THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1880.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3452, 17 January 1880, Page 2

THE Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR O'CLOCK P.M. Resurrexi SATURDAY, JANUARY 17, 1880.

Notwithstanding the assurances of Eussia in reply to Austria that the concentration of troops in Poland was not with a hostile purpose, there*are many reasons for the belief that the whole truth of the intention of the Czar's Government has not been staked. The reason that the withdrawal of the forces from the provinces occupied since the late war necessitated their concentration is a very flimsy one. The fact is Eussia is in a desperate condition, discontent and seditious murmurjngs of her people at home, want of success in Asia, and the knowledge that England is advancing in that quarter of the globe, together with an evident loss of prestige in Europe, : her position is not to be envied. The last manoeuvre of Germany ana Austria, and the position taken up by the latter power in Servia and Herzegovina, calculated as it is to frustrate the further advances of Eussia towards the Dardanelles, seems to have shown the Czar that some decisive measures must be taken. Violent disease require violent remedies, and Eussia by engaging her subjects in a war may succeed in distracting their attention from home concerns. 35,000 troops may also have the effect, it may be thought, of preventing her enemies from advancing further, while if she should determine to have recoarse to violent measures, she would have the advantage of being prepared. But putting aside speculations as to what her intentions are, the following extract from the St. Petersburg Novoye Vremya gives an insight into the popular feeling which, in cases like that under consideration, has a great deal to do with directing the course of events. In an article on the prospects of war, that journal remarks that this is a question' which greatly disturbs all [Russian society. JS either tbe Eussian people nor the Government, it says, wish to go to war, for the bait financial state of the Empire enjoins peace above all things, but every day and every hour its conviction deepens that a great struggle of some kind will probably soon break out. The Western Powers, continues the Novoye Vremya, are very well aware of our peaceful disposition, but there is a limit to our indulgence and forbearance. Eussia will never without war allow England to gain a footing on the Black Sea, to prevent which an alliance with Turkey at the present moment is the only means. The Porte has shown us her sympathy by appointing Mahomed Nedim Pasha as Minister, and as England is now undermining Turkey we must defend her. KTo this end, moreover, Turkey as our ally must eutrust us with the defence of the entrance to the Black Sea and hand us over the keys of the Dardanelles. It would be an enormous fault, never to be pardoned, did we not avail ourselvei^of tbe favourable disposition of the present Ottoman Mmistry."