The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-07-01

umns, and about the middle of Septembe
the right wing of the Russian army was a
Encs, on the Mediterranean; the left wa
ITO miles away, at Media, on the Blacl
Sea; while the centre was at Karistiran, OF
the direct road to Copstantiuople Here
after one siege, one great battle, and ,
march of 500 miles-Diebitsch's progress
was arrested by the re. establishment o
peace. 1t may be .asked why peace wa
concluded till the great prize of all haG
fallen into his hapdsf The answer is tt
be found in the sadly reduced strength o
bis army, but especially in the ravages o
| the plague, the account Of which, quoted
by Msjor Russell from Moltke's book, il
calculated to make one wonder, not thai
Diebitsch, having got SO far, did not &C
farther, but that he had ever the nerve tC
attempt the passage of the Balkanp. Ifhe
had possessed only 90 600 more men, and
il those actually under his standard were
not falling out of the ranks every day BY
hundreds, it is the opinion of more than
one military critic that he would have
hoisted the double headed eagle in the
streets of STAN boul.
But all this time a campaign was pro-
ceeding in Asia, which though not fought
on go large scalo, was more succeseful
for the Russians, and more decisive in it's
conclusion. The occasion was as nearly as
possible an anticipation of that we now
seem about to witness. While Wittgen-
stein first, and then Diebitech, were push
ing across tho Danube through Bulgaria
and Roumelia, general was fighting his
way through Armenia with such foresight.
strategical skill, readiness, caution, and
audacity as have been exhibited onIy by
commanders of the most brilliant genius,
The operations planned and conducted bv
the admiration of military students.
and when we consider, in addition to
his achievements, that his forces at the
outset numbered only IL 900 men, and new
er were more than 20, 900, an d tsat-what
with uDpeopled wastes, rivers, great ridges
of mountains, want of roads, and fort
resses made almost impregnabe by nature
the country could be held as easily as
any in the world against an invading army,
we must at once see that there is ample
ground for admiration. "We see," saws
Major Russell, ga small force advancing.
as it were, with extraordinary rashness
into the heart of an enemy's country, fight
ing battle after battle against extraordina-
~ odds, taking fortress after fortress by
the most desperate assaults, aud, in fact,
victory when by all the ordinary
rules of war 1t ought to be beaten" Ar
mics melted before Paskiewitsch like snow
before the. sun, and towns surrendered
through the very terror of his name. On
May 25, 1928, he started from the neigh
boz hood of fAlexaudrople straight for Ksrs,
sending at the same time small columns to
the Black Sea and to the South by Ararat.
The Paeha of ETzeroum was on the march
with 60, 009 men to assist Kars, but so
skillful and determined was the attack en-
hat fortress that it surrendered in three
lays, and when the force intended to re-
ieve it appeared on the scene the Russian
lag was already floating from it's battle
nents. An outbreak of the plague now
zept Paskiewitech idle for come time, and |
enabled the Seraskier to place 30, 600 men |
IN the right rear of the Masc0vife army. |
But as soon as he could move again, the |
Russian ger eral, causing bis opponent to re-
reat by pretending to make an attack on
suddenly retraced his steps and
appeared before Akhalkalaki, which coon
By an equally swift and sud-
len movement, he next marched on Ak
This was q very strong place,
md was defended with great gallantry;
almost without precedent in his
ory, it, too, was taken. Nor was this all.
The army which went to it's aid, havingil
'een ince utionsly divided, was attacked
nd utterly defeated in a night assault.
8 The actual capture of a strong place.
mallest portion of the results" The
feet of the capture of Akhaltsikh was that
Aktskhur and Ardagun capitulated at once,
nd at the end of September the Russians
7ere masters of Armenia, as far as the Sa-
enlugh mountains. Paskiewitsch's next
ampaign was equally, If not more euc-
essful. AS he was enormously outnum-
cred, his only chance was to take the op
osing forces in detail, and this plan he at
nee resolved to adopt. With 1000 men
Q managed to attack in front and flank an ,
rDy of Is, 600, which the Seraskier's lieu =
,nant had destined for the retakiug of ;
khaltsikh, and succeeded in sending it j
eek on the mountains in thoroughly ?
condition. Aud now came h
is crowning achievement. The Seraskier c
as threatening Kars, with 10000 men, n
nd his lieutenant, having reorganized his +
eaten forces, which now numbered 90. 600, c
as moving to his aid. They were both J
rongly posted, and, unless outmar 90 lvr- a
could not possibly be defeated. Pas fl
ewitsch determined on a movement
hich was of the most hazardous character
1t the brilliant success of which is it's "a
'mplete justification. He made circui- e
us march over two snowy ridges, and q
us interpOsed himself between the two e
rces of the enemy, each of which he then fc