THE EVENING MAIL. SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1877.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 346, 2 June 1877, Page 2

THE EVENING MAIL. SATURDAY, JUNE 2, 1877.

Cablegrams from Europe are gradually leading the outside world into a maze of wonderment at the course events are likely to take. At one moment peace seems probable, at another war—and that universal—appears imminent. The cablegram, the subject of yesterday's extra, and published in last evening's issue, rendered the horizon blacker than ever, and scarcely a glimmer of light could be discerned to buoy up our hopes that a general warfare might yet be averted. The rumoured withdrawal of the Russian ambassadors from the Courts, of Berlin, Austria, and England, seemed indicative of evil, and the ordering of the German Squadron to the Levant still further complicated the skein that had hitherto baffled the attempts of the most careful observer to disentangle. Every opinion could, after all, be only conjecture, and the probabilities were almost as great on the side of peace as of a general European war. Little by little, however, light is being cast upon the warlike proceedings on the Continent, and the actions of nations that have up to the present been hier.-'h-phical are beginning to be decip" .able. The cablegram received later yesterday afternoon, and also published in last evening's issue, strikes at the foundations of the pre. conceived ideas of even those who, from having studied the question, with care,

nun it xiyiiu lu consider meruseives war wise. Germany is not, after all, anxious to mingle the blood of her nation with that of Russia and Turkey ; at least, so it now appears. A semi-official organ—and it is not unusual for governments to make these the media of publishing their intentions—"lays stress upon the necessity of the neutrality of Germany, and exhorts Germany to secure the peace of Europe "; and that model of diplomatists, Prince Bismarck, would never have entertained the idea of resigning his position, did he not feel that Germany would not be necessitated to engage in the struggle. Even Russia seems to have sickened at the prospect of raising the ire of the British lion, for the Le Nord asserts that " Russia will neither assail nor interfere with British interests." It becomes a question whether or not we should yet congratulate ourselves at the rosy hue events are assuming, seeing that experience teaches us that to-morrcw we may be the recipients of news far more horrifying than any that has yet come to hand. In the meantime, Russia and Turkey appear to be prosecuting the struggle with unabated fury, and Widdin and Kalafat will have a tale to tell that will satisfy the most ardent lover of sensationalism. We now believe that a general rupture will be averted, and to believe otherwise would be equal to challenging the opinions, as to the circumscribing of the struggle, of others who should know the ropes better |

than we cin possibly do at this distance by the aid of meagre and contradictory cablegrams.