NEWS OF THE WEEK.
Tab apparent lull still continues. No effort to cross the Danube has yet been made, and though attempts to storm Kars are reported from Asia, no trfistworthy information of the result has yet arrived. At Constantinople on Thursday the Government did not claim a victory. The water in the Danube, however, is sinking, and an impression prevails in well-informed quarters that the attempt to effect a passage will be made next week. During the past one, every day has produced its crop of telegrams, usually about unimportant artillery duels across the river, but it is re- markable how little important news reaches Western Europe. The newspapers this time have been very unsuccessful. The Russian Government, though allowing correspondents in camp, has managed to convince them that their business is not publicity ; and the Turks, though they do not control the correspondents, refuse to forward any unpleasing tele- grams. Nor is there anything wonderful in the precau- tions taken. In a slow war like this, a correspondent who speaks out gives the enemy information, and this very week at least two letters have been published which, if their contents are accurate, will be of high value to the enemies of the Power to which the correspondents are accredited. The state of affairs in Constantinople, too, induces the Government to invent telegrams, while, in one instance at least, alarmist bulletins reporting Turkish disasters are forwarded in the hope of inducing the British Government to interfere. It is only, however, during the period of preparation that the public will be thus baffled. The moment great events occur they will be reported by a hundred pens, for the correspondents have at all events arrived.
