New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-30

day last we mcnloncu olStoNh ds wv P''"'
where the TurLi,b line could be pierced to thebest
ADVANTAGE of the Russians and on "Wednesday
the GRIND Duke Nicholas, mt the head OF the
Eighth Corps, crossed the Danube about TWO
miles from that place. But tins bad been APP
proximatcly indicated for some time past by the
continued massng of troops between the Nedc
and Alutl rivers. II WIS not to he supposed
that the neighborhood of strong fortresses, like
Silistria Rustcluk and NIkop1s, would
be selected for the passage while, II was
equally evident that those fortrcs'cs would bc
mcnaccd in order To hold the greater portion
of their garrisons in check.
The invasion of the Dohrudja, eight days
ago, proves % he a powerful ana important
flank movement against the Turkish quauil-
lateral. The rapid advance OF the Ihir'echtn
and Fourteenth corps up the Danube Is eN-
plnincd by the circumstance that they are able
10 take possession of the river IA they go.
The occnpation of lllrsova viii he followed by
that of Ccrnavoda, and they will undoubtedly
approach near enough TO SilistIia to cooperate
with part of the Eleventh corps, which Is
now mt Kaarash. The crossing 1t Si'tova cuts
off the Turkish forces mt NikOpos ana WIZ
din from communication with the other ana
stronger half of the line of defence, anu the
Russians are probably strong enough To invest
the former of the two fcrtresses and NJ the
same time TO operate against the western
flank of the quadrilatcral. II will take bat
short time TO establish Geographic comin'lnlca-
ton through Roumania between the two ar
mics and enable them to move III accordance
with n single plan. Attempts to cross ~ Oite1-
Itza and Turna- dagurelli were repuIsrd but IL
is very likely that they were merely iclh'S
since little would be gained by throwing Il sep
arate body of troops into bulgaria NJ cithcr
poiuf unless il were strong enough to h0d us
position without support.
The most difficult operation of the war has
thus been successfully accomplished by the Rus
slams. The resistance appears to have been
fierce. but not upon the scale by which battles
are measured. The footing which has been
z med will not be lost, for the Turkish gun
boats seem 10 be already parayzed, prob
ably f,om their knowledge of the torpedo lines
by which the pont0on bridges VIII be protected
Silisria and RustchuG are able to withstand "A
prolonged siege, hut they alone, without n
Turkish army in the field, cannot prevent the
Russian advance At SislOya. the shortest ROAD
10 Adranopc leaves the Danube: IT is not more
than 50 miles, due south, To one OF the most
practicable passes over the Balkan; the inter-
mediate country is fertile, wealthy, AMI covered
with population which is mostly Christian.
II Is not necessary 10 speculate on the chaIac-
ter of the next military operations: the advant-
ace already gained is so decided that only
criminal laundering on the part of the Russian
commanders can diminish 1t. The Turks will
still fight funous.y; but hcnccGorth scarcely
with hope, or other inspiration than that OF
hate and despair.
The last news from Armenia suggests thatthc
previous reports of the fighting at Ieidlkhan
received n st0ng Turkish cOlOring in passing
through Constanilnopc. The Russian account
of the engagement has different complexion,
and il comes simultaneously with statement
from Erzcrum that body of $4,000 Russians
has made its appearance in the rear of the
Turkish center, near khorlssan. The physical
features of the country almost preclude the
snppoSiti0n that this body belongs to the Rus
sian right; II must be an advance of the left.
which the Turks claimed to have so signally
defeated. In either case, il very scrlOusl'
threatens Mullar Pasha's communication with
Elzcrum, ami will compel II retreat from his
position near Zcwn. The news from the Dan
uDe will have reached the. Russian army III
Armenia by this time, and We may look for an
active although probably brief campaign. In
another month the fortune of the war will be
settled beyOnd question.