Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-08-08
The situation After Plevna.

LONDON, Aug 8, 1877.
The first movement of the Russians toward car
rying out the plan of the campaign heretofore
fore Swallowed as the likely TO be selected has
resulted in the disaster of Plevna The purpose
of the Russian Generals obviously was to whet !
arou nd their right and left wings TO line para,
with the Balkano, taking Tirnova as a pivot, and
thus force Osman Pasha and Mehemet Ali back
across the mountains on their respective lines of
retreat This accomplished, and Osman Pasha
and Mehemet Ali prevented from effecting june
ton by the forces under Gen Gou:kho, which
were meanwhile to establish themselves south of
the Balkans. the Russian campaign would have
been beyond danger Of failure or serious inter-
ruption. The promenade across the Danube and
to and over the Balkans while the Turks remained
idle in their camps and fortresses was perhaps suf
fcient to justify the idea of the Russians that
they had only to advance to insure that the Turks
shoul Id retreat. 1t was this feeling which led the
Russians into the fatal ambush of Plevna a fort
night ago, and which on Tuesday sent an inferior
force ~ ayenge that disaster Oh victorious army
IN fortified Positions.
The result that all is chaos az ain far as the
public knowledge oil the situation Is concerned,
aud that dispatches from the front full OF
exaggerated rumors dictated by the hopes or fears
OF etner side, but the salient tact Is unquestioned
that the Russians have been checked, and that
their campaign cannot make any progress until
they have shaken OF Menemlt Ali aud Osman
PashA IRON their TANKS; anu meanwhile Gour-
kno's task south Of the balkans Is rendered more
and more serious daily by the concentration and
organization OF Suiennsn Pasha's forces.
The Roulnania Railway Is monopolzed by the
dispatch oil feIuioIceinents from the camp vf re-
serves AT kischeneh. 1t Is alleged that The DO
bfudja viii be almost wholly evacuated, and Il im-
norman corps will return by way Of Sistova to
the central army. The Gar has decreed fresh
l.vies at home, all of which means that the mili-
tary prone made has been turned into an affair Of
lie and death for the Russians, and that the Turks
will be crushed II there Is power In Russia to
crush them.
The Turkish plan is believed to be for Osman
Pssha to fight his way eastward, and Mehemet
Ali to advance westward upon lirnovs, while
Sulieman Pasha eDdeavors TO force the Russian
position at kasaDlIk; but in dong this Osnan
Pasha must expose his flank to the risk OF beI ing
turned from the direction OF Nlkopolis, thus Ia
cihtstlng the Russian plan OF pvoung on Iirnoya
and toiclng him to retire behind the Balkans
Mehemet Ali would incur the same danger from
the Russians between Rustchuk and Rasgrad,
while Sulelman Pasha must attack the Russians
in positions OF their own choice. The supposed
Turkish plan does not look very promising unless
the Russians aid 1t by mistakes like those ut Pev-
ma, but it may, with skiiliul handling, serve to
keep the Russians IN cheek until the campaigning
season is over, which would be for the 1ul Ks the
next thing to absolute victory. Both Russia and
Turkey ale submitting TO terrible strain on their
iesources to win decisive advantage in this cam
pa,gn. Meantime 1t would seem from apparently
well authenticated reports Of outrage, murder and
rapine by the Bashi-Bazouks, Bulgarlans aud
Cossacks, that the war is last assuming q charac-
ter of savage cruelty, which threatens to make it
war Of DETERMINATION Tor all the inhabitants of
the Territory involved whether Christian or Mo-
hammedan.
Reinforcements are daily arriving at CONSTANT.
nople and are Immediately despatched to Adrian
Ople.