New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-04-26
LINES OF ATTACK AND DEFENSE.

LINES OF ATTACK AND Defense.
THE RAILWAY SYSTEM OF ROUMANIA-THE RUSSIAN
ADvANCE-THE DANUBE THE FIRST LINE or
Tr-pKt,r DEFENsE-THE BALKAN RANGE THE
MAIN RAMpAKr-THE FoRTREssEs-A FLANK
MOVEMENT IN THE DIRECTION OF sERvA
At the outbreak OF hostilites the two armies were
about $50 miles apart The Russian army was
ossed near the north eastern frontier of ROumanla,
in the vicinity of Kischene, town on the railroad
between Odessa and Jassy The Turkish troops
were stationed at various points along the i''c Oh
the Danube from Chernetz to Sstra. Between tie
armies was the territory of Roumaria, with IFS rail-
way system Rounania Is nOmnally vassal OF The
Porte but in reality the tool of Russia Late in March
storesand ammunition were sent by the Russians
into Roumania destined for kahul and Boil
prod and the Russian and R0umanian rail-
way lines were connected so that Iolhhg
stock could easily be concentrated at JaSsy Inc
distance between Kischenetf and Jassy is about So~
miles. On Monday about 1900 Russian troops
were transferred by railway 10 Jassy. Within ii
hours the Russians occupied GalatI, BralloW
and Bucharest, the capital OF koumahia.
The distance by railway between Jassy ami Galatz
is about 200 niles thence the railway continues 10
Bucharest n distance of 40 miles; and thence to
Giurgevo 40 miles further, on the Danube (; ana
thence through Bulgaria to Narna on the Black
the Austrian frontier A snail force of Cossacks
ia reuorted TO have gone i'll this direction to
take possesslon of this branch. The Russians
have thus made themselves masters OF the
Roumanian railway saytem, ana can mass
their forces either at CheInez or GinrgeVo'
The distance between Galatz and kalarash Oh the
Danube is about 90 miles over good road There
il a toerable road between Bucharest and Otenitza,
where the Danube is about 800 yards wide. At
Giurgevo the width of the river IS three-quarers OF
mile The natural crossing places are at GluTgeVo,
Oltenitza and Kalarash, and of the three Giurgevo
is the most important Instead of stormng the
fortresses on the south bank of the Danube,
the Russian army may make long detour
nv rail to Chernetz, far away to the
west. and turn the flank of the Turkish forces.
1t is more probable however, that the Russians Will
remain on the direct road to COnstantnople. The
Danube is a wide and swift river, across which 1t
will not be easy to throw bridge of boats; but IN
asmuch az the line OF defense il so long, the assai-
onts will have on the whole great advantage.
The Turkish divisions will be scattered and the
assailing army can be massed quietly and hurled
suddenly in overwhelming force against the dciold-
ORG at single point. 1t is not probable that the
Danube will be an insuperable barrier to the adj
vance of the Russians.
The first line of the Turkish defense 49, however
mite formidable The southern DanR II loT tnc
most mart high while the Roumanlan is low and
sw1mpy The Turkish towns nestle among the hnls
and many of them are fortified, while the Rouman-
ian aide is desoate The Turkish feet is mistress OF
the waters, and the little gunboats, each carrying
heavy prn. will have their own way upon
,bo Dannbe. unless the Russians can drive
them away with tOrpedoes, large numbers
If which have been stored along the
Roumanian bank. With these gunboats ana mohi-
tors on the watch it will be difficult for tie Russian
armv IN concentrate without escaping notice, and,
moreover the number of crossing places is limited
o;,o to the fact that there are very few roads Ill
Bulgaria over which an army can march. AL one Oh
tbo tbree points named above (Ollenitza Ginrgevo'
ova Kalorasb or at LON OF Nikopolls, crossing
,a,st be made because the only available roads To
o soutb lead from those towns Slils'rla' opposite
KaIarash is strongly fortified, being protected py
n forts or redoubts which are either closed or
eeectuallv hanked by one another. All THESE
works are armed with heavy krupp guns oi 'he pest
,ott.rn. Rnsehuk aud Widdin are also strong ior-
tresses II The Russians effect crossing theV VIII
either have to besege these fortrcsses UT ash 'ci
NTH large bodies of men and push forward Tue nam
army In that event, the Turks wohid "i''"'""
q, their second line of defense III the Baikah range
This il the main defense Of Central l"ih's -"
great rampant which the Russians WALL nave W '-Io