"Roumania must now maintain its vitality by the development of its independence, and prove practically to the Powers that it has become an essential member of the European States.
"I have followed the successes of your brave troops with undiminished attention. Their organisation has justified itself, the spirit of the officers is the result of your training. Their achievements have everywhere been such as one could hardly expect from veteran troops. This attainment of an object persistently pursued must be the highest reward for your self-sacrificing efforts, and is at the same time a triumph over the public opinion of Europe, which has never had much sympathy with the Roumanian State and its army.
"At the present it is impossible to foresee what will happen after the fall of Plevna. I do not believe in the prophecies of the Press regarding an expected peace, for Russia cannot possibly content herself with the result of Plevna. She must set right the mistaken beginning of the whole campaign against Turkey, which rested upon false calculations and disparagement of the enemy. These events, however, have been fortunate for Roumania, for the insufficiency of the Russian means of war was the very reason why the support of the Roumanian army became a necessity. It seems almost the work of Providence that such tasks and efforts in the theatre of war should have fallen to the lot of the Roumanians as to place them on a footing of equality in the eyes of Russia and Europe....
"As soon as the military difficulties have been conquered, political troubles will accumulate to a still greater degree. The Triple Alliance must now prove its strength, for, if it is firmly united, the decision of European affairs will lie in its hands alone...."
Princess Elisabeth awaited her husband, from whom she had been separated for four long and anxious months, at Titu, from whence they reached Bucharest at one o'clock. The whole population of the capital turned out to do honour to their ruler, who had shared their dangers and their troubles, and who had achieved the independence of his adopted country sword in hand.
The day closed with a magnificent torchlight procession under the windows of the palace, after which Prince Charles and his wife drove through the brilliantly illuminated streets.
Whilst Prince Charles had been manfully engaged in the field, the Princess had made it her special care to look after "her" wounded, as she termed them, and it was therefore with a special pleasure that the Prince learnt that the merciful efforts of his wife had been recognised and appreciated by the Czarina, who sent a special messenger to Princess Elisabeth with the Order of St. Catherine in brilliants, on the occasion of her birthday (December 29).
A telegram from the Turkish Minister of War, Reuf Pacha, addressed to the Grand Duke Nicholas at Bucharest, informed the Russian Commander that the Porte had empowered Mehemed Ali to negotiate an armistice. Although Prince Charles thought that the Russians would hardly desist from their victorious advance, he nevertheless telegraphed to the Grand Duke, requesting that Roumania should participate in the negotiations with which her interests were so closely connected. Colonel Arion was sent to the Russian headquarters to act on behalf of the Prince in the approaching negotiations for an armistice. His instructions were, briefly, to obtain—
(1) The occupation of the Danubian fortresses by Roumanian troops until the conclusion of peace.
(2) The recognition of Roumania's independence.
(3) The dismantling of the Turkish fortresses on the Danube from Adakaleh in the west to the mouth of the river.
(4) The transfer to Roumania of all the mouths of the Danube.
(5) A war indemnity of 100,000,000 francs and the occupation of Nikopoli, Rahova, Lom-Palanka, and Widin until payment in full.