THE EVENING MAIL. MONDAY, MAY 21, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 335, 21 May 1877, Page 2

THE EVENING MAIL.

MONDAY, MAY 21, 1877.

Words are things, and a drop of ink falling 1 upon a thought may produce that which makes thousands think."

The war news brought by the San Francisco mail, although but meagre and dating only to the 25th April, contains just sufficient to show pretty clearly the state of the opposing armies. From the information to hand it will be seen that both Russia and Turkey have large armies in the field, and that great enthusiasm prevails amongst both armies. The Turks, I however, are in a bad state, for not only are they badly fed and in arrears of pay to the extent of nearly three years, but they are also suffering from dysentery. These facts must all tell eventually against their prospects in fighting great battles. Hl-fed and suffering from a weakening complaint, they cannot be fit to fight as well as they otherwise would do. Never, perhaps, was Turkey in greater want of the sinews of war—money. She must indeed be badly off in this respect, seeing that the Grand Yizier has declared that he did not know how how anybody could be paid now, even in paper, as there was barely enough money

to provide the army with flour and rice. Unless the nation procures money from somewhere, she must unquestionably fail to carry the war to a successful issue. It is probable, however, that in the matter of money she will obtain assistance from England, the only source from which she is at all likely to get funds to enable her to carry on the struggle. With money at her command, Turkey seems to be in a position to uphold the integrity of the Empire against the attacks of the Russians, for there can be no doubt that so far as preparations for the war are concerned, the followers of Islam are in a better position than they have ever been before. That they can fight, and are determined to fight, has been sufficiently proved by the results of the battles which have already been briefly recorded by cablegrams. The Russians have already discovered that they cannot take all before them in so easy a manner as was anticipated at the beginning of the campaign. The great power of Russia, backed as it is by vast resources, it was thought would meet with but feeble opposition from the Turks, who, it was expected, would be crushed by the immense army which the Muscovite nation would bring against them. The march of the Russian forces has not been characterised by that succession of triumphs which it was believed would be achieved without great difficulty. Repulses, and not conquests, have met them at almost every place where they have entered upon straggles of life and death with the Turks Judging by the telegrams received by th mail, Russia appears to be awakening t the fact that she has taken in hand 11 mean task. Already she is endeavourini to conciliate other nations, no doub with the view of obtaining their as sistance in the prosecution of the pro fessed holy warfare which she has en tered upon. To what extent other power are likely to aid her remains yet to b seen. On the other hand, it would seen that other nations are prepared to throv in their lots with the Turks. The Greel Government, according to the correspon dent of the Daily News, has given order; for an army of 60,000 men to be in readi ness for active service, the public feel ins; being intensely anti-Russian. Austria too, is said to be well prepared for war while a special to the Standard assert! that it is impossible for either Hungary or Austria to remain neutral, and tha" both are anxious to form an alliance witl: England against Russia. Germany, too. would seem to be making preparations preliminary to taking some part in tin conflict. What side she would be likelj to favour is not made clear, but we fancj she would scarcely be found willing to aid in the acquirement of further power tc Russia, unless, indeed, it could be shown that, by so doing, she could also extend her own territory and render herself even more powerful than she already is. These are things which time alone can make clear. Brief as the news received by the mail is, it contains sufficient to show that there is no prospect of the war being confined to the present belligerents. Everything seems to point to the probability of the conflict becoming general, and to the prospect of Europe witnessing one of the greatest and most bloody struggles that has ever marked her history.