The Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1852-1853, 1853-11-16
The Theatre Of War in Turkey.
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The Journal des Debates gives an inter.
esting description Of the probable theatre Of
the impending war, and the fortresses which
defend the Turkish bank of the Danube
The line Of this river from Orsoya to the
Black sea has length of more than 200
leagues. Eighteen fortified posts defend the
passages of the river on the right, or Turkish
bank. They are Orsova, Bersa- Palanka,
Forentine, Widdin, Arzal: LON, Zebru- Pal
anka Rahova, Mikopoli, Sistow, Rutscuk,
Turtudai, Silistria, Rasova, Hirchova, Mat.
schinn Isatchi, and Tonltcha. The most
important of these are WiJdin, Rutschuk,
Silistria, Matschinn, Isatcbi, and Toulcha,
net as being great fnrtresses, but because
they observe the mouths of the Danube. -
The Tarks have no fortresses on the left
bank. Formerly, when the Russians have
crossed the Danube, they have encountered
none but lhe natural obstacles of the pas
ssge-Ihe Turks never having been able to
oppose them onils banks; but at the present
moment, powerful army is prepared to lis-
pute with them the passage. In tire of
war, the Russians keep on the Danube, q
flotilla Of gunboats and small vessels, con
structed expressl for the purpose OF carrying
guns of great cli5re. The Tuks have also
hotillas or armed bsrques, which have their
stations in the ports OF the river under the
guns Of THEN furtresses, which are
employed to provision them, and to
all their defence IN case of siege The
course Of the river betWeen Walachia and
Bulgaria, divides itself naturally INTO three
reglons-lhe Upper Danube tlom Orsoya
to Wlddin; the Middle Danube from Wild
din to Rutschub and SilIistria and Lower
Danube from the latter town to the sea-
At Orsova, the channel of the Danube wi.
dens considerably. w.. Here the fortress of Or
Soya rises from an island. 1t is rectangIe
hankedby four bastions, a 10 yauban, con
structed in the seventh century. Five
leagues below, opposite the WaIlachin
town OF. Tchernetz, are the ruins OF Traian's
bridge. The river hele, attuins the width oI
a quarter of league. Lower down are rap
ids, which without intercepling navigation
render 1t difficult. The first important for.
tress which we meet is Wddin, with pop
ulation of2o,0o0. 1t has been the form o
a semicrcle, with the Danube for the diam
eter. 1t is an irregular and prolonged pen
tason, with an encients hanked with radans
and counter-tlanked by five bastions of tol
cradle good construction. II has never beer
occupied by the Russians, who have no.
been accustomed to employ great military
forces Oh the Upper Danube. Nkopol, 4
CONNIE rcaI town. was ruined and entirey
| destroyed by the Russians in 1911. 1t ha.
now from 10000 to $4,000 inhabitants. |
is point of passage which it behooves tn,
Turks well to guard. Thus the enciente o
Nikopoli has been reinstated; and Omel
Pacha at this moment is constructing new
! works there.
The right bank Of the Danube is for tn,
most part higher than the left, which gives
the Turks certain advantage; but there
are intervals where the valley enlarges ant
where the passage is not rendered dltiicul
by the conf 5uration Of the soil. AT these
intervals tortresses have been raj ised, mos
of which are of mediocre construction, bu
are sufficient 10 oppose a first resistance
and to serve asa point d'oppui to a body o
troops employed to Obstruct the passage, OF
to maneuVre on the rear of the enemy
should the passage be accomplished by 4
superior force. 1t is on point O
this character that in descending the Dan
ube we find the town Of Sistow, with pop
ulaton Of 10, 900 inhabitants and an encient,
tianked with towers. This town was des
troyed by the Russians in 1911, but ha'
been rebuilt and the Notifications carefully
reconstructed on a more modern plan, and
| augmented with several outworks. 1t j.
one of the strongest places, on the line of tht
Danube. GIouJewo, which once covered
it on the left bank, has been lost to Turkey
as fertilization, but there is an island il
front Of it where some new works have beer
raised. Turtukai, having opposite to it TIT
Wallachian village Of Oltenilza, is Il point
of passage which the Russians have sever
al times seized, and before which they have
at this moment a numerous cantonment.-
The town, which has 5000 inhabitants. i:
closed with an entente like all tie small
towns of Turkey. Its military importance
is considerable, for the ground presents ne
obstacle to tie establishment of bridges o
| boats, and the town occupies the head OF
route which leads into the interior of Bull
garla by RasgrAd. Omer PAcha has care
| fully fortified rurtukai with the aid OF Eu
ropean engineers, who are now tolerably
numerous in the Turkish army. SiIist-ia It
one Of the best fortiications on the Danube
| Notwithstanding imperfeetlonS which n,
| longer exist, the Russians had great diff
Guilty in obtaining POSSESSION Of II in 1922
General Diebtsch, although master of Var
na dared not undertake the march to A drl
anoplt before having taken Sllistrta; cir
cumstance which atrongIy demonstrates tn
utility to Turkey Of the fortresses on tn
line of the Danube; they have always hel,
the Russians in check for twelve or four
teen months. We may remark, en- passan
that fortresses have never-hindered an ar
my from crossing river. The kline ha
been crossed whenever it has been foun,
necessary, Notwithstanding that i was de
tended by fortresses stronger than those 0
the Danube. In each of their wars on tn
latter river the Russians have been able +
cross easily; but with warlike people lik
the Turks, allof whom are accustomed t
bear arms, it is dangerous to penetrate f.
into the country having fortified towns Ii
the rear. 1t was on this account that tn
Russians in 1928 were obliged to lay sieg
to three places befory they could carry :hei
operations further into the country.
But to return to the Lower Danube; it
breadth .augmeats and its rapidly diminish
res, but it preserves speed Of q league Al