The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-07-14

AhgNAoW VI tuG 1uIuO~huablhu W hTs
More than two and a half months hav,
passed since the opening of the Russian
war against Turkey. During the first tw,
days after the declaration april oath,
there was rapid advance Of the invading
armies both in Europe and Asia. Since
then there have been great fluctuations OIL
success and defeat to the Russians il
Asia, and long halt of the European
army at the Danube, which river has been
crossed by two columns of Russians, the
first, being about thirty thousand strong
having made the passage near Ibrai, and
the other, Of about one hundred and TWEEN.
ty thousand, having crossed from Simnitza
to Sistova. The first column is in posses
sion Of that part Of northeastern Bulgaria
called the Dobrudscha, and the latter is
in control Of a large section Of central
Bulgaria from the Danube, near Nicopols,
to the foot hills of the Balkans. The
Russian army Of Asia, after a very success.
ful advance on Batoum, Kars, Arabian
and Byazid, and having enveloped Kars
aud passed the other points named, and
moved forward on the roads towards
Erzeroum, the capital of Armenia, has
met with many checks and reverses and
has retreated several marches towards the
Russian frontier. Abraham, Olti and
other central points occupied by the
Russians more than a month ago, have
been abandoned by them; the attack on
Batoum, having been severely repulsed
has been given up; the Russian garrison
which occupied ByaEid is surrounded and
in great peril, and the siege of Kars has
been entirely defeated for the present
Thus, whilst the Russian European army
invading Turkey has penetrated into Bull
garia, and has made large progress there,
the Russian Asiatic army has been rcpul-
sed and driven back, and is manifestly in
an embarrassed position. The latter has
been accomplished by the Turks through
sheer hard fighting, partly behind fortified
positions, and partly in the mountain
passes of Armenia; the former (the cross
ing Of the Danube and the advance 10
Bulgaria) Is success gained through
force of numbers and the momentum of
heavy fbattalions. In other words, wher-
ever numbers and momentum have been
brought into play, the Russians have
advanced successfully; wherever actual
lightning has been the chief element, the
Turks have been in the main successful
Such is the net result Of the war thus far.
And the Turkish success in Armenia is
all the more remarkable, because the
Russian invading force was probably three
times as great in numbers as the Turkish
army of defence. At the points of actual
conflict, it is possible the numbers may
have been somewhat equal, for the Rus.
slams were spread over long line of more
than 4 hundred miles, whilst the Turks
were concentrated at important positions,
Still, the result is so remarkable that it
gives occasion for the belief that some
thing must be very much amiss with the
long line Of communications through the
Caucasus, by means Of which the Russians
are supplied with provisions, ammunition
and other indispensable necessities.
Looking to the developments of the
war down to this time, forecast Of prob
abilities for the future, based on that
result, does not give promise of great
success to the Russian invasion, except as
to the occupation of Bulgaria, outside of
the range Of the great fortresses, which is
To large extent an accomplished fact
already. Beyond this the advance of the
invading army is confronted by the Bal
kan mountains, aud in the defence of the
passes Of that range, the Turks must have
all the advantages they made such success
full use of in the mountain country Of
Armenia; aud the Russians are at all the
disadvantage that checked their progress
and set them back in the same country,
viz, long and precarious line Of commu-
nicatiou and supply, which wcakens them,
and having to force different passes defen-
ded by the fighting qualities of Turkish
troops. If the Turks fight as well at the
defensive points in Bulgaria aud in the
Balkan passes as they have in Armenia,
whatever further progress is made BY the
Russians can hardly fail to be at heavy
cost to their greatly superior numbers
Philadelphia Ledger.