The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-05-18

quests daring all this century in
the direction of Persia and India.
Also, by thus attacking Turkey at
two points so far apart, double
strain is put on her inferior re-
sources, Russia having much the
in numbers. Where Rus
STA and Turkey touch in Europe is a
frontier OF only eighty or ninety
miles along the southern mouth of
the Danube. Here slip of Bulga-
ria runs up between the Danube
and Black Sea, called the Dobrud-
scha, about seventy miles long by
forty broad at the narrowest. Look
ing on the map, it would appear the
natural passage for an invading
army; and in pursuance of this
idea a French army was sent along
it during the Crimean war, from
Varna. That army returned q creep
ing remnant of sickly men and half
starved horses-thousands left dead
in the malariOus swamps, and the
rest scarcely able 20 walk.
The Danube enters the Black Sea
by three principal mouths, encles.
ing q delta of over forty miles wide.
This delta, with the portion of Rus
sian Bessarabia to the north, and the
Dobrudscha south OF it, are chiefly
marshes, overgrown with reeds
sometimes fifteen hands high. Ia
winter these are not passable I'M
less frozen; in summer there is
more firm ground, but fatal mala-
ria; and no water supply but dirty
puddles, which those only can drink
who have been brought up there.
The Inhabitants are nomad Tartars,
refugee criminals, and a colony of
exiled Russian Old Believers, trusty
allies of Turkey. Even of such there
are but few, and no shelter for troops
could be found over a wide expsnse
of country. The tall reeds, when
dry, are liable to dangerous fires,
and could be purposely fred in the
face Of an enemy. Russian Bessar-
abba, north of this frontier, is most
unsuited for base, being thinly in
habited-chiefiy by breeders of cat
tle-and having few roads.
The Russian army is now travers-
ing Roumania; and this State, with
Turkish Bulgaria, may be regarded
as the European theatre of war.
Nominally a vassal of Turkey, it is
really q tool of Russia. The lead,
ing men and government are friend
ly to Russia, the peasants hostile in
feeling, having been ill-treated in q
former war. Russian authorities
have promised to respect the rights
and property of the Roumanians
and pay for all they require, which
promise, for their own sakes, they
will probably keep. Roumania, be.
ing the only route to Turkish sol
available, it is most important thai
the friendship of her people should
be secured.
The State has the shape of nearly
a right angle, formed by the Dan.
ube on its southern and part of it,
eastern frontier, the latter line be.
ing continued by the Pruth. The
inner angle toward Austria is form.
ed by the Carpathian mountains o.
Transylvania. That portion run
ming north and south, (formerly
Moldavis,) is an undulating plaiI
with forests and much grass land
Many horses are bred there. Here
the Russian railroads connect will
the Roumanian, at Jassy. The lint
then runs down the middle of Mol
davia 10 Galatz, where the Danube,
instead of the Pruth, becomes TIT
frontier line. Here also, it is not 1
line between Roumanla and Russia
like the Pruth. The Turkish frontier
commences now, continuing in {
southerly course into Bulgaria TO
perhaps 400 miles, exclusive of wind
iDgs formed by the river. Alonj
the first or eastern half of this curv
the Roumanian shore is borderet
by swamps several miles wide. /
could be crossed only at a few
points; two of these are strong Tur
kish fOrtresses, Silistria and Rust
chuk. Between them Is Turtukai
the first good opportunity for cross
ing, but guarded ON each side b,
the fortresses mentioned. Oltenitz
is the Roumanian town opposite t
Turtukai. The western half of tn
frontier is less marshy, but the Rou
manian shore generally is lew, an,
the Turkish high, giving the latte
an obvious advantage. The Danub
varies from half mile to mil
and half in width the stream
strong and rapid in this part ab0V
Silistria-difficuit to bridge sudden
ly with boats. The western end @
Roumania touches SerYia for shor
distance, the Servian frontier com
mencing some ten miles above Wild
din, strong Turkish fortress, mos
important from its situation. FroT
il, should the Turks secure the op
posite town of Kalafat. they e0ul
enter Ro1mania and cut the com
munication of an advancing arm
with the railroad. The Roumanisl
railway line runs like g backbone
through the centre of the State; an,
at Bucharest, the capital, brane
connects it with the Turkish lin
from Rustchnk to Yarna, The rail