The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-16

dividing the waters that toward the Black Sea r
Enphrstss to the Persian Gulf /, Is this ride which for
msry paxtsA Armenia from Pontus, that forms the
paritioa Of the two distinct districts where the war u
rocks Il raverssd by very Few roadsthe two principal
Of which those from Trsbsosds and BAtun to Erns
ticn may be cousidsrsd a. nearly impassabs, forcing
both parties TO have distinct corps either side opsr
aTs more or s.s q each other
by number Of rivers and mountain torrents which form
a. many military positions Tor defence Both tbs Rus
slams and Turks have orti6sd posts on Important points
In this generally broken country lths valley Of the
ROM Is the only which form anything like plain,
defensive war might be carried with great success
against superior army las very few positsns are liable
TO be turned the land SIDE on account OF the
ains II not Tor the operation OF the respective
assis acvanciug and In case Of nesi landing troops
upon the flank Of the enemy while the army engages
bm in front. feet might turn all thsss strong posi-
tons enc by ADD neualize not destroy fortihca
tons which, neither side Of the frontier very res
pectabe Thus the of tbs Black Ssa be-
longs to him who is master Of the Sea.
The country in the Interior tina inland side Of the
mountains &C prises the territory II which the Ea
pirates the Araxss and hs kur (Cyrus take the re
The Turkish province OF Armenia is the and the
Russian province OF the other aide OF this from
tier This country, too Is extremely nountainous and
generally to armies. Erzsroum the part
of the Turks Tis on the part OF the RassIsns bs
said TO be tbs t~o Immediate bases OF operations with
the lose of which the OF tho whole neigh boring
country would be inevitably lost Thus the stormiag of
ETzsroum by the Russians decided the Asatc
OF 1922
But what is the immediate basis o, operation for one
party viii be the direct object Of operations TO the other
Thus the roads connecting is and Eszsroum will be the
lire OF operation for both There three roads
by the uper Kur and Akhazkhs the other by the up
per and krivan the third the mdst between
ihse two, across ths mountains by way Of Kars. All
roads guarded either ride by fortified towns
and posts aud IL would be difficult to say which would
be for Turks or Russians most eligible.
Suffice 1t TO that the road by Akhalzkhs Is tbs
which would lead Turkih army most directly upon the
iusursent districts Caucasus and tbs object of the
Russian general would probably the aiyauo0
Of the Turks by corps advancing from BStun up the
valley Of the Tchorokh BY oh Erzsrouu the road
from Batun joins that from Idis, only about fifteen
miles from Efzeroum.
The key to the theatre Of in Asia and either
eide of the hills thsr is Baun and considering this
we'll as its mercisl importance pc need not wonder
al the efforts the Gar has always b.sn making to get
hold Of it, Aud Batnn il the hey OF tho theste OF
nay, OF all Turkey in ASIA because ii commands the
only psssaba road from the coast to the interiors; road
which turns all the Turkish positions in advance OF Erze
roum Ard whichever Of the two fleets in the Black
Ssi drives the other back into its barb5rs that fee.
commands Batun.
Now, it is exceedingly probable that Captain sads
xuschaver Pashs) has only LEFT with division Of steam,
TO support the enter prise OF em Pasta
expect to learn that the eastern Is cleared of
all the obstacles which the Russians hsye taken pleasure
in creating Az the Turks shall have done their
duty, may be certsn that SchamTl will do his as
though abandoned to bis resources, he has, for
twest years successfully batted the most renowned
Russian generals Schamyl born in 1877 His beard
became grsyih at early age but his hair is light and
bis constitution though sPPsrsnty weak has ossn 50
the advantages Of youth He is the frst horseman the
nrst marksman, the Hrst swimmer Of the Caucisus,
though 10 that country able horsemen swimmers and
maIksmen abound But Schamyl is not only an excel
lent general; he is also most able administrator Re
gon s In his hands, Instrument Of rule ayd also
instrument OF moraizaion and pa miotsm Since 1884,
when he succeeded Chas Moah who 6ied ut his side at
the breach Of Hmry, In an engagement with ths Rus
slams, not single set of weakness be alleged against
him. Sober ckasts active comparatively enlightened
he has never employed the power with which he is In
sss Of # s sn TS
ject to destroy the schsm which exists between tho
followers Of An Of Abou Bekr and Omar He has nearly
succeeded In the Caucasus and Of ono hundred tribes
different by origin, traditions, and, to tain degree
by language, he has Termed people ready 70 die for
for operaons AND let him supply ammunition to such
man. and Russia viii feel all the oonquests which
during the last y years she has made BY cunning In
tremble in her hands, and then alp from Thorn alto
gethsr.
SUCCESSES OF THE TURKS IN ASIA.
The Turks have gained further successes In Asia They
have not only defsneed successfully the fort st. Nicholas
but have captured tho foresses Of Usughett and Sou
kumkaleh. The GeoSsans favor the Turks. Two new
regiments Of marine ARTILLERY form ng b employed
kaleh large tress Of the Glass; CON dsrably
to the north west of Redout Kaleh and its capture
shows that the Turkish forces are mailing decided pro-
gress In the exact direction which renders the Russian
frontier in the Caucasus less secure than We
await with anxiety the details which the mall will b ing
Of the taking Of this important stronghold.
Austrian tusrves will not be permitted 10 in Eu
rope but Office has been formed at scutari to enrol
the Bames OF those who wish TO In Asia corps
OF Christian cavalry Ia being formed to be the
mand Of ZaikA, whose dismissal Russia formerly de-
nanded
Letters from Trebzonde Of tn. 9th November e.narm
the previous accounts Of the Tu ksh rather Crcas
sisD, at Tchorog and Shefkat These accounts
state that the Russians had 600 men In the action and
the Ctrc.,sians 20 ooOa msnif,st exaggsration Tho
Of PRICE Gosrel who ha, fallen into the hands Of
the Turks, 10 called the Prince Of Nalschia.
IMPORTANT POSITION OF SERvIA.
From the London Times, Dec. 2
According TO the latest intelligence from visnuA ap-
pears that ServA has demanded OF the Poreths return
Of de MeukhDe the Russian Consul General recently
expelled BY the PAsha Of Belgrade, and this significant
fact alone would thow that the position and future
conduct Of that involve of the
hgheet importance to the questions pending In the
east OF both to the future Of the war;
the security Of Turkey the right bank OF the Danube
and to the neutrality intaryentiQn OF ohAr