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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5233, 31 December 1877, Page 2

The telegrams received lately confirm the opinion that Turkey has boon overmatched in the struggle. Mahommedau people bow to the inevitable, and hence the overtures which have already been made by Turkey for peace. However, she has not met with a favorable response, and as there is a limit even to Eastern submission, she has determined, according to last advices, to carry on the war to the last extremity. The Forte was willing to accept a peace which would have been honorable to both parties, but Russia was deaf to any approaches for peace, evidently bent on the complete annihilation of the Turkish Empire. The two hundred thousand troops now being mustered round Adrianople under Sulieman Pasha may be expected to give a good account of themselves, judging from, the gallantry and discipline hitherto displayed by the Turkish soldier; and it is yet possible that some great disaster may befall the Russian arms before the exploit of 1829 is repeated, and the second Ottoman city falls into the enemy’s hands ; whilst before Constantinople is reached other nations may take such steps as may change the whole aspect of the war. Hesitating Prince Milan has at last moved, and the Servian army has now entered the field as an ally of Russia. The action of Scrvia will give rise to a strong feeling of resentment in

more than one nation of Europe. The declaration of war by Servia must be regarded as an act of ingratitude and a breach of good faith. It will bo remembered that at the latter end of last year Servia lay completely prostrate at the foot of Turkey, after being vanquished in a war she had wantonly provoked, and for which she could assign no other reason than the belief that she would succeed. The prostrate slate of Servia evoked considerable sympathy amongst the Great Powers, notably England and Austria, and they stopped in to shield her from the vengeance of Turkey. The result was that tho tributary State was let off very lightly. The Turkish armies evacuated Servia without exacting either war indemnity or guarantee; in fact Turkey trusted to the good faith of the mediating Powers to prevent Servia again taking up arms. But ever since the commencement of tho present war Servia has shown horaolf eager to participate in it, and although it is only within the last few days that she lias bred a shot, still her attitude was a standing menace to Turkey, and in consequence a source of weakness all throughout the struggle. It is not claimed that Servia should sympathise with the Turks, or in any way aid them in the war of self-defence. Turk and Servian are hereditary enemies, and it would bo against human nature to expect Slav to light against Slav where the fate of the Mahommedan power in Europe was involved. But under the circumstances sho might have reasonably been expected to stand by her treaty engagements, especially when the favorable terms of that treaty were obtained by neutral Powers, who were in some sense responsible for their fulfilment on the part of Servia. The influence of Austria for a time prevented Prince Milan from launching into war ; but the die has now been cast, the Servian army has commenced operations, and Austria makes but a feeble protest. It is hard to see what Servia has to gain by going to war at the present time. She can obtain no accession of' territory, and the great protector of the Christians in tho East has already proved more'than a match for tho Turks. It could be easily understood that Servia would have a ■ strong motive for going to war if tho Ottoman armies should come out of the struggle victorious over tho legions of the Czar, for iu that case there would bo swept, away a great restraining influence on Turkish rapacity, and if Russia was powerless to hold out a sheltering hand, Turkey might show an niter disregard for treaty obligations, as Servia had shown last year, and assume her former power over tho tributary. States, Had Servia drawn the sword in the days of Russian adversity, when Melikopp was beaten back from Kars, and whan the Turkish arms were crowned with success in Europe, ■she might have had a fair excuse, if not a justification.." But it was hot till Plovua and Kara had fallen that Servia: decided to move and cast in her lot .with, that which sho believes to be the conquering side. 1 The fear of the return of Turkish power has, Jjeeu dispelled, and-,Prince

Milan and the Servian people are evidently bent on paying off Turkey for the crushing defeats of the previous year. The telegrams state that Russia subsidises her new ally with a million roubles monthly—about £150,000. Prom this it may be inferred that Servia has been urged to take the field by Russia, though as long as there was a chance of the interference of Austria, Russia was not desirous of the help of Servia. But the interview of the three great Emperors has changed greatly the aspect of Eastern affairs, and the Emperor Alexander has now no misgivings as regards Austria. Latest advices state that the Servian army has crossed the frontier, penetrated about fifty miles into Bulgaria, and in several engagements with the Turks has been successful. Austria, it is stated in a telegram, has forbidden Servian operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, but this will not have the slightest effect in crippling her efforts against Turkey. It is in Bulgaria and Rournelia that the Turk will have to struggle for national existence, and the scene of operations is already so close to the heart of the Ottoman Empire that anything which would take place in such outside places as Bosnia and Herzegovina could have little effect upon the ultimate result. The Emperor of Russia is reported to have said, in replying to an address, that “ much remained to be done, but he hoped Russia’s mission would be duly accomplished.” This may be taken to mean that the war will be prosecuted till Turkey is so completely crushed that she will be forced to accept any terras which may be dictated by Russia. Already the Porte recognises that the allied Slavs are more than a match for the might of the Osmanli, and is willing to make concessions to secure peace ; but Russia has not listened to the overtures. There is no doubt that the recent Russian successes would induce Turkey to make substantial guarantees for the freedom of the Christian subjects of the Porte. The Emperor Alexander in his manifesto solemnly stated that the only reason which induced the Russian nation to go to war was to protect these Christians. The time has now arrived when substantial guarantees for this object can be exacted from Turkey, yet the war is still prosecuted. It was customary for the Czar and the Russian Press to disclaim any intention of ,an acquisition of territory, but now the tone is completely changed, and the statesmen and the Press of Russia are freely discussing what share of dismembered Turkey Russia shall retain. People may well distrust the motives of a Power which has during the past century annexed territories from the Baltic to the Pacific Ocean, and has made war upon neighboring nations with no other object than territorial aggrandisement. However, the- question’ of most paramount interest is—Will England take part in ; the present struggle. We suppose that will depend greatly on the extent which,Russia will persist in her hereditary policy. From the first the statesmen of the Mother Country made it plain that England reserved to herself the right of defending Constantinople, and resolved that Russia should not hold the keys of the Bosphorus. If Russia makes a step in this direction, the war will assume such dimensions, and the interests at stake will be so large, that the cause of the “ oppressed Christians ” of European Turkey will be lost sight of in the general interests of civilisation.