New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-06-26

e
emit conqu,sts. until either Austria joins her
circumstance disabcs or draws away her most form-
dsble opponent, the Anglo French army. defen-
iyo war presupposes system of field, or, ifpossbe.
Of permanent. fortifcsticns Now. Sistra being in
The bands Of the enemy, the Russians have no perma-
nnt fortified hand but the small forts of the
Dobrodja, which viii be entirely useless as soon As
Wsllacba is lost. They may have reconstructed
some Of the Notifications Of Ibra and Rustchuk and
formed an entrencled camp at Bucharest but long
rs sistria il not theirs their first line OF serious de-
tense lies rs far back the seeth, Fokshani Gaatch
and Ifmail.
But suppose sistria in the hands of the Russians,
the aspect of the war changes at silistria is
,plepdd point for Russian bridge-head on the Dan
ube II is situated in reeItering angle formed by
bend in the Danube Just the situation best fitted for
the purpose There is large Island to the north and
west which is crossed by the dyke to kalarash, and
which commands the plains west of the fortress, at
distance of 1900 yardsquite near enough to enhlade
trenches or to shell columns. There are two little
Islands TO the east that sweep the eastern approach
and temporary batteries erected there at low water
would annoy beseger very materially. Thus part
of the ground which the Turks. attacked from the
north cannot use in the defense and must therefore
abandon to the enemy would give the Russians excel
lent posions for batteries thanking attack coming
from the south. The front open to an attack would
thus be confined to the base Of the triangle, at the
arex of which Sistria is situated or in other words
10 lis southern or land front: and Turkish or allied
army could not think Of seriously attacking Sillstra
before Wnllachia at least, was taken from the Rus
SLAMS.
The main advantages, however, would be not so
much of a tactical as of strategica nature. With
the Dobroda ard Silistria, Russia commands the
Danube and can according TO circumstances debouch
for momentary offensive action either from IraJans
Wall, or from Sstra. The enemy would not be able
unless he were twice as strong the Russians to cross
at any point higher up without exposing shumla AS
to his crossing lower down than Slstra it is out of
the question; there is no crossing point nearer than
IIirsoya to reach which he must first take
the position of Kara-su and then lilrsova
itself which is as strong against an attack
from the land side it is weak against one from the
river side Thus by the possession of siistria' the
forts Of the Dobrodja become of great Importance to
the Russians. Their army obtains double pivot
around which it can freely maneuver without exposing
its communications, and even if superiority OF two
to ore should enable the enemy to cross at Otenitza
or GiurgevO to take Bucharest and to repe the kus-
sisns behind the Jaomitza, the siege OF Sillstrla
would be an indispensable operation before any deci
sve advance into Bessaraba could be considered SAFE
Until Silistra had actually fallen, the Russians, there
fore might consider themselves as possessors OF Wal
lachia even if they had not soldier in that province
Silistria in a word would be equivalent, to Russia
! 10 six months tenure of Waachia and six months,
bringing us to the winter when no scges can be car
red on at all in that country would be equivalent to
four months more Sistria would be the winning, and
repuse from Sistra would almost be the loss, OF the
campaign.
For once then in spite of diplomacy bribery cow
ardice and irresolution come through the in
berent necessities Of the war, to decisive turning
roint. Either Ssira is abandoned to its fate and
then its fall is matter of more than mathematical
certainty; or the allies advance to its relief and then
there will be decisive battle; for without demora-
ling their army and losing all their prestige the Rus
slams cannot retreat from before Sstria without
fighting. nor DO they appear willing to do So
Silistrin has undergone more varied fates than any
other fortress In l-l0 the Russians took 1t after
nine DAYS investment and five of serious attack. In
1873 the fortress being exactly in the same state as
before they invested it the 2st of June with their
land forces and on the 10th of August with thirySx
em.boats also But their sege-artery did not ar
rive till September, and then there was no ammun
ton with IT, so that regular attack could not be
made On the Il tn of November they had to raise
the siege the winter having set in, and the Danube
having begun to drift ice. The retreat of the dlsor
canized and disheartened Russians was followed up
most vigorously by the garrison part OF the Russian
sece.artery had been left i'll the batteries and the
remainder was taken by the Turks in the pursuit to-
ward Rassova. In the next year Dlebtch renewed
the attack invested the fortress the 9TH May by
driving the Turks out of the lines and redoubts con-
sruced by the Russians the year before, and opened
fire from thirtyone heavy guns placed, it would
seem without any preparation. elevation about
go wards from the town. On the Goth, dismountlng
batteries were opened at about GU yards from the
wall. AT the same time the second parallel was
opened: the third was opened the 4th of June and
on the 18th the advance toward the GROWING OF the
elacis wss begun The gacis crowned Mt one point
on the l1th but this operation completed on the
Goth only when FIVE batteries were opened at the
very edge Of the ditch, thirty yards from the main
wall At the same time Gen. Schilder, the same
who now directs the engineering part OF toe siege,
had carried on his fav0rite extensive mining opera
tous Large mines laid under the counterscarp and
the main wall had been sprung the DIST, DETECTING
AT once practicable breacl the 18th, 9th, 18th
and 2gh when at ast the fortress surrendered Even
then there appears to have been any urgent neces
sty for surrender the terror produced by the
subtsrranesn explosions among supcrstitioUs and
! snl1erv behind m, whole attacked front