Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1877-04-20
THE ETHIOPIAN STRUGGLE.

uUak 49,
THE EUROPEAN STRUGGLE
Nov that war between Russia and
Turkey may b considered ssinsvitsbls.
Il may not b aniss to pass ever ths
ground ON which the great contest must
be fought. and review briefly the sdvsn-
tages and disadvantages which viii Be
met BY either side. The war In which
Russia has bean most sueesssful against
Turkey Wa that Of 1877. just . half
century ago. Al that time the Porte
was hszasssd BY internal di-sssnsions
with regard 10 the J~aaissriss. which Of
course weakened her power. The Car.
too. had command Of the Black See,
and the operations Of his navy were .
most important element In the struggle.
The Turkish army. too. vas poorly
gsnsrslsl. and the Russians BY . stzats-
gic movement succeeded In dscoyins
the Turks from the defence Of the
passss OF the Balkan. and psnstratsd to
Adrianopls. almost before the enemy
knew that they were on Tszkish soil.
Then Turkey became frightened and
sued for pseos. Just - the treaty wa
signed cid came to the Porte from the
J~anisariss. Who had been In rsbsliion ;
bot they came too late. The treaty was
made. and peace declared. The victory
Of Rsssis. u IL can BE- disnihsd ~ that
name. was dus 70 three things-ths su-
psriority Of her naval forces; the in
competency Of the Turiish commander.
And The fortunats delay Of the reinforce
m.nts to the Turiish army until after
the treaty Of peses was signed.
The objective point Of the Russians
In the campaign OF 1897 vas constanti-
nopls. as Il is In the great struggle which
10 aoout opening. But they never
reached that point. and 90 firmly con-
WINGED we're their commanders Of the
iupossibility Of reaching ID. that they
were only tso anxious 10 grant the psaos
for which Turkey sued. 1t Adrianopls.
and give up the prosecution Of . hope
isss war. Their army had been decreased
by the diseases which are incident to the
insalubrious valley Of the Danube. %
that. although General Diebitsch crossed
the river with l5s. 900 men. he retired
into winter quarters in wallachia with
but $1,000 men. They had reached
Adrianopis. bot coustantinopls Vas a.
far away On ever. And 20 whsn Turkey
asked for peace they concluded that dis
crvtiou wa the better part Of valor. and
returned To Russia with flying eolon,
Wanting loudly Of . victory which was
no victsry Al al.
The conditions under which the pres
en-, war will be vsged. providing the
two nations are left to hght Il out by
themselves, are very different from those
Of the struggle Of l~ss7-Turkey still
retains all the Typographical advantages
which abe then possessed. and In adj
ton to these. many which we're then
wanting to her and posssssed BY the
enemy. At that time the Black Sea vas
under the control Of Russia. and this
fact, more than anything else. enabled
the Car to advance - far as Adrian
opls. Now the Black Sea Ii swept by
aTurkish %iotilia. and . very powerful
fio,iila Il IL. Turkeys Notifications on
the Danube have been strengthened and
improved, and shs has . feet Of gun
boats On the river. which will render in
passage a matter Of extreme difficulty.
An army Of 5000 men are guarding
the passes Of the Balkan. and from
100, 900 to $50. 900 more are held In re-
s.rvs ON the line Of the Danube. In
addition the CONSUMPTION list calls for
800, 900 more; and these men are oil
brave soldiers. armed with the most sp-
proved style Of modern rides and needle
guns. Her Geld artillery il Of the latest
and most effective pattern. and will do
efficient service in the defense Of the
empire.
Tho Russians can muster . larger
army. but b-youd this, everything is
against them. They must frst cross the
Danube. which involves the capture OF
the Turkish Notifications. This win be
no easy matter. a. We have seen. But
suppose IL accomplished. The fortiaca-
tons oncs taken must DO held 10 pro-
vide against future disaster. DstAch-
ments from the army must Be made for
this purpose. and thus their number
will be decreased and their strength
weakened. Then will rome decima-
ton by disease In the valley Of the
Danube. long and tedious marches to
the Balkan mountains, which must be
passed before the real work Of the CAM
psign begins. Every pass in the rugged
range is veil guarded BY Turkish troops.
frssh and brave. To oppose them win
BE- an army sick and weary from long
marches. In 1897 the Balkan was
nassed nv strnts1v. Gsusrnl Dirbiisch |