Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-07-27

The Boston Journal, lip reviewing the
progress of the Russo-Turkish war, says:
If the Russians have not advanced with
the celebrity anticipated, the Turks have
been behindhand TO far worse degree, and
psrtic ularly at all the important stages of
the war. Thus ii was in their power to
make a dash into Roumania and destroy
the railroads before the Russians could
have got a foothold there, which would
have crippled the Russian advance for
weeks and exposed them 10 dangerous at
lacks in detail. Again, everybody knew
that the real attempt of the Russians to
cross the upper Danube would take place
along the short section from Ncopolis to
Sistova, which might easily have been
guarded by Turkish troops, who would
have proved as effectual for the whole dis
lance as they actually were at Nicopolis.
Instead of that, the Russians found no
trouble at all in going over from SimnitZa.
Thirdly, when the crossing had been made
it was over one frail bridge of boats, which
could hardly be kept intact against the
current of the river, and might have been
broken by single Turkish iron-clad,
while a Turkish force from Rustchuk
might have swooped down on the portion
of the Russians who had crossed and taken
every man of them. All these opportuni-
ties were neglected one after the other, I'M
til they have passed by and the Russians
were firmly planted on the southern banks
of the Danube.
As it is now, the latter have three good
bridges across the river-tbat by which
they originally crossed at Sislova, another
at Mic opolis, and third, shout fifty miles
above, at Rahova. Thus they are able
TO bring up achievements and sup
plies at will, and il is said that a camp of
100000 men is being formed in Roumania
upon which they can draw by either route
as may be deemed advisable. 1t is stated
that one excuse given by Abdul Kerim
the recent Turkish commander, on the
Danube, for his policy Of delay, is that Won
Moltke, in his work on the Russo Turkish
war Of 1928, gave his opinion that unless
the passage of the Danube could be effected
before the eth Of June in any season, it
W ould be too late for summer campaign
in that climate. AS this year the Russians
did not cross till a fortnight later, the Turk
ish General thought the number of strong.
ly fortified places TO he taken would occu-
Ply the Russians ill late autumn or winter
would put a stop 10 their operations. He
never dreamed, apparently that the Rus
slams would cross the Balkans till they had
at least taken Rutschuk. They are already,
however, over the second defensive line of
40 Turl.g 4 ura la nf
fetal dispatches. IF, as they state, Gen
Gourko has, after sharp engagement tab en-
Kans anlik, he is in possession of both the
Shipk pass and that next east of it which
he had penetrated, and those two will
prove amply sufficient for pouring through
reinforcements as may be needed
1t remains to be seen, therefore, whether
the Turks are again TO be behindhand in
perhaps the most important stage of the
war. Abdul Kerim has been removed aud
Mehemit Ali, or the Prussian Schultze, a
much more vigorous commander, takes his
place. Suleiman Pasha is also on his way
from Montenegro TO encounter these Rus
SLAMS south OF The Balkans; but if he was
| the adviser of The policy of wasting the
ti"O VI OOtVOV HoopS III lue MoHttneBrln
campaign, just when they were needed
most on the Danube, his judgment is GER
tainly very poor, however active he may be !;
and if, as alleged in tue London Times,
10000 of his men have been killed and dis
abled, he will not bring so much strength
into the now critical field as has generally
been supposed. In the meantime, Ruts-
chuk has been completely invested and
thus cut OFF from Shumla, while there is
every reason TO believe that Gen. thinner
man, coming from the Dobrudscha, has
sundered communications between Shum-
Ia and Silistria, and will invest either one
or both of those fortresses. It is possible
that new commanders, with a more vigor-
Gus strategy, may in some degree retrieve
the advantages lost ON the Turkish side,
after the example set in Asia Minor, but the
verdict of most thoughtful observers will
| be that il is 'too late"
Il