Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-03
OPENING OF TIE EASTERN CAN
pAIGN,

engagements have taken place re-
sulting in favor of the Russians. A
considerable battle has been fought
at Kars. The center of the Russian
army, 40, 900 strong, under Melikoff,
attacked Mukhtar five miles from
Kars, April 29th. The Turks
fought desperately. The Russians,
supported by powerful artillery, sue
ceeded in. dislodging them from
their position. Mukhtar called out
all of his reserves, and attempted
on the 30th to recover the lost
ground with 60, 900 men, but was
defeated and driven back under the
guns Of Kars. The Russian loss
was considerable, and those of the
Turks enormous. The New York
Tribune of the 30th ult., in a very
intelligent article upon the subject
of the war, says:
The reports Of tie fnt week Of war in
the East, confused IS they necessarily
are and untrustworthy 10 many particu.
lars, nevertheless indicate some features
Of the double conflict in Europe and
Asia, which may be temporarily accept
ed as facts. The strategy on both sides
seems to be nearly equally balanced:
Russia, BY the rapid advance 10 Gslats
on The Dsaube, has surprised TurkeY;
and Turkey By her prompt power Of re
sistAnce 10 Asia, has surprised Russia
On this fro5t Of battle. five hundred
miles 10 length, each antagonist has
made something Of al impression upon
the corresponding wing Of the other
The opinion which the Tribune has al
ready more than once expressed, that
Turkey anticipated war and has been
vigorously preparing herself 10 meet it,
is noW completely jlstiSed. That 3
Russian attack upon the important sea
port CT BStoum has besG rspulsed. and
that Po.i, the western port Of Circassia
aud the terminus Of the railroad to Tiais,
has been bonbsrded By the Turkish feet,
c8a scarcely be doubted. The figures
given are exaggerated, yet the fact OF q
temporary check 70 The Russian advance
remains.
On the Danube, the Russians hold
the main stream at Galatz and
Braila, and the northern, or Kilia
branch, to the Black Sea. We shall
soon know whether the Turkish
gunboats are able to hold them
from crossing the river. Once on
the southern bank-Which Soon
rises into the rolling plains Of the
Dobrudja-it will be difficult for the
Turks to stay their march south
ward to the rear of the fortress Of
SiliStria. The most important
question will be the establishment
of a secure base Of supplies. 1t is
probable that a strong force will be
masSed at Glurgeyo, opposite Rust
chuk, but we do not think any
movement in force will be made, Ut
present, toward Chernetz, on the
western frontier of Roumania. The
situation does not admit much de.
lay. The Russians are compelled
to make a speedy and powerful
effort to break the fortified line 0.
the Danube at one point or tn.
other, and they will not accomplish
this without hard fighting.
Turkey is at a great disadvantagt
on account of TIE semi-soyereignt'
of Roumania. The attitude Of thi
State toward Russia has thus "a
been simply passive but the occu
patton of Roumanian territory b
Turkish armies would at once COZ
vert it into an offensive allianc
To balance this, the Russian nav,
force in the Black Sea consists onl
Of such vessels as have been col
structed since 1870; while Turke
possessing the Dardanelles and u
Bosphorus, may employ her who
fleet against the enemy. Thus,
regard to the actual material of wa
the discrepancy between the tv
parties is not so great as it may ha.
at first seemed but when We con
to the questions of food and nun
tions-or money, which is the san
thing-we cannot doubt how II
scales will finally turn. Durir
the campaign now opened, no fir
report of any event must be a
cepted as the exact truth. Turk
is famous for prevarication al
Russia for concealment and
shall not often find both telling Il
same story at the same time.