The Power whose movements are now the chief subject of
specn- lative news, is Russia. We are told that she will not allow the pre- cedent of an annexation of provinces of German race to Germany, as the same precedent may be followed with her own Baltic pro- vinces; and, in evidence of her intention to interfere on behalf of France, it is telegraphed that the Russian garrisons in Poland and Volhynia are being reinforced, that a military commission has been appointed at St. Petersburg to create a medical reserve force of 1,000 surgeons, and that seven divisions of infantry have been sent to Kieff to line the Galician frontier,—which last looks more like distrust of Austria than jealousy of Prussia. Again, a tele- gram comes from Berlin that "the Russian Government intends to retake possession of the Black Sea, and that a war is probable between Russia and Turkey." This seems a more reasonable explanation of any such preparations as there may be. France, Russia might think, cannot enforce, and a Gladstone Ministry would be by no means likely to enforce, the treaty of 1856 against Russia ; and North Germany would not care to interfere with Russian encroachments on that side. Austria would be the only power at all likely to take alarm, and against Austria accordingly Russia would be on her guard. The Czar and the official Russian organs have all been anxiously polite to North Germany. The Czar has decorated the Crown Prince of Saxony with the military order of St. George of the second class, and congratulated him on his achievements, and the Journal of St. Petersburg declares that France ought not for a moment to oppose the demolition of her border fortresses. It is not improbable that the Czar thinks it an opportune moment to follow the example of Italy in going to Rome,—and go, if he can, to Constantinople.
