ABSTRACT
THERE is not much doubt that the Turks on their side calculated that Russia at the last moment would hesitate and draw back. They were doubtless well aware that Russia was faced by grave financial difficulties, that her Finance Minister, Reutern, protested against war to the very last moment and, again, that the reorganisation of the Russian army, undertaken in 1874 under the auspices of Milyutin, was as yet far from complete, and inspired many of the army leaders with doubt and misgivings.
