New-York tribune., 1877-08-21
NEW YORK, TUESDAY, AUGUST 81, 1877.

possession OF Pevna IT, OF coure essential to the safey
OF the Russian communications IL Is small town
defended by earthworks From Kasanlk TO the nearest
point OF the railway IL hardly forty miles, and from there
TO Adrianople seventy more. Meanwhile, Gen thinner
mann with Fourteenth and plrto the Seventh Corps
in the Dobruda has advanced and sezed,spparently WIN
out much resistance the entire length OF the railway from
Kustendje to Tchenayoda, thus holding the line OF
Traans Wall and efcctualy preventing the Turks nom
attempting any counter-strokcs by the lower Danube
upon the Russian communications In Roumania AS wen
as can asceraned the Turks have about 100000 men
IN the Quadratera Of the fortresses of shumla Narna
sstra and Rustchuk Of which 10000 are estimated 10
be in the Danube forresses but the reports about thc
Turkish Army are very meagre and contradictory
Concerning the movements III Asa it's much moreo
cult II not impossible to give any trustworthy account
as the official reports which have been puDlshed are
short and very incomplete; and at the Chetoi-Stans :
headquarters the officers simply say that the advance
was undertaken with only 900 nen and was unsuc
cessfu as the Turks had GC000 Ii IL, however, known
that the Russians advanced Erzeru, the capital OF
Armenia, by three routes, viz: the nam road lroin
Alexandropol by way OF Kars, the route IRON
Ardahan to Ou and the route from Bayazh'
A force Of 5000 men was also sent against
Batum, a most important harbor, but II was
entirely unsuccessful. Bsyazd was captured In Aprii
and Ardahan early III May, but Kars held out against
besegcrs The Turks then struck the column coming
from the east and cutting II Off from Bayazd dro'o ~
north through Toprak Kaleh, and beseged the Russian
garrison left in Bayazd winch on the point OF sur
render when relieved by reinforcements from EnVah
about July s. The Russians evacuated Bayazid ana re-
tired across the frontier. Turning hom this coiu'nh
toward Kars. the Turks compelled the Russians 10
raise the Siege OF that place about June 20
OF course the western column was then oDneeu 10 id
back from Ot TO AIdahan. and the whole campaign sa
failure nd must be begun again. Two DIVISIONS
Whose number cannot earn) have been sent 10 rem
force the OF the Caucasus, which is now reorsan
ing for the offensive Aexandropo but the season
for active operations will be passed in that elevated
mountain region would that the error OF the
Russians consisted not much in dividing their foree
into three columns which could not communicate
with each other, and thus allowing themselves
to be beaten in detail, as in understanding
the strength Of KaIs and sending an insufficient foreo
against IT, and this in spite Of the fact that Kars s
famed eige OF five months IN 1885, and has since
been much strcngthe led. Had hais fallen or bad "
been possible sufficient force to mask II and sun
advance along the main road. two, and perhaps al ree
OF the columns might have united near HaSscn haeh
month since, and advanced TO attack Erzerum; but DY
the main force being held in check az the whole
movement miscarried. Sir Arnold kemoail British
officer. il ut the headqu trers of Mukhar Pasha ald
entered Kars with him. IL is reported hat he IS me f
cipal military adviser Of Mukhtar Certainly the Iutsh
defence been well conducted and has placed the us
SLAMS they at hc beginning VI Inc campaSL
except that they stl hold ArdIhan