The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-08-10
THE PASSES OF TINE BALKANS.

L
rect Of the summer. Beginning at the
Black sea, south Of Varna, they extend
westward In direction roughly paral-
lei to the line of the Danube, aud ter
inmate in the lofty peak of Orbelos,
southwest OF Sophia in Roumelia.
Three ridges compose the Balkan
| range, whereof tho central ridge or
back khone OF the system rises highest
toward tho seventh heaven, where the
better sort Of Turks go when they die.
The geological formation Is chalk, with
frequent outcrOp Of volcanic rock.
The, region is thickly wooded with
beeches, oaks and frs it is very thinly
peoPle<l, few wretched towns hidden
away In deep valleys containing most
of the population. The southern slopes
are generally sleeper than those on the
northern trout OF the mountains, but
more fertile aud when the latter are
Yet covered with snow, the former are
green with the vegetation OF spring.
To put aud keep their armies across
these mountains will prove n greater
task for the Russians than the crossing
OF the Danube. After accommodating
supplies In Bulgaria, along n single inn
perfect line of communication, they
have not only to secure the Balkan
passes, hut to build roads through
them. For along the Ave or six prin-
cipal routes the roads have clayey
foundations, making them exceedingly
heavy in wet weather; aud what Is
worse, they are in such low state Of
repair that most Of the transportation
upon them has to be done by pack ami
mails.
The first, or most eastern of these
routes, connects the Turk ish stronghold
Of Varna with Rurgas, in Roumelin.
At Pottbaji. where earthworks con-
structed by the Turks In 1929 have
since been strengthened, the road
crosses the Kamtschik, n rapid river,
III provided with fords, and fringeti
upon its right bank with extensive
swamps. From Schumla, another
point In the famous Turkish qua.lrilat-
er,al, the second route runs over easy
ground to IJalikavak, thence to Dob
roll, through u narrow pass, whose
steep, rocky walls are crowned with
formidable intrenchments; aud from
Dobroll by steep descent to Kamptjik
and Karin Abatl.
portant aud easily defensible routes
into Roumelia, the Russians have not,
thus far, manifested disposition to
contend with the Turks. Their STRAIT
egy seems to be rather to turn tho
Turkish flank by an advance along the
routes fromTirnova which have already
been seized by Cossacks, though recent
dispatches leave II In doubt whether
aud how effectively they still hold
them. ..',. ..t. ., Bel.
=, From Tirnova the third route In the
enumeration from east to west proceeds
to Osman Bazaar, thence to Kasan, un-
der the waIls or some old intrenchments
which have latterIy been repaired, and
knn tn Alkvnn thrnppUIN hifAcsp II
narrow, rock k-bound pass, appropriately
named the Iron Gates, or by less
troublesome though more circuitous
path to the same point. The fourth
road also starts from Tirnova, and pro-
ceeds by the valley Of the Jantra and
the Schibka pass to Gabrova and
Schibl<a, and thence along tho fertile
valley of the Kasanlyk to the village
OF the same name. The castle of Tirn-
oVa, directly commanding the northern
outlet Of the last-named route, sur
rounded on three sides by the river
Jontra, and occupying IA position of
great natural strength, Is or recently
WAS In the hands Of the Russians, who
had also seized the Schihkn pass, be-
sides KasanIyk and SlivnO, villages
which stand at the southern or Roume
lian ends Of the third and fourth routes
above deecribod. II the attempt to
pierce the mountains is seriously re-
newsd by the Russians before the
autumn SHOWS arrest operations in those
bleak regions, their advance will, in
all probability, be made along these
middle Balkan routes. ..s..
Besides the Koslatlji Pravidi and
Jinikoi route, and some others of lesser
Importance, there remains for mention
the road from Lovatz aud Plevna by
E61roboI to Sophia, which crosses the
Balkans upon their western flank.
The Russian assault now making upon
Plevna is, doubtless, u blow struck for
the possession Of this western route to
Roumelia. 'U. .... .D t...,. %
These Balkan passes are manifestiy
the real keys of the Turko Russian
campaign in Europe. Summarizing
briefly, the two most eastern routes arc
held throughout in undjsputed posses
sion by the Turks, and have their
northern termini in Schumla and
Varna. The two central routes, through
which a successful and well supported
advance would flank the qnadriIaterai
and open the way to Adrianople, are
loosely held by the Russians The
possession OF the extreme western
route is In dispute, and will be partly
decided by the result of the operations
| now going forward at Pievna. Taking