Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-08-29
Russo Turkish War In Asia.


ERzERoUM, July II, 1877.
Messrs. Editors We are as much In the fog
at the present time respecting Russian tactics ms
you American politicians can ever be just before
election day. Kars, which some of the American
papers have had taken with fifteen thousand pris
oners, ia so far from being captured that 1t is now
open to communication from this way and
Mookhtar Pasha's forces have really formed
junction with the garrison Of that place Inc
Russians seem to have retired back Of the city
some distance, from all we eau learn. Their
right wing has been retiring in Illuminating way
1t seems pretty evident there has been hghtlng
Mt Eutch-Kaisseh, only nine hours march from
Bayazid, but the result is not known. The Turks
claim to have driven them over the border, but
do not credit IT, though there is road direct
from Eutch-Kalisseh to Erivan that they might
take without going to Bayazd
Now the question that naturally arises Isl
What does all this mean2 Are the Russians as
weak as ths2 Did they fail to count the cost in
such an undertaking, and not make due prepara-
ton? Or have the Turks proved stronger than
they expected, and more than master for themP
These and many such questions arise at the pres
ent time and as many speculative answers given
by different individuals 1t is quite possible any
that we might advance might seem very ridicu-
lous to Western readers, in view Of news they
may have before them from the Russian side as
to their plan of operation And yet it can hardly
he more so than what comes to us in newspapers
from the Western world respecting the campaign
that is going on in these parts
One theory in regard to this backward move
ment of the Russians is that formidable rebel
lion has broken out in their own dominion which
a. -. r.. .lts4
and reinforcement That there is and has been
for some time rebellion bordering on the Black
Sea, among the Caucasus we are well aware; but
that it had extended far enough to the eastward
to endanger communication with this part OF the
army we were not aware. fear there may be
some ground for this theory, rs the future may
show.
But what seems to me more probable is that the
Russians are not so weak and divided as they
would seem to be from casual observation. They
have in mind some far-reaching, strategic plan
which is not now quite evident They may be
drawing the Turks on to kars, hoping to spring
trap ON them there, and thus fight out the battle
nearer home where supplies and reinforcement
would be easier and safer. Besides, to come ON
this side of Kars was to find that the Turks had
fallen back upon strong points that were very diff
fcult to capture. As 1t now is, they have drawn
them out of their strongholds and they must
meet in drawn battle on the open field. There the
Turks cannot be counted on so well, though it is
admitted by all that in most respects they have
displayed very good bravery since the battle Of
the 10th May. The people of the country think
they have never fought so well in any war before
Be that as it may, the Russians have nothing to
boast of at the present time. Whatever may be
tie reason, they have drawn back from every
point From any facts we now have at hand we
can hardly forgive them for the course they have
taken in this campaign. It seems to show very
clearly that they have not their so-caed interest
for Christians which they made pretence for
taking up arms Though Bayazid, from all we
can learn. has not been wholly surrendered, yet
their garrison was SO small as to be powerless to
protect Christians and other non-combatants leav-
ing them to the mercy of the wild Koords con-
corning whose fendish procvty have before
spoken. Most houid reports come to hand of the
atrocities committed there upon the poor defence
less ones, and, most of all, among the women and
children And it is not simply there. The whole
Aashgerd region fell into the Russians hands,
and for the sake of humanity should have been
held by them at whatever sacrifice. As it is, they
fall back and allow the villages in that region tn
fall into the hands of the Koords The latter seem
to regard it as part of Russia far AS to
make it a pretext to plumber at will. We hear
that in this and regions beyond, among the Koords,
they not only rob and plumber everything even u
the scanty bedclothing from the houses, but they
go so far rs to strip the clothing from the backs
of both men and women! Oh, the devastation
that is abroad in the landl In the many Letters