The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-06-30
The War Situations.

ten the hang of their work well
enough to send us ineligible des-
patches, and Notwithstanding the
daily contradictions, we are able, by
a comparison Of the reports, to obtain
something like comprehensive view
of the situation. The fighting in Asia
Minor is the first of the war that
could really be dignified by the name
of battle. Although there were
comparatively few troops engaged on
either side-about ten thousand Rus
slams against a somewhat larger force
OfTurks-the movement was Ofgreat
importance, and throws flood of
light upon what appeared to be the
mysterious Russian strategy of the
past two weeks. While there is I'M
doubtedIy powerful army still be-
sieging Kars, it is plain to be seen
that the Russian commander does not
propose to sit down before that fort
ress and delay his advance until it
has yielded to the investment. He
has swung his left wing far south and
struck the right wing Of the Turks in
the mountains beyond the valley of
the river Arras. Moukhtar Pasha,
in the meantime, had advanced his
centre in the same direction and made
an effort to hold the last mountain
passes which separated the Russian
left from hisoWn right. This attempt
led to the battle which was fought
on the 10th and ended in a disastrous
defeat of the Turks. The fight lasted
six hours defeat was converted into
q rOut, and the Russians made them
selves masters Of the passes and the
Turkish position of Delibaba. The
dispatches indicate that MOukhtar
Pasha has retreated northWestWard-
ly toward levin, which is about half
way between Kars and ErZeroum,
and from which there is a good and
straight road to the latter place.
His position at this point is a very
perilous, as the two Russian TANKS
are beginning to approach him on
the north and south, probably with
the view Of overlapping him and ma
king one grand endeavor to crush his
forces in the field. OF these move
mentS of the Russians, ErzerOum is
doubtless the objective point. Not
Withstonding its great importance,
it is a weakly fortified place, having
no such defence as those around Kars
behind which siege and assault may
for a time be deIied. AS the armies
are located now, the Russians have
nearly divided the natural advanta-
ges of the ground with the enemy,
and unless Moukhrar Pasha accom-
plisheS the improbable feat Of inflict-
ing serious repulse upon them in
the direction Of EZerOum, it must in-
eVitably soon fall into their hands.
AS the capital of Armenia, its cap
ture would be Of the utmost moment
and would greatly tend to expedite
the solution of the campaign. From
thence the onward march to Trebi-
zond and other ports on the eastern
shore Of the Black Sea would follow,
while Kars might be left to its fate.
Events along the Danube are also
taking on an increasing significance.
Diplomatic negotiations and the nee
essary slOWness Of the enormous task
of collecting material for such a ire
mendOuS army as the Russians have
cOngregated in Roumania, explain
the delay that has taken place. But
it is tOlerably certain now that there
will be no Intervention in behalf of
Turkey by any other Power, at least
until Russia shall have won a great
victory or two in the field and her
troops are on the march across Bulga-
ria to COnstantinOple. GCrtscakof's
circular, declaring that Russia has no
thought of permanently occupying
ConstantinOple, and that she would
prefer it to be free city under the
protection OF the Powers, with free
navigation ofthe BosLhorus and Oar
danelles secured by the same guaran-
tee, has had a marked effect at Lon
don, Paris, Berlin and Vienna, and
disarmed the war party in England.
The Cars intimatiOn to SerVia to
preserve her neutrality and refrain
from declaring new war against
the Porte has also served to quiet
the apprehensiOns of Austria and de-
prived that Power of a preteXt for
the once threatened military oc-
cupatiOn of Servian soil. AS in all
the intricate diplomacy which has
been involved in the Eastern quest
ion, once more has Russian stateCraft
proved itself equal to any emergency
arising out Of the Muscovite aim to
deprive the Sublime Porte Of all eX-
terror alliances. The success Of Gort-
schakoff and his able coadjutors in
that respect will form a prolific sub