Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-04-26
The Field of War.

= The formal declaration of war BY
Russia cannot be expected before Mon
day next, and may be delayed a few
days longer. The Gar is announced
20 leave 81. Petersburg to-day TOR Kis-
cheneff, in -Bessarabia, where Russian
army, variousiy reported at from 240,-
600 to 800, 600 men, has been rnassed
and organized for two or three months
past. The declaration will probably
follow the Imperial re
view of this army and the departure of
the Russian Embassy from Constanti--
nople. Nothing would be gained by
hastening it, for the final preparations
for movement on both sides, althongh
energeticsliy pushed forward, require
at least . fortnight more before the be-
ginning Of active warfare. We have
many details of the energy with which
Turkey is bracing herself to meet the
conflict; and We may be sure that Rus
sia-of whose doings we Know less-is
not behindhand.
Omitting. for the present, the con
sideration of that separate field of Wal
in Asistic Turkey, which may in the
end determine the issue of the strug-
gle, let us take a glance at the territory
which is to be the scene of the first
ierce collision between the two Pow
ers. Those who recall the relative po-
ition of the latter at the outbreak OF
the Crimean War in 1858 will be struck
by the resem blances of the present sit.
uation. In fact, only two forms of at.
tack are possible to Russia in moving
against-.Europesn Turkey The ap
proach Of Austrian Territory and the
Carpathian Mountains TO within 15G
miles of the Black Sea leaves her nc
other line of march than across the
lowlands of Roumania. Her alterna.
tive, which could be carried out in
conjunction with the former move
ment, is to transport strong force t.
the eastern coast and effect Iodgment
In the rear of the Turkish me Of
fortresses. ~. - -
The natural advantages of the field
are strongly in favor Of Turkey. From
! the Iron Gates to the BLACK Sea, the
northern or Wallachian shore of lhe
Danube is low and generally marshy,
~ hile the southern or Bulgarian shore
rises directly in bold hills, Offering
every chance of defense. The most im.
portant points, such as Tultscha, Silis
itria, Rustchuk, NicOpolis, and WiddiD,
are strongly fortified, and they firmly
held hack the Russian advance during
the Winter and Spring OF 1854. Al
Giurgevo. OltenitZa, and Kalafat the
Russians were defeated, and Silistris
bravely &ithstOUd their siege. 1t i,
probable that without the Anglo
Freneh alliance Turkey would have
been successful in that war. But the
conditions of the two combatants have
chsnged since that time, and we must
not suppose that the opening war viii
repeat, in any form, the features of the
earlier struggle. Although there is b1,
one railroad crossing the Pruth (from
Kischenef TO Jassy), the lines from
Bucharest reach the Danube at three
points, and furnish basis of supply
far superior to that which the Turks
possess. Moreover, the alliance oi Rou
mania practically extends Russian
territory 10 the Danube, and adds ma
terially to the power of attack. -&
The fear thal Turkey will imme il.
ately occupy Kalafat, and probably
lother points on the Roumaaian bank
| of the Danube, is undoubtedly well
founded. She will not-because she
need not -seruple to take an offensive
step before the declarations OF war; and
lihsthis life-and death struggle she nc ust
De swift to strengthen her main line ol
defense in every possible way. We
cannot but admire. the energy witk
which she follows her defiance; but no
nation knows the measure of her pres
ent strength so well as Russia, and the
means of the latter must be competent
to meet it. The war may be brief, but
it will be very hloody.-[N. Y. Tt
bune.