The Morning herald., 1877-08-31
SHIPKA PASS.

4Ae ueClslVe struggle Ol tne EasLerI
lWar is doubtless near at hand. The forces
on both sides are preparing for, if not al
ready waglng the battle which is to largely
determine the final result.
! The forces which the Russians can dis
pose of in Bulgaria, amount now in all tc
about 250,0O0 men. If we deduct from
this total the 10000 commanded by Gen.
Zimmerman in the Dobrudscha, which
having enough to do in keeping in check
Prince Hasson's Egyptians cannot be drawn
away from their positions, we are led to
the conclusion that the whole Russian force
which must now decide the fate of the
present war amounts to 100000 men, not
including the Imperial Guards, numbering
64,0 900 men, which are to act as reserves,
and which have probably not yet crossed
the Daaube. The main Russian force, in
consequence of the battle of Plevna, has
now been concentrated in the great quad
rangle inclosed between Nicopolis, Rust
chuk, Tirnova, and Jaslar, and divided in
two unequal parts by the River Yantra.
On the left bank of the latter stands the
western wing of the army, formed by the
Second Roumanian Corps, holding Nico-
polls, the Fourth, Eleventh and Ninth
corps and the Second Infantry Division,
and showing a double front against Osman
Pasha at Plevna and towards Gabrova and
the Shipka Pass, with an eye to opposing
the advance of Suleiman Pasha if he suc-
ceeds in forcing the pass or to pushing on
ward into Roumelia if he is driven back. |
The strength of this army, which is com.
manded by the Grand Duke Nicholas in
person, is estimated at 100000 men.
On the right bank of the Yantra, with
its headquarters at Biola, stands the army
of the Czarovitch, numbering probably |
about $4,000 men. Its original object was
the capture of Rustchuk. But this scheme
seems now, in consequence of the battle of
Plevna and of the energetic tactics assumed |
by Mehemet ALI to be utterly abandoned. 7
About the position and numbers of the
Turks still less is really known than about
those of the Russians. Apparently the
point where they continue to show to their
greatest advantage is still at Plevna, the |
centre Of O sman Pasha's army, which, ac.
cording to the aPproximative calculations
Of some military correspondents, amounts
to 80, 900 men, and is intranched in formid-
able positions. 1t is there, doubtless, that
the decisive stroke will fall, for even after
the repulse Of Suleiman's attack on the
Shipka Pass the Russians cannot possibly
undertake an important advance into Rou-
melia before dislodging Osman Pasha from
his position, in which he would constantly
endanger the rear of the Russian army BY
advancing on the road towards Gabrova.
Thus in numbers the two armies are
nearly equal. The advantage Of the Rus
slams consists in their having concentrated
all their forces on one basis of operations,
thus adopting plan which insures their
communication with Roumania, and enable.
them to reinforce speedily and easily their
front wherever the energy and numbers of
the enemy may require it. On the other
hand, the Turks possess two inestipable
advantages over their foe-the natural
strength of their defensive positions, both
around Osman Bazar and at Plevna, and |
the enthusiasm and se]f-confdence born oil
recent victory. The chances seem on both
sides to be about equal.