Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-07-05

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paign to the greatest victory we have
ever achieved. Applause.
The Crossing Of the Danube.
The most important event which has
marked the progress of the Eastern
war has now been consummsted.
Since sbe eutF4nce OF the Russian army
into Romania three months ago specu-
lation hss been rife as to the place
which would te selected by it FIR the
crossing of the Danube. Imaginative
correspondents, who were compelled to
remain away from the Russian lines
and devote themselves to writing &C.
counts Of the manners and customs Of
the people, and the geographical Pc
culisrities Of the country, often indulg-
cd In their pet theories as to the best
place for effecling the crossing. But,
in spite of the influence of the journals
which they represented, the army lay
like couchant lion along the banks of
the river, to all appearance utterly
supine and indifferent to the necessity
Of making any movement. In this, to
outsiders, inexplicable delay, Russia
was, however, 1t now appears, only
following out in military matters that
course which she has adopted in politi-
cal measures. When she first moved
her forces southwaras the heavy rains
of spring had swelled the rivers and
rendered the ordinarily marshy Do
brujds no better than a level sea. Her
chief object, therefore, consisted in ex.
tending her line westward through
Romania until the right wing rested
on the Aiuts Valley. To accomplish
this successfully vast amount of patti
ence and labor was required, and in
stead OF being astOnished at the delay,
the real wonder Is that so short tune
was consumed in planning and execut-
ling such gigantic movement. There
was also diplomatic end in view in
this quiet and sluggish progress. The
fact that to the Roinanian forces under
Prince Charles was assigned the task
sJfnot only extending the Russian line,
but protecting the righ wing was sig
uificsnt. II was sop to Cerberus. 1t
secured the cooperation of that po-
tenfate, and by giving him this post uf
honor prevented him from induIging
in a direct attack against Turkey,
which might have proved premature
and exhausted his limited resources.
When every preparation, then, was
Icompleted and the Turk was in his
tent dreaming of the hour, the MuscO-
vite batteries opened fire, the boats
which had been hidden amongst the
willows and the tamsrisks that fringe
the banks Of the river pushed out bold.
ly, and horse, men and artillery enter
/ ed Bulgaria and planted the standard
Of the Cross. 1t might not be properly
correct to say that this movement met
with no opposition, but save at places
ON which q Gre was directed simply as
\ ruse toshide the real action of the in
vading army, the distractions raised
up seem to have been of q very feeble
ieharacter. When the extreme left of
the Russian line-at least the main
pOrtion-eBtered the Dobrujda Iaet
week by Ibrsil and Galatz, the Turks
speedily evacuated Hirsova, Matchin
land 5Tchernavoda. The bombardment
of Rustchuk was vigorously met, but
almost simultaneously with it the
Grand Duke Nicholas, Commander-in:
Chief, crossed at Sistova, at the ex-
Itreme southern curve ofthe Danube.
Atthe latter place. as we'll as at Nicop
oils, the Turks made determined
stand. But the rivers in these neigh
borhoods had been availed of by the
Russians to, construct their pontoons,
while the woods and numerous islands
around were used to cover their prepar-
alton. The result was that when the
struggle began the Turks soon found
themselves Outnumbered and we're ui-
timately forced to retreat. Nicepolis,
perched on limestone cliffs oyerhang-
ing the river, is an important capture,
iand can be used to cover one of the
lines of the retreat. Sistova, distant
from it only twenty-four miles, and
now occupied by the Russians, is also
of equal importance. The Jautra,
which unites with the Danube below
this place, would form q good line for
covering Rustehuk, but force will no
1Ouht assemble between the former
river and that fortress, thus assisting
the progress of operations. rir.zsr ID. -
Everything now points to the fact
that the whole of the Dobrujds is in the
hands of the Russians, and that they
also hold the southern banks of the
Danube from Widdin to Rustchuk.
The latter place, although still occupied
by the Turks, Is in ruins. The invsd-
Jug army is seiEing every defensible
point on the river connecting with the
main roads, SO that its centre can re-
lceive constant supplies. Rustchuk be-
/ ing turned, the interest will naturally
centre in Shumla and Varna, because
although Silistria still remains on the
Danube, the Russians will be able to
mask II. A very short time, therefore,
may witness an advance on Shumla.
With another army corps entering
Romsnia by the Bolgrad route, great
events may be looked for, and if
Shumla falls nothing can prevent the
march of a conquering army over the
Balkan mountains TO thegates of Con-
stantinOple.-[ Baltimore American.