Washington sentinel., 1853-12-13

BILE force Of the Russians the only position which
the latter thought fiji to attack. II is also unques-
tionabc that, in measuring their strength against
that OF the enemy, they elibited to say thc teaSt,
no military u,teriOray In The battles at Ohentt-G,
Of lcAich hare yeceiUed accounts, IS pLaiH that
IHrktsh soldiers sh0rea theasefres match for RHs
sian soidiers Whether the last engagement at that
place yielded any different results, or whether any
thing has occurred between Kalafat and Krajovu
10 qualify this conclusion, we have yet to learn.
Thus far however the Ottoman army, il il has
not achieved all the victories ascribed TO il in
telegraphic dispatches. has certainly conducted IL
self with great credit. Nevertheless, If nothing
but the mere concentration and development"
of the Russian army in the princlpalties has
caused this retrograde movement, affairs will be
assuming their original aspect, for the conclusion
must be that Prince Gortschakof's forces though
overmatched for time have in reality proved
superior 10 the forces of Omer Pacha. The latter
commander we were told, could dispose OF $4,000
to 100000 men, and it has been even stated very
recently that something like these numbers were
already in Waachia--an assertion not improba-
Bile, considering that the passage of the Danube
had been secured.
But If this We're the case, why should the Turks
re-cross the river at all points, simply because
Prince Gortschskof showed front of $1,000 men,
between Bucharest and Oltehitza2 The appear
ance of this force, after the previous deficiencies of
the week, is explained by the statement that the
Russian general had drawn some $4,000 men from
the reserves which he had left at Jasay and Bra-
low on entering the principalities and that these
succours, added TO his own 2i000 raised his army
10 the strength which was thought so formidable.
But the Turkish reserves were at least as
and as available as the Russians, not TO mention
the general superiority attributed 10 Omer Pacha,
even ON the left bank of the Danube
II, in short, the Ottoman army in the prncipali-
ties numbered $4,000 or 10000 men-whch is the
smallest strength ascribed to it-why should il re-
the river before the 10000 or 600 troops of
Prince Gortsohalo after rtaining its own quail
tiles so successfully at OltenitZa? Perhaps, how
ever, Omer Pacha intends 10 concentrate his force
for operations in Lesser Walachia, though il is
singular that we have heard little the Turkish
division in these parts. II was represented at first
TO be the main body of the Ottomans: il was the
first 10 the river and establish itself on the
left bank it has not been watched, as far as we
aware, by any but an inferior force of Russians,
and yet il seems TO have remained in a state Of
inacton.
We have addressed these remarks less TO the
immediate prospects of the Waachian campaign
than 10 the far more important question concerning
the relative merits of the Turkish and Russian
arms. The great point which Europe IS now IN
terested in ascertanng is, whether the power OF
the Russian empire has been materially overrated,
or that ofthe Ottoman empire underrated; whether,
in short, any such misconceptions have pre-
vailed as TO effect the views hitherto taken by
European cabinets of politics in the east OF
course, il would as yet, be premature to form any
decisive conclusions. For some days il appeared
if the Russian army in the principalities was
utterly incompetent to sustain the arrogant posi-
ton Of its imperial MASTER but if Prince Gort-
schakof1, before the arrival Of any second army,
and operating with less than Sc, 600 men, has dis
lodged the Turks from the left bank, and prevented
the passage of the river at the only point where he
opposed il, viz, at Gurgevo he may make some
reasonable excuses for his failures in the first week
of the struggle. II yet however. remains TO be
seen what will be done in Lesser Wallachia, and
whether the Turks, who, if they have rccrossed
the Danube have recrossed il Of their own accord,
may not renew between Kalafat and Krajova,
campaign which they commenced so victoriousy.