New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-09-11
rnr SEcoNp NrErGGLA rOR PLETNA.

THE SECOND STRUGGLE ron PLEVNA.
Prince Schackosky's disastrous assault at
Pleyna took place on the 31st OF July. 1t WAS
Il blow that, for the time, seems to have par
olyzcd the Russian plan of the campaign, which
p,obablv did not provide for the contingency
of failure on such a scale. II made necessary
the immediate Withdrawal Of Gen. GhourIoS
corps from the south of the Balkan, the hold
ing of the Shipka Pass at all hazards, ana the
strenotbpning of the lines stretching from the
Danube toward thar point. Had Sulelman
PaSha been wholly successful at SMpka' the
Russians might have been compelled to fail
back and mass themselves between IlrnoVa
and the river; but he only succeeded III delay
ing the repetition OF the struggle for the pos
session of Pleyna, which every consideration
of piide and military prestige imposed upon
his enemy. The subsequent lighting at haras-
sankGi Pelsat and KaZelcyo was evidence OF
design on the part of the Turkish generals,
Mebcmet ali and Osman, to disturb the exccu-
ton of the Russian plan, and demoraize the
spirit of the soldiers. Thus it happens that
the attack on Plcyna was not renewed until
last Friday, the 9TH inst, nearly SIX weeks
after the first defeat
We have no exact report OF the number of
the achievements which have been hurried
into Bulgaria during the month OF August
ont il must have been very large The Rus
sian designs on Picyna were not only to be
assumed, but they have not been masked Ia
any important particular The strategy has
been plain, direct, and easily comprehensive
from the beginning. The capture Of Lovatz
was q contingency which Osmon Pasha must
N have
prevented. had he considered he point to be OF
vital consequence 10 his position at PIeyna
In reality, it is too distant 10 be OF much ef-
feet as fankng movement. The clrcun-
stance that Prince Neretnaky marched from
Loyatz to join the left wing at GOgot (Which
the Russians had already reached in their adj
vance,, simply proves that his troops might
have taken the same position without capmr-
ing Loyatz But in all such operations it is
good strategy to secure the extreme wings
AGAINST rear or fink attack; and this the
Russians accomplished. The approaches to the
stronghold were made with caution, and
somewhat ineffective artillery duel WAS kept
up for two days before the actual strength Of
the combatants was measured. On the Turk
sh side, it is not likely that the precautions
so clearly dictated by the situation have been
omitted. We hear nothing Of the movements
Of the 10000 Koumanian soldiers who, fort
night ago, crossed the Danube by Il new
bridge, about twenty miles west of Nikop0lis
it is probable that they do not constitute a
separate command, bat have been added to
the main Russian Army.
While the new struggle for Pleyna has thus
begun the two remaining Turkish Armies are
not idle. Mchemet Ali continues 20 press on
toward Biea, threatening the very headquar-
tcrs of Alexander H., while Suleiman PaSha
suddenly makes his appearance on the north
ern side of the Balkan. These movements III
dictate an active and daring plan of operations
on the part of the Turkish commanders. They
seek to make up by Iapdity and impetuosiiy
what they lack in numerical strength, and it
Is impossible not to recognize and admire the
pluck with which they have prolonged the
UNEQUAL conflict Yet. for Russia, it has but
one possible termination. She must pay the
penalty of her mistakes, guard against their
repetition, and bear down her antagonist in
the end, by sheer weight of metal. The issue
of the fight at Plevna, and the subsequent
handling Of the Russian forces, will settle the
question whether the war VIII be finished this
Autumn, or prolonged until next season.
-------------------
COLLEGE H4/ING.
Gen. Sch0feld, commanding the Department