Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1877-06-28
A BLOW STRTJCK.


Eight weeks have elapsed since the open
ing of the war, and after waiting thus long
the advance Of the Russians across the Dan
ube into the Dobruja at lbrail has the APP
pcarance Of the precursor of movement Of
the whole grand army soon to follow. Tie
force which has passed over the streln j.
only a section of the left wing, and itIs not
likely that the great advance raoe
in this locality, but further westward Alohg
the Danube. The fighting does nofseem
to have been very severe, as the Turks a.
bandoned their batteries soon after the at
tack was made, and without waiting for an
assault upon it, precipitately fed from the
town Of Matchin. This neighborhooJ on
the river has been the scene Of all the bel
llgercnt acts of any account that have taken
place, as it was near there that the two
Turkish monitors were sunk, and the ar
tillery firing across the stream has been
quite constant for some weeks past. In the
fighting which preceded the abandonment
of Matchin the Russian troops are said to
have shown magnificent courage and disci-
pline, and it is at least evident that This q
vent Of hostilities on large scale has re-
suited most unfavorably for the Moslem
cause. The success of this movement must
tend to confirm the general opinion Of cor
respondents with the Russian army. that it
is in superb condition, and that nothing can
save Turkey from crushing disasters except
the intervention of other nations. In this
connection, however, there is still good
reason for looking with apprchensiye eyes
towards England Although the Beacons-
field Government has ceased to talk Of in
tervention, it continues an ominous r.c,,ar-
alton Of the army and navy to be 80 for
the worst emergency, and the couhicnce-
mcnt Of the Russian invasion of Bulgar;o
can hardly escape bringing matters to a
crisis
This crossing Of the Danube as low down
as the Dobrujda may be accepted as point
ing out some of the prominent features Of
the Muscovite plan of campaign. AS a
crossing in heavier force will be made high
er up at Turnu Magurelli, opposite Nikopo-
lis, it will be seen that the intention is to
flank the fortrcsscs Of Rutschuk, SiHstria,
Earna and Shumla, which constitute what
is known as the Turkish quadiateral, and
also to turn the left wing of the Turkish
strength concentrated between the Danube
and the eastern extremity of the Balkan
Mountains Such a plan does away with
the necessity Of attacking these strong po-
sitions, and if the Turks venture out Of them
they will give the invaders the opportunity
offightng them without the support Of these
fortified places The Turkish force in the
territory between the centre of the Dobruida
and the quadilateral would thus be mcnaced
on two sides on the northeast by the corps
which have already crossed the river IN tie
vicinity Of Matchin, and on the southwest
by those which are to cross at Nikopolis.
The latter woald be on the shortestseouto
to Constantinople, the old military 4road
through the western passes of the Balkans
to the Morava Valley, leading 10 Sofia,
PhilippopoliS and Adrianople Tie plan
can only be a success in its execution on
the supposition that the Russians 50 greatly
outnunber the Turks as to be able to march
onward into Bulgaria and leave behind them
the enemy on the line of the Danube. and
this relative proportion of the hostlles is an
admitted fact If the Ottoman commander
desires to fight he must hurry his troops
away from the Danube and meet the Rus
slams at whatever point he can most con
veniently post himself south of the Balkans.
But it is scarcely possible but that he must
be placed at disadvantage save in theeyent
of infieting heavy defeat upon the Rus
slams when they essay the crossing Of the
stream in the neighborhood of Nlkopolis.
The struggle has been opened IN earnest at
last, and we must soon be in the reception
of stirring news.