Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-08-24


tain State, did all in their power to prevent
the accident. and it seems rather more
combination Of circumstances than the fault
Of any one person that the representatives OF
this State were not received with due
courtesy Globe.
Foreign Correspondence ofthe Free Press and Times
The Turco-Russian War.
TREBIzoNpE, July Is. 1871.
To the Editor of the Free Press and Times.
The first scene in the bloody drama OF this
Russo. Turkish war has come to close
The Russians. who entered Turkish territory
in such force and moved forward to what
seemed an easy triumph, have now made
has,y and ignominious retreat.
This movement has been 30 sudden and
unexpected that many have looked upon 1t
as feint,-a trick to Draw the Turks out of
their entrenched positions that they might
strike them in the open field, and, scatter
ing their armies, march without opposition
on Erzeroum This is fine plan on paper,
but the circumstances of the case do not sus-
tain this view. The movement is too extern
siye, has been at too great a sacrifice OF ma
terial and men to be strategic movement.
A more natural view is that Russia has
found the task in hand more difficult than
she supposed She has been acting on the
offensive, while Turkey has been on the de-
fensiye, fighting in positions of her own
choosing. Russia's base of supplies has
been very distant, with no railroads or
steam communication to assist in forwarding
supplies. The campaign began at time
when the roads were very bad, sometimes
| impossible, from mud and snow, and there
was as yet no grass for animals. The Turk
ish army, made up of raw recruits, undisei-
plned and ill-fed. have conquered because
| the clements have fought for them. The
| Russians must now return to their task
with new and more elaborate preparation,
and submit to terms of peace dictat ed by
the Turks.
One great source of weakness with the
Russians is their entire lack Of a fleet in
the Black Sea. Seven years ago Russia de-
clared her non-adherence to that clause of
the treaty OF Paris which forbade her build
ing an armament in the Black Sea. 1t was
then supposed that she would Immediately
begin the building of iron-clads, and make
fell preparation for all future emergencies
With such preparation she might have taken
this town and held the terminus to the
only road into the interior over which artll-
lery can pass. In that case, instead OF the
Turks using this road as they have now
done, the Russians could easily have taken
Erzeroun and nearly al Armenia from this
direction. As it has been, however, Turk
i.h TRANSPORTS filed with troops and war
material have trayersed the Black Sea in
nearly every direction, landing them not
only at all desirable places on the Turkish
coast, but also at Sukum-kal and other
points on the Russian coast. This state OF
things has given the Turks another decided
advantage. The iron-clads of Abdul-Aziz,
which so long lay uselessly at anchor in
front Of the Dolma Bakhtehe Palace, have
now found mission and are telling power
fully on the fortunes of the war.
In his declaration of war the Gar declares
his solicitude for the Christians of Turkey.
His success as phlanthropist has thus far
been very Indifferent. Perhaps it was not his
purpose to benefit the Christians of Armenia,
since he only mentions .hoso of European
Turkey. As a fact, it must be stated, that
the condition of the Armenians has been
made much worse In the first place, the
Koords, watching their opportunity have gone
to plundering and depredating until through
out nearly the whole of koordistan there
is not the slightest security for the property
or life or honor of Christian man or wo-
man. The villages of entire sections have
been abandoned, the inhabitants going
among friendly koordish neighbors or living
in caves in the mountains. Many Villages
have been plundered, the very clothing be-
ing stripped from the backs of the people.
As far as the Russians came they treated
the peasants with great kindness, paying
literally for all supplies and establishing
This treatment naturally wen the heart OF
the people, and they hailed the newcomers
with Joy as their delverers from the yoke
of oppression. Now these unsuspectin
villagers are abandoned, and the Turks again
assuming authority naturally treat those
who have shown Russian sympathies with
great severity. Thus, after suffering all the
exposures and losses incident to che theatre
Of great war, the people find themselves
worse of than before As, probably, one
half the growing crops in the entire region
east Of Erzeroum to the Russian and Per
sian borders has been eaten up or destroyed
it is probable there will be great destitution
the coming year, amounting to famine II the
contending armies return again to the con
dict
We may, then, sum up the results OF thi,
philanthropic mission Of the armies Of
Russia into the heart OF Armenia as follows
Probably 10000 men and 10000, 900 lost
in direct military operations on both sides
loss of not less then $4,000, 900 and many
lives to the people in the destruction %
crops and the plunderDg and murder by
evil men anarchy in many parts, and
greater oppression than before in every place
the prospect Of great dcstitution in the
future and the paralysis of all business
which our unsettled and Uncertain state %
affairs occasions
This is the record Of Russia as II philan-
thropist, as shown in this campaign in
Armenia. If She cannot do better than this
in the future, it is to be hopcd she will leave
the work of reformation to other hands.
The Turks are still active in moving for
ward military supplies to Erzcroum 50 as to
be ready, should the Russians renew the
campaign. The armament Of Erzeroum is
now nearly complete, and the Turks, IN
spirited with victory, will he far more diff
cult to overcome than before. Russia is,
| therefore, farther from the accomplishment
Of her task than she was when she declared
war, n. 2. 2,