The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-01 00:00:00

PROGRESS OF THE WAR.

The Commanders-in-Chief of the allied forces in
Turkey, Marshal St. Arnaud and Lord Raglan, accom-
panied by the Seraskier or Minister of War of the
Porte, proceeded in separate steam-vessels, on the 18th
of May, from Constantinople to Varna, to hold a Coun-
cil of War, and to determine the operations of the cam-
paign. According to some accounts it was expected
that Admirals Hamelin and Duudas would also attend
this meeting; but at any rate, it is known that the
French and English Generals have had an interview
with Omar Pasha, the result of which was highly satis-
factory to the chiefs of the allied armies, and probably
equally so to the Turkish General. We may presume,
therefore that the next operations of the troops have
been discussed and determined with that particular
knowledge of the resources of the Turkish army and of
the nature of the country which Omar Pasha possesses,
while Marshal St. Arnaud and Lord Raglan have con-
sidered the subject with the science and judgment of their
respective staffs. This conference must have taken place
at the very time when the Russians under Prince Pas-
kiewitsch were directing their fiercest attacks against the
fortress of Silistria, and, conseque'itly, the principal
officers of the allied army were in the best position to
decide on the measur, s which might be taken for the
relief of that place. Their determination appears to have
been, that it is not expedient to expose the Turkish
army to th, risk of a general action for the sake of repel-
ling the attack of the Russians on the fortresses which
cover the right bank of the Danube. Neither is it sup-
posed to be their intention to throw any considerable por-
tion of the allied armies on the coast, so as to come into
immediate collision with the present advanced posts
of the Russians. If we are right in conjecturing that
the operations contemplated are of a different nature,
although they may disappoint the natural impatience of
the public, we can only hope that experience will show
that the decision of the French and English commanders
is based on sufficient grounds.
It is said that the Turkish fortresses on the Danube
are capable of very considerable resistance, and that the
Russians at the outset of the campaign are losing pro-
digious numbers of men in attacking them. The
attempt to carry Silistria by a coup de main not
having succeeded, if the siege is to be opened by
regular approaches the operation is not likely to be a
short one. The place is well garrisoned, well commanded,
and, according to the last accounts, completely prepared
for a siege of some duration ; we venture, therefore, to
speak of the probability of its resistance with more con-
fidence than we felt some days back. Rustchuk and
Rassova, above and below Silistria, are in the hands of
the Turks ; and, although they would probably not
hold out very long after the fall of the greater
fortress, they have not yet been regularly at-
tacked. But, though we do not underrate the import-
ance of these positions, and we know that their garri-
sons are rendering incalculable services to the common
cause by their resistance to the enemy, these fortified
places are in reality the outworks of the Turkish posi-
tion, and do not constitute its principal strength.
Bulgaria is defended by the line of the river, and by
the line of the Balkan ; but the latter is the real bul-
wark of the Ottoman empire, and it can profit the
Russians nothing to carry the outer line of circumval-
lation with a heavy loss, if fresh obstacles of incal-
culably greater magnitude rise up before them as they
proceed. The further they advance within this region
north of the Balkan, the worse their position becomes.
The bulk of their army is exposed to the pestilential
marshes of the Danube during the heats of summer, while
the allied forces occupy the heights. At this season of
the year abundant pasturage may be found for the horses
and oxen of the army, but in a few weeks hence it will
be consumed and burnt up. The invading army ex-
hausts its strength against the fortified places on the
river and the scattered detachments of the enemy ; but,
in the meantime, the forces in defence of the main posi-
tion remain comparatively fresh and unbroken. Be-
hind the lines of the Balkan a European army is pre-
paring to advance at the proper time with irresistible
force, and the concluding months of the campaign ought
to effect the annihilation of the enemy. If such be the
plan of the allied Generals, they would, in fact, apply to
the strategical arrangements of the campaign the same
principle which regulates the tactics of a great battle—
to hold the defensive in an advantageous position as long
as possible, and then at the turn of the day to assume
the offensive and route the assailants. We speak, of
course, hypothetically, for, whatever be the plan formed
in Varna or Shumla, it can only be known by its results
But we are confirmed in the opinion 'we have hinted at
by the fact that a very considerable portion of the ex-
peditionary force remains at Gallipoli, whence it will
probably advance by way of Adrianople to the rear of
the Balkan, a distance not exceeding 160 miles ; while
the troops already at Constantinople may proceed by
sea either to Bourgas Bay or to Varna. The last intel-
ligence received from Constantinople, and dated the 22d
of May, expressly states that Adrianople is to become
the head-quarters of the allied armies ; and this decision
concurs with the information which had reached us as to
the general plan of campaign.
The conduct of great operations of war differs
so materially from the mere impulse of fighting,
and ultimate success in these achievements depends
so much on a strict adherence to the principles
of the art of warfare, that we cannot too strongly urge
upon our readers and the public to suspend their judgment
upon movements and occurrences of this nature, which
must in the tirst instance be very imperfectly under-
stood by the lookers-on. No one would presume to de-
cide on so much as a game at chess by the first moves ;
but in the great and terrible game on which the eyes and
mind of Europe are now intent, we all know that the
honour, security, and welfare of the mightiest empires
are at stake, and that the interests we have so deeply at
heart will best be served by confidence in the generals
upon whom this enormous responsibility has been laid.
To commence a contest of this serious kind by rushing
at the enemy where he is strongest and best able to de-
fend himself, and before our own resources are perfectly
collected and prepared for action, may be an act of fool-
hardy valour ; but it would indicate a total want of
that judgment which is the most essential condition of
success. The question is not how the allied generals
will begin this war, but how and where they will end it ;
not where they are to make their first push against the
Russian battalions, but how they are to conduct their
operations to the eventual destruction of the enemy's
power in the field ; and we have no doubt that the mea-
sures they have determined upon are those best calcu-
lated in their judgment to secure that object, and to
win for themselves, for their troops, and for the country
the prizes of successful war.—Times.