave apprehension for the peace of a country thafc will ever he regarded by the people of the colonies as Home. While the sanguinary struggle was confined to Turk and Muscovite the details were rendered less shocking by the indifference that is the natural, feeling in a spectator viewing a fight- between persons with whom he has no direct sympathy, but now when ifc appears impossible that British neutrality can be any longer maintained, the Eastern question indeed becomes one of serious moment. It was apparent from the outset of the war that the safety of Western Europe rested upon the ability of the Turks to defend tbeir territory, and the unprecedented Russian successes of the past three months promise to be as disasterous to England as to Turkey. The Imperial authorities seem quite alive to this fact, and already preparations are being made to engage actively in what must be a struggle of terrible magnitude and intense interest. A war vote of six millions has been asked of the House of Commons, aud the Mediterranean fleet is under orders to proceed to Gallipoli for the defence of thafc important place, afc present threatened by the Russians, who, while perfidiously pretending to negotiate for peace, are steadily advancing upon Constantinople. Though the prospect afc present looks gloomy enough, there is still hope thafc terms for peace may be arranged without the shedding of England's blood. Russia must be worn out by the long andsevere struggle thafc has been undertaken ostensibly for the sake of humanity, really for territorial aggrandisement. Her armies are a long distance from home, and to maintain the iines of communication and successfully carry on the contest must tax the resources of the Mighty Northern Tower to the utmost, so that under these circumstances ifc is probable thafc a declaration of war ou the part of England, backed up by an army of occupation, may be the means of inducing Russia to conclude peace upon terms thafc may be accepted by the Turks without loss of honor or territory. Iv this, certainly, the only hope of safety lies, for ifc must be borne in mind that Lord Beaconsfieldjhas distinctly stated thafc England intends to preserve the integrity of the Turkish Empire at any cost, and that these words were spoken iv terrible earnestness is proved by the preparations now being made by England for war.