1-150-782 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'Trial by Battle', 1877. In this battle, Russia is on the right clad in the skin of the Russian Bear, and Turkey, having cast off its sheep's clothing to reveal the skin of the wolf, is on the left. In April 1877, Russia declared war against Turkey and, within hours, 50,000 troops entered Romanian territory. This was because, on the 16th April, Russia had entered into a convention with the Romanian government under the terms of which Romania guaranteed the Russians free passage in return for Russia's guaranteeing to protect the integrity of Romania. From Punch, or the London Charivari, May 5, 1877.