The New York herald., 1876-07-24
THE TURKISH STRUGGLE.
A Plaus bic Theory Regarding
Tchernayeff's Movements.
THE FIGHT AT SAITSCHAR.
Operations of the Montenegrins
in Herzegovina.
THE FIGHT AT SAITSCHAR.
WHY G7EECE DOES NOT McVE.


nayer still shrouded in obscury Nothing has been
supposition OF his movements gwen this morning in
a special telegram. General Tchernayen, says this
authority, attacked the enemy simultaneously on the
Save and the Drna to the north on the artihcia
boundary, and the Drina toward the south on the
Morara and the Timok the east all this for the pur
pose OF disgusting his scheme of junction with the
Montcnegrins the south II is true II he had sue
ceeded ne would have raised all Bosnia and Bulgaria,
struck out IN the direction OF Sophia and
beyond, and cut and covered the road from Con-
stantnople TO Belgrade He whould have protected
Belgrade the side of the Danube by the guns of
semendria and had he been successful the side OF
Bejna he would also have guarded the Save Under
these conditions Servia would not have been far OF
from victory IT, however, is positively true as is
perssteniy affirmed this evening that the Turks have
captured Saitschar and holding It the prospects
OF the campaign for tho Servians are seriously i'm
perilled. Satschar is stratcgically
A REAL KEY POSITION
The Turks command from 1t at once tho Timok to
the east Wddin and Pslanka and Nissa, OF Nsch, to
the south The capture OF Saitschar quite explains all
the disquietng rumors respecting Tchcrnayen. With
giving himself time to beslege Nisch, which would
have required dangerous expenditure OF time, Tcher
naye that and pushed toward Sophia, but
Bclna their unquestionab defeat at Yavor, on the
south, and near Schemitza, suddenly stopped his ad
vauce He remained stationary for some days to see
whether the Servians in these two directions would
from their reverses. 1t was during this inter
val that there OF him. Unfortunately Tor
him the Turks did not remain idle while he was thus
waiting for successes which did not happen. They sd-
vanced in force and established themselves at Sascnar,
their corps darmee at Sophia and wddin effected a
forward movement, and thus not only endangered the
Servians' positions but threatened them
1t was then that Tchernayen to prevent
his retreat being cut Off mado forced march back,
pursued By Osman Pacha and by Abdul Kerm, and
harassed and menaced bv the Nisch troops This sit
uation appeared dangerous enough, for the Princes
headquarters moved back TO the triangular basis
which, the very centre Of Serva ITSELF protects the
Morava and its western branch OF the same name 1t
seems impossible TO explain otherwise
TIM CONFLICTING REPORTS
which have been, and still are, current to Tcherna-
yoG his forward movements bis signal defeats and his
not less signal victories He made bold advance
which stopped by serious defeats the north and
SOUTH and has made precpitae and harassed retreat
which is exactly defeat but resembles good
deal
Belgrade is anxiously awaiting TchernayeEs move
ments. HIS army consists of threc divisions, about
40 900 men, and II he does accomplish an ything
little may be expected from the other Scrvan columns
may be urged that II Tchernayed has not made any
progress neither have his immediate opponents It is
evident however, that the Turks acting wisely
delaying advance from NIsch trying TO retain
TcnernayoG in the vicinity OF that town. Tor large
iorcemsnts are daily expected, and when they arrive
the Turks will doubt, make vigorous attack on
the Servian position the lower Timok which, If
cessul, viii grsveIy compromise the safety of Tchcr.
nayen. Indeed, the key OF the extended semcircuar
position OF the Servans clearly Saschar That taken
a marcn on detencelcss Belgrade would be compare.
lively easy.
The Standard thus summarizes the events on the
Tmok "a Belgt ade te egram Of special
correspondents dated yesterday asserts that Osman
Pacha who has AZ Wddlu L. 900 men, was on wcdnes.
DAY drawn into
Az ATTACK OK sAIrscHAR.
held by Leschanin with DIVISION ofsay 10 900 men,
contest ensued anu after tive hours fighting
the Turks reported TO have abandoned their at.
tempt The scrvian commander at Satschar is said 10
have received large reinforcemens. bringing up his
force $4,000 men, but We may doubt their
value, for learn that the third class reserve con-
sIstng Of old men, only sent into the field the last
emergency, has been called out Many OF these gray
boards have 1t Is reported, refused accept the offer
TO come and be killed At all events they are ut-
terly without organization, drill and uniform
On the other hand Vienna telegram of
Wednesday informs us that five battalions
OF Asatic troops have been landed widdin and we
learn from another that Egyptians are on
their way to JOIN Osman Pacha at the same place All
this looks as II the plan OF Turks was 10 collect
large force at Widdn for the purpose OF fighting de-
csve battle on the Tmok and thus turning the Ser
vians left flank, cutting OF the servan centre and
-
my great achieved by Tchern aye would battle
this project and Berlin telegram Of "Wednesday an
nounces tnat serious engagement favorable to the
Scrvians, has been fought the road between Nsch
and Sofia but Turkish makes no mention OF such
a victory.
Thus matters stand to-day as undecided as week
ago II is thought no general movement will be made
by the Turks until the end OF the month In the mean.
time the Turkish forces are growing daily larger while
tho Servan forces do not increase. The correspond
ents on the scrvian side have much hopc for the in.
surgents From Constants nope We have no trustwor.
thy news
$50 far httle has been heard from Prince Nikita with
his Montencgrins and Herzsgovnans since the issue
OF his welworded and patriotic procla nation to the
latter people. The Princes army consists of 10 900
Montencgrins, 5000 Herzcgovinans and 900 voun-
teers strong detachment Of this force remains
near Podsovitxa, occasionally engaged in skrmshng
with the Turks, while the bulk o. the Montcnsgrins
are attempting the conquest OF Herzegovina Accord
ing to the latest accounts body 600 Montenesrirs
and insurgents have occupied without resistance tho
heights above Kick the Adriatic port OF Herzegovina
BY holding this position the Turks would have been
prevented from sending reniorcemcnts and supplies
into Herzegovina, even had not the Austrian govern
ment closed that port and whole district lying be-
tweenthe seat OF war and the The effect OF this
10 that the transport Of Turkish troops and munitions
by soa must cease and the only road remaining to the
Turks to the two threatened provinces OF Herzegovina
and Bosnia is that which passes between
tho scrvan frontier and Montenegro. Prince
NIkiia, with the main body OF his army, Is SAID
TO be advancing with the intention of isola,ins
Hossr Should he succeed the temporary loss to tho
Turks of herzegovina is imminent These operations,