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


nayen are still shrouded in obscurlty. Nothing has been
heard from him for some days past very plausible
supposton OF his movements is gwen this morning in
a special telegram Genera Tchcrnayen, says this
authority, attacked the enemy simultaneously on the
Save and the Drna to the north on the arthcial
boundary and on the Drna toward the south on The
Morara and the Tnok the east, all this for the pur
pose OF disgusting his scheme OF junction with the
Montcnegrins on the south. II true he had
ceeded he would have raised all Bosnia and Bulgaria,
struck the direction of Sophia and
even beyond and cut and covered the road from Con-
stantinople to Belgrade. He whould have protected
Belgrade the side of the Danube by the guns OF
semcndria, and had he been successful tho side Of
BeljIna he would also have guarded the Save. Under
these conditions servia would not havo been far or
from victory. IT, however, it is positively true, as is
persisentiy affirmed this evening that the Turks have
captured Satschar and are holding 1t the prospects
oil the campaign for tho Servians arc seriously i'm
periled Saitschar is stratcgically
KEY rHx
The Turks command from 1t at once tho Timok to
the east, Widdin and Paanka and Nssa or Nlsch to
south The capture OF Saischar quite explains all
the dsquleting rumors respecting Tchcrnayen With
out giving himself time to besege Nisch, which would
have required gerous expenditure OF time Tcher
naye turned pushed toward SOPHIA but
Bcna their unquestonablc defeat at Yavor on the
south, and near SchemiiZa, suddenly stopped his ad
vaucc Hs remained stationary for some days to see
whether the Servians in these two directions would
recover from their 1t during this inter-
val that there nows OF him. Unfortunately Tor
him the Turks did not remain idle while he was thus
waiting for successes which did not happen. They ad-
vanced and established themselves Saitscnar
their corps darmee at Sophia and widdin effected
forward movement and thus not only endangered the
Servians' positions but threatened TO turn them
1t was then that Tchernayen, to prevent
his being cut OF, made forced march back,
pursued by osman Pacha and by Abdul Ker.m, and
harassed and menaced bv the Nisch troops. This sit
uaton 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 name. 1t
impossible 10 explain otherwise
rHx CONFLICTING REPORTS
which have BEEN still are, current Tcherna
yen his forward movements, bis signal defeats and his
not less signal victories He made a bold advance
which stopped by serious defeats the north and
south, and has made precpitate and harassed retreat
which is exactly defeat but resembles 1t a good
deal
Belgrade is anxiously awaiting Tchernayefrs move
ments HIS army consists of three divisions, about
40, 900 mon, and If he does accomplish ything
little may be expected from the other Servian columns
1t may DO urged that If Tchernaye has made any
progress neither have his immediate opponents II is
evident however, that the Turks acting wisely in
delaying an advance from Nsch and trying to retain
Tcnernayo in the vicinity OF that town, Tor large
iorcemeuts daily expected, and when they arrive
the Turks Will, no doubt, mako vigorous attack on
the Servian position the lower Tmok which, If sue
cessu will gravely compromise the safety of Tchcr-
naye Indeed, the key OF the extended semlcircuiar
position of the Servans clearly Saschar That taken
a marcn on deiencelcss Belgrade would be compare
lively easy
The Standard TINS summarizes the events on the
Tlmok "A Belgi ade telegram rom Of special
correspondents dated yesterday asserts that osman
Pacha who has at widdiu L. 900 men, was on wednes.
DAY drawn into
An ATTACK OK sArrsCHAR,
held by Leschanin with sion say 10 900 men,
contest ensued. and after tive hours 0ghting
the Turks are reported to have abandoned their at.
tempt The servan commander at Saitschar is said 10
have received large reinforcements. bringing up his
force TO $4,000 men, but may doubt their
value for learn that the third class reserve con-
ssting of old men, only into the field on 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 Asiatc troops have been landed at wddin and we
learn from another that $500 Egyptians are on
their way TO JOIN 0sman Paoha the same place All
this looks as II the plan OF the Turks was to collect
large force at wddin for the purpose OF fighting de-
csivo battle the Timok and thus turning the Ser
vians left flank, cutting OF the servian centre and
taking the scrvian right wing in reverse or course
any great success achieved by Tchern aye would battle
this project, and Berlin telegram Of Wednesday an
nounces tDat serious engagement, favorable to the
servians, has been fought the road between Nsch
and Sofia, but Turkish news makes mention OF such
a victory.
Thus matters stand to-day as undecided as week
ago II is thought no general IN movement will be made
by the Turks until the end o, the month In the mean.
time the Turkish forces are growing daily larger while
the Servan forces do not increase The correspond
cnts on the scrvan side have much hope for The in.
surgenis From Constant nople have no trustwor-
thy news.
80 far kttle has been heard from Prince Nkisa with
his Montencgrins and Herzsgovnaps since the issue
OF his welworded and patriotic proclama to the
latter people. The Princes army consists OF 10 900
Montencgrins, 5000 Herzcgovinans and 5000 voun-
teers strong detachment of this force remains
uear rouso''A', occasionaily engaged III skrmShing
with the Turks. while the bulk OF the Montensgrins
are attempting the conquest OF Herzegovina Accord
Ing TO the latest accounts body OF 600 Montenesrirs
and insurgents have occupied without resistance the
heights above Kick the Adriatc port OF Herzegovina
By holding this position the Turks would have been
prevented from sending rcinorcemcns and supplies
isio herzesovina, even had The Austrian govern
ment closed that port and the whole district lying be-
tween the seat OF and the Tho effect Of this
Is that the transport OF Turkish troops and munitions
BY sea must cease and the only road remaining to the
Turks TO the two threatened provinces Of Herzegovina
and Bosnia is that which passes between
the servan frontier and Montenegro. Prince
Nikita with the main body OF his army, Is SAID
TO be advancing with the intention of soiatins
Nosar Should he succeed The temporary loss to the
Turks Of herzegovina is imminent These operations,
however arc outside the true theatre OF war. 1t