Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-10-09
The Situation i'm the East.

The Situation in the Last.
The present active campaign OF the
Eastern war must soon terminate. Snow
has fallen in the mountains and rain upon
the plains. The swollen rivers and bad
roads will render military movements al
most impossible. The time has come for
both armies to make preparations for win
ter. After October we are not likely to
hear OF more hard fighting.
Fivenonths ago hostilties were declared
by Russia against Turkey. Two months
later the Russian soldiers swarmed across
the Danube without opposition, swept
through Bulgaria, and passed over the
Balkans into Roumelia. But the Turks
forced the invaders back into the noun
tains, and the central division of the
Turkish army has continued to hold at
bay the corresponding division OF the
Russians. The Danube river and the Bal
kan mountains in their direction may be
said to run parallel, and between them is
situated Bulgaria. Upon this territory
have taken place most OF the bloody bat
ties and skirmshes OF the war The land
has been drenched with blood. Seventy
Thousand Russians are reported to have
fallen. and the number OF Turks is not
many less. But the great outpouring of
soldiers blood is not the whole OF the sad
picture. The desolation which has been
brought upon those in whose behalf the
war was proclaimed has been unuttera-
bic. Two of the most fertile provinces
of Europe have been swept with whirl-
wind Of death and destruction. The poor
Bulgarian and Roumelian Christians have
beheld the members OF their household
slaughtered and outraged. their homes
burned and made desolate, their proper
~ destroyed. Against the storms of the
coming winter they are left unprotected.
The horrors perpetrated by the Turks are
almost without parallel in history A cor
respondent recently wrote from Russian
headquarters. 81 have just witnessed a
scene which has made my blood run cold.
A young Bulgarian woman aud two
little children have just been brought in
to camp. The children have become era
~ in one night, during which delach-
ment of hi-Bazouks invaded their vii
lage, burned their home and crucified their
father and mother on the ground, lighting
the fire for their supper on the breasts of
their still living victims The sight OF
these helpless little creatures with that
mad, haggard stare in their eyes, was
horrible beyond description" This is but
one of an indefinite number OF examples.
Whatever advantage from the war event
ually comes to the Christians of Bulgaria
and Roumelia will have been dearly pur-
chased by their sufferings, woes and loss
es. no, 81. .hpl au.
The Russians invaded Turkish territory
with seeming hope of easy victory. They
have met disappointment and defeat. The
campaign in Asiatic Turkey has been an
utter failure, and in Europe the Russians
are held in check at every point by Turk
ish armies. Victory must be said to be
with the Turks. The Muscovite soldiers
have fought with the courage of heroes,
but their generals have committed deplor-
able mistakes. They have Ocked in STRAIT
egg, failed to support each other and blind
ly led their soldiers against great odds.
The Russians are discouraged. On the
other hand, the Turks are flushed with
victory. They have fought with the ia
matte desperation they have been accred-
tied. They have felt that the welfare of
their country depended on their valor.
The river LON extends partly across Bull
garia In . line north and south and into the
mountains back of this river the right di-
vision Of the Turkish army has lately been
Withdrawn. Within Plevna is the lett OF
the Turkish army under Osman Pasha.
The first named army is free to move, The
latter is surrouned at Plevna, where have
taken place SO many bloody and fierce en-
counters. The downfall OF this position
Is necessary to Russian advance, and I'M
der the direction Of Gen. Todleben, the
great engineer whose genius fortified Sc
bastopol. a siege is to be conducted. II
action should be carried on during the win
ter, the season will be in favor OF the Rus
slams. But. at any rate, each army, dur
ing the coming winter months will make
preparations for an active campaign in the
spring. Though this campaign has result
ed disastrously to Russia, she is nation
Of eighty millions and her victory over
Turkey with her ten millions, provided no
other consideration entered, would be but
matter Of time.
. To-day occurs the election in Ohio. The
people will elect a full ticket of State Off