New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-12
GREAT ENERGY OF THE RUSSIANS.

GREAT ENERGY OF THE RUSSIANS
THE RUSSIAN ARMY WELL EQUIPPED AND oR"NN-
IZED-THE TURKISH CoMMsSARlAr DSfhOii'h
Strength OF THE CoNfENDING FORCES
fFRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
LONDON, April 2S.-The first thing Wlich
strikes one on review Of what has recently taken P'e
l. the great vieor and rapdity with which the Russians
have pushed their troops into Rounania NO one e,'
gave much consideration TO the question: OF the nen
of Roumauia but before the ROumanian Government
had time TO raise any understanding that u deseu
10 do so-and before Turkey had made any preparo'
to meet them, the Russian army crossed inc fru'' "
NAV be generally stated that the Russian troops are p"
masscd on one bank Of the Danube and that the
are defending the other SO far IA one can dso Vi tue
Russian plaus from the movements they have already
made IL appears that they will make vigorous
effort on the Lower Danube, ana that 'ioS "''
distract the Turks by reinforcing tiS eerNidn amy
and by keeping alive the Montenegro ds'uFpanoo''
Turning 10 the Turkish army, the information "hch "
come to hand indicates that 1t is pretty evenly dSnlbueu
along the Danube, ana it, numbers are estimate" az
100000 men, with something under 800 guns % lar
AZ numbers 90 they are thus hOpelessly ovcrpowereu W
the Russiaus but they have the ncstmable ADVANTAGE
of being on the defensive and of being III posseS'" III
strons fortified positions, of some OF the most ehecNo
poiuts from their side of the river Moreover ho""'
Pasha and his fleet at Galatz, thus eHectuaN
guarding the river and protecting some of the more east
er Turkish positious The Turkish army VIII no douOi
recpy considerable additions before hghtlhS DeSis gu
large SCALE the present they have only TO rev
upon the strength NJ their fortified poslilOhs Announcer
oi,t in which te Russian army is immcasuraby supe-
rior is in regard 10 its internal arrangement ana organ
izotiop The reports state that IN regard TO such mat
tes as equipment. supply and commissarat the RUSSIAN
army is all hut perfect, while their opponents are IN
lamctahc state both as 10 their cOmmSaTldt ana he"
zeal arrangement They cannot keep men healthy when
they get them TO the OF action and 1t docs not re-
uira any great stretch of ina natiOn to see Wiat an
effect th will have upon their prospects, Again. theY
arc Insnficcntly and badly ocered, and the Turkish
generals will have hard task before them Ill dealing
with such material
As 10 the political aspect of affairs, matters do not
appear 10 have changed very much Russia has lost
good deal of ground Her position and influence are by
no means so strong that she has prepared to strike
her blow As they were while she held her threat over the
head Of Turkey on the hand position ~ Turkey
may have been little improved owing to that sympathy
which il generally accorded TO the weaker party in
struggle The movements of Russia are looked upon
with stut and the fact that the Emperors declaration
of war Is silent on the subject OF territorial aggrandze-
mont has gwen rise to speculation on the subject
II has been stated that the original draft contained
clause TO the effect that Russia did not desire any terri
ra accc sion the reward for her labors on behalf OF
fine Christian provinces but that the struck
ont OF the document issued the army were also all
references which might he considered as in any way
anmcling the future policy Of Russia THIS is OF course
only the natural course which any Power would take on
the field but as 1t emauates from Russia, 1t is
tic cause OF dstrust.
IT ia not at all likely that the Powers will take any
notice of Turkeys appeal the Treaty OF Paris Tie
Powers did their best for her at the Conference and as
she chose 10 throw away their advice then, it would Ill
become them to take any nitiatory steps now.