, 1877-07-25

C6Ittu lOr me mONlelG1 rouse themselves
to bar the passage. There are some among
us who have no taste for military details,
who would skip all the battles of NApo-
LEON in M. Timers history, interested
only in political results, and Indifferent by
what marches and counter-maIches, what
concentrations or rapid changes ct front,
the power of a Government was beaten
down and the destiny of a nation changed.
Such persons will, perhaps, hasten to an
ticipate the issue of this campaign, and,
concluding that a collapse Of the Ottoman
Powers is at hand, will concern themselves
at once with the return Of the diplomatists
to the scene. But most people will feel
that the day furnishes sufficient interest
for their thoughts and will content them
selves with observing the astonishing dra-
ms before them, without premature spe-
c|ulatiOn on consequences which cannot be
toreSccn. The disposition made by the
SerdaI has been directed to the defence of
the passages of the Danube, which at the
beginning of the campaign was thought
feasible and likely to result in so bloody a
repulse of the Russians that they would
be inclined to come to terms. For this
purpose the Turkish line has been extend
ed along the river from the Seryian from.
tier to the Dobrudscha, and considerable
portions are detached from the main mass
which lies about the quadrilateral formed
by Rustchuk, S~ilistria, Shumla, and Varna.
The Roumanian performances at Kalatat,
the concentration of Prince CHARLEs's
Army in Little Wallachil, and the doubt
full attitude of Seryia, have had the effect
OF forcing the Turks to keep large bodies
of troops on the higher Danube. Such
must ever be tha disadvantage of an army
which commits itself to the task of defend
ing three hundred miles of river. The
Russians have broken in upon the inordi.
nately extended line, and our Correspon-
dent who described the crossing in our
impression OF yesterday gives what is no
doubt the prevalent military opinion as
follows :-"The Russian left is in great
" force near uilsova aud is being c|onlinu-
" ally strengthened, and the right has
:" secured q crossing at Simnitza, so that
8 we may say that The Danubiau passage
" is St cured. The centre has the choice
q Of concentrating or the right or left
" wing, and crossing without opposition.
4" Widdin and Nicopolls are isolated from
3" the Turkish qnadrilateral, and present
" indications lead to the conclusion that
i" this much-vaunted square of lortrcsses
/" will itself soon be cut in halves, ani the
" Turkish force separated into taree divi-
g sions without means of communicat on,
" and With the whole Russian Army occu-
{" plying a central position between them
" and free TO move with crushing force
& DOOn 9nV ono nj tban1 -
Tie Turkish force on the higher Danube
opposed to the Rouma ians may number
$4,000. Lower down, at NicopoIis, Sisto-
va, and other points, and in reserve at
Plevna, it may be 10000 more. These
would all be separated from the rest of the
army by the Russian advance In and
about Rustchuk are $4,000 in the in-
trenched camp at ShunIa, the head quar-.
tiers, there are, says oCr Correspondent,
10000 OF all arms; SiliStiia is held by
10000; at RaSgrad, Varna, and other
places there are considerable oarrisons.
The Turks have on army which is formida-
bic IN numbers, whatever may be The
disadvantages Of It's position. On the
other hand, the Grand Duke NICHOLAS
disposes of an army which overmatches
even this great levy Of the Mohamcdan
power. The forces which are crossing the