Eastern Affairs | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 24, 1882

Eastern Affairs.

WE have said but little in regard to the trouble in Egypt, not because there is any less trouble, or any signs of reconciliation, but because so little confidence can be placed in most of the news that is received.

Affairs are growing more and more complicated. There has been some skirmishing between the English and Arabi's troops, but as has been expressed, they are not doing much fighting, but simply "looking at each other very hard." Arabi's position is reported as being very strong, and it will require a strong force to dislodge him.

Turkey, meanwhile, is receding from her position as an ally of England, and has refused to send troops to Egypt. The Sultan promised everything that was asked, and proclaimed Arabi a rebel and ordered him to lay down his arms, but was all the time, doubtless, in sympathy with him. The Sultan's willingness to promise is unlimited, and equaled only by his duplicity.

Russia is also preparing for war, and is only awaiting a time when the attention of the nations shall be called in another direction, to seize on the Turkish possessions.

A St. Petersburg dispatch says: "It is believed at Erzroom, in Armenia, that Russia is about to occupy the whole of Asia Minor to the Bosporous. Owing to the undefended state of this part of Turkey, the Russians could easily do this without much bloodshed."

A dispatch to the Daily Telegraph says: "It is no secret that Russia is concentrating a formidable army in the Caucasus. The army, it is estimated, will number 48,000 men."

This number may be exaggerated, but the fact remains that Russia covets this territory, and means to have it. When she makes the attempt, war may be expected such as Europe has never known before.