The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-28

wuO IeAuiy kavo nep pormibSlOn 70 tho HERALD cor
respondent to introduce r,u . 80: s;.o was
now on her way homc partly to obtain short inter-
val Of repose rendered necessary by the immense
fatiguos she has undergone. but chiefly to what
can DO done In England toward the organization Of
system Of relief for tho unfortunate victims Of tho i'm
pending war; She should return soon as possible
10 take an active part In the noble work TO which she
mas devoted herself, and was especially anxious TO
make the Asiasic frontier, where the suffering will
probably DO far greater than European Turkey, tho
deld OF her ministry. Tho war. which has already
claimed It's nrss victims, will In all likelihood be san
culinary and protsaced and there will DO work enough
for all who may desire to assist Lady strangord In her
efforts, both England and, she hoped, 10 America.
Tho neld is largo, the laborers are iew
THE TURKISH DEYExcE.
Arrived at varna. thought It well 70 make . short
stay In order TO ascertain FAR possible what had
been done and was being done 10 place extremely
mportans position in proper state OF defence. IL
may be interesting 10 review briefly tho history Of the
fortress which has always played prominent part
the defence OF the Turkish Empire. In contemplating
the theatre Of the three lines OF defence OF the
European frontier OF Turkey be kept steadily In
mind. These three lines are-, The Danube. with It's
fortress studded banks-the most important strong
holds being wddin, Ruslchuk and Silistra; C2l the
line OF the Balkan Mountains, parallel to the Dannbe
and crossed by several passes none Of which would
offer an insurmountabe obstacle 10 invaders who
had mado good their advance thus tar; ) the lines Of
Kuchuk Chckmedge and Butuk Chekmedge which
extend across the peninsula the extremity Of which
stands Constantinople, the goal Of tho in
vader, tho kernel OF the triple shellcd nut
which the Car is more trying to
crack. With tho Hrst limo OF defence, the
deep and npid Danube, need not at present con.
ourselves but shall imagine tho invading force
have successfully passed it, Az what particular point
points the great gathered for the assault
In Roumania intena 10 make the attempt Il is, OF
course quito impossible say, for great river at
present enectuay screens their movements and tho
world is still listening Tor the first shot which
shall proclaim their decision. Assuming the Turks
have lost their first line ION which, however, they may
fight il out all the summcr the next defence lies in
what 10 known az tho line Of the Balkans Two for-
hed towns form the key Of tho whole position
and varna. Both places lie TO tho north OF tho Bal
kans; varna on the shore OF the Black Sca, Shumla
about my miles TO the northwest. railway now
connects the two places and continues north
westward TO Rustchuk on the Danube Thus
the railway and the river form two sides
OF triangle, the base OF which Is the coast OF the
Black Sea and the apex Of which is occupied by the
strong fortress OF Rustchuk As railways play an I'm
portant part In modern warfare she triangle thus
Dictated should DO kept In Mind for along sides tho
strife now at hand must soon rage acrcely. varna,
then, lies At the end of the lower side OF tho triangle
at the angle formed BY It aud the base and is point
OF great strategic Importance II is only seaport
afordng excellent base for tho landing. Of sup
plies 4 comparatively short distance from tho capital
but Il also commands tho shortest route from the
Russian frontier to the capital. and It the opinion
Of no less an authority than Count Moke. wrote
the history Of the great campaign OF 1882 that the
hn1a fore anf uvaAt ~kt
against varna II must be remembered. however, that
while in 1928 Russia held command OF the Black Sea
the exact tho case ana varna moth
Ing to fear from the sea, which In now completely
dominated by tho Turkish iron-clads But It will as
sss Us In tho proper appreciation Of tho strategic and
geographical position Of the fortress il turn for
moment to the history OF tho siege which It
in 1928 The Russian invasion In that year was made
through the barren and dcsoatc district rs tho
Dobrudscha Following tho right bank Of the river
Danube southwark, tho invaders took tho towns OF
Tchsrnavods. on the river, and Kustcndj the sea;
and from that line marched upon varna. But at Kos
luda, small town close TO their objective point, they
changed their minds end directed their main assaults
Upon ShumiA error which tho same great author.
ity above mentioned described the turning point Of
tho campaign. On August 9, OF the year 1923, tho
siege OF Varna commenced "but, says q recent
writer on tho SUBJECT Notwithstanding the presence
Of the Emperor Nicholas himself notwithstan ding tho
arrival OF the siege train and the cooperation OF
tho feet may be said that two months
elapsed without the Russians being really
the capture Of the place than they whom
they first appeared before it, The Turks had succeeded
In reinforcing the garrison and had carried active
defence with extraordinary bravery aud very con-
siderable amount OF skill Thcre had beon various On.
counters, almost amounting TO battles, during the
rnur nf th0 Inv md urto 0lv ~
segcd execute succession Of sor,ss and attacks ON
the Russian works with great determination put re-
licving army under Omar vronc advanced raise tho
siege Alter several sanguinary battles, in which both
COMPLAINTS exhibited great bravery, the superior
quality Of tho Muscovte troops in the open field proved
decisive, the attempt to raise tho siege failed. BY
october the position Of the Russian army be.
came most precarious; winter rapidly ap-
preaching; Shuma was unsubdued and could
not even be invested; the Turks were daily in-
creasing numbers and condolences; unloss varna was
captured all was ost; nothing renamed but disas-
rous defeat in enemys country oeiorca relentless
enemy. What was TO be done? Force OF arms would
certainly tho fall of varna In tino TO save
the Russian army; othcr means must be tried, and
tried they with admirable rcsults-tnat mover
failing instrument the golden key, was applied to the
gates OF this Fortress and opened hcm with It's &C.
customed sdccess The Russians having thus mas
tered tho ''bulwark OF the KINGDOM" as Won Moltkc
called varna the campaign for that year decided
ana brought TO a conclusion. ''fIad Shuma fallen
into their hands, no goes on 10 say, "in place Of
va.na, thoy might Indeed destroyed all tho weak
works OF that position, but with varna and Sstra in
shcr rear, ana cut OF from tho sen, it would have
been impossible for them to take up thoir winter
quarters in Bulgaria."
DUTCH TURK
Having secured in tho Hotel d,Aneleterre tho only
room vacant the windows OF which overlook thu CIT
adel, proceeded to mike complete an examination
OF tho topography ana doences of The place posi-
Bile. Living In tho hotel was the commandant him.
self, known in the Prussan service us General
Strecker, but IN the Turkish army as Rcschd Pscha
Trained In the best military school OF Europe thor
oughy familiar with tho language OF hts adopted coun.
tYv and gDeaKnc French md EnVlish besidea thN