Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-10-22
THE TURCO.RUSSIAN WAR.

The defeat OF the Turks IN ASIA, anu
disastrous defeat at that, is now beyond
doubt. If the Russians. after the last
previous battle, seemed to retreat, it
could only have been strategic move
ment Mouktar Pasha has lost large
part of his army, and many guns. and
the Russians will now be left in peace
for while to the siege of Kars. 1t is
not probable, however, that that fortress
is in any great immediate danger. Mouk-
tar Pasha's army is there to assist in
the defence, and without it Kars stood
long siege successfully before. The
Turks have one great advantage in Asia.
They can soon obtain reinforcements by
their command of the Black Sea, and
from the army facing the Czarewitch
may soon come succor, of which Mouktar
Pasha in the glory of his new title of
Conqueror is desperately in need. If it
be correct that in this attack General
Melikoff acted under the order of the
Grand Duke Michael under those of
Gen. Melikoff, the generalship of the
Russian princes will be much more re-
the morale of the Russian forces in
Europe, as we'll as in Asia, and will cor
respondingly discourage the Turks.
This will be the more so as it Is beaten
army renewing the attack, after receiv.
ing reinforcements, and then more than
avenging their defeat, for this victory
seems to have been the most complete
one of the war so far. A beaten army
which has received reinforcements, and
may in turn be successful, is the Russian
army in Bulgaria. In Europe the wal
is not progressing rapidly. The bonn
bardment of Plevna has recommended,
and despatch from within the Russian
lines says that decisive action is immi.
nent. This last must be altogether
premature. All the dispatches of late
have asserted that future operations
against Plevna would be by siege works,
and these take much time. Any other
approach to the Turkish defences would,
in the light of what has happened, seen
to be suicidal. Much is said now Of
assertions from Osman Pasha's army
and of its restitution and sufferings. A
day or two ago there were just as dis
couraging accounts of the condition Of
the Russian troops. Both tales may bt
received with some allowance. 1t i.
quite probable, whatever may be the
position as to food, that the Turks arr
better sheltered than the Russians, fol-
it is not long since the latter bent t.
ask the former to permit them to brins
timber by the Danube for huts for tn,
wounded. Osman Pasha's communica
tions with Sofia are again stated be in
terrupted, but they were interrupted
before, and he had no difficulty in re
storing them; SO that the present inter
ruptions is not likely to give mucl
practical inconvenience. Snow has pu
an end to operations in the Shipka Pas
for the present, but a battle between
Suleiman Pasha and the Czarwitch i
said to be imminent. This last is rattle
improbable. The latest account fror
the seat of war in that quarter, was tina
the country was a lake of mud. and tn
movement of large bodies of troop
would be impracticable. The advantag
of remaining on the defensive would b
greatly increased, and the forces are S
equally matched that it would be ez
ceedingly unwise for either to risk a
attack.-Montreol Witness.