New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-03
EnzRprn ND pLKTN-L

The Eastern war has at last reached that
phase which foreshadOws its probable end.
The struggle has been considerably longer
than we anticipated III the beginning owing
to causes which would have seemed hardly
credible had they been surmlsed III advance
Rusgia's miscalculatOn of Turkeys power of
resistance and the ineiliciency Of her military
strategy. Since these faults have been cor
rected, after great losses and delays, the for
tune Of the war has changed, and the COM
batants now holI the relative positions which
should have been theirs three months ago.
The Turkish armies have lost nothing OF their
heroic quality, but much Of their force is now
exhausted, and the tactics of their commanders
show a tmidity which comes Of weakness, and
an irresolution which betrays doubt. 1t is
another case where the Longest purse and the
heaviest battalions win the day.
The military operations are now concentrated
upon two points, aLd all further movements
must depend upon the fate Of these. Erzerum
represents Armenia, and Pleyna Bulgaria. The
splendid action by which the heights Of Deye-
Boyun were taken barely failed to deliver the
former into the hands of the Russians. A de-
Law Of two or three days followed; the panic
stricken Mussulmans plucked up courage, re-
pulsed the first attack at Azizich, and have
since stubborly held the town. The Russian
column advancing from Blyazid, has been de-
layed by heavy SHOWS and the same cause has
probably retarded operations for cutting OF
Erzerum from relief by the 1Iebizond road.
The place, therefore, is not yet completely in
vested, but this is not absolutely necessary for
its reduction, since the Russians hold positions
which command it. They are probably await
ing the arrival of heavy siege guns from Kars,
having dearly learned tho imprudence of
making assaults against Turks armed with
long-range rifles. Even though Mukhtar Pasha
should receive additional reinforcements, VIC
do not think it likely that Erzerum car hold
out longer than a month.
The fate of Pleyna seems to BE- equally
fixed. The strategic Importance of the place
Is of less value to Turkey than the possession
Of Osman Pasha and his army and hence il
is difficult to understand why his line o. re-
treat was not more obstinately defended. The
recent estimate which gave the Turkish forces
| in Bulgaria 100000 men is evidently much
| too large for, after deducting the known
strength of Osman and Suleiman pashas il
would leave at least $4,000 men available 70,
operations in the rear of Plevna. But Chef
ket Pasha's force does not seem to have been
more than oue-fOurth OF that number, and the
capture Of such important positions as Or
chanie and Etrop0l shows that there are few
troops left in Sophia. Pleyna IS now so thor
ouglly isolated that relief from the outside i,
no longer possible. There only remains the
chance that Osman Pasha may make dcs-
pcrate soItie and be lucky enough to cut hi,
way through some weak point in the Russian
! lines. Even this chance diminishes day by
| day, as the double circle Of earthworks grows
under Todlcben's direction. The time when
| Plevna shall fall depends almost wholly upon
the amount of supplies for its garrison.
With the capture of these two places and
their armies, Turkey is defeated. There is
neither wisdom nor true bravery in prolong-
| ing war after its end las become inevitable.