The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-09-29
Nearly Four Inches Of Snow
in the Shipka Pass.
PROSPECTS OF HRHRAET and SULLIVAN.
A More Hopeful View Of the
Russian Position.
.BY CABLE TO THE HRRALD.1
LONDON, Sept. 20, 1877.
MEuEMEr Airs RETREAT.

LON seems to indicate that the Turks will be salts
fed to maintain their present advantages and de-
pend upon the winter to force the Russians back
across the Danube. The Times Shuma special
says the rctrograde movement was parity because
the recent rains rendered it difficult to bring up
supplies and partly on account Of the Russians
massing considerable forces on the LON. 1t would
appear from this explanation that the idea Of hold
ing the country between the LON and the Jantra
has been abandoned by the Turks.
THE COMING oPPoRTUNIrY.
Thus 1t once more becomes possible for the Rus
slams to isolate and blockade Rustchuk, which,
however, has probably been supplied for the win
ter during the past month that communication has
been open. Mehemet ALPS right will again be
about Kazclevo, with Rasgrad as base, while his
left will extend far the deles south of Osman
Bazaar, being within easy support from shumla.
guine Of his ability to force the line Of the Kara
LON, Notwithstanding the arrival Of several
divisions OF the Imperial Guard.
IN THE SNOW.
Snow has been falling In the Shipka Pass since
Monday ana is now ten cenumetres (aoSinches
deep at the foot Of the Balkans.
FAITHFUL TO THE TREATY
The Austrian and German Ambassadors, in the
name Of the Russian government, have applied to
the Porte in virtue OF the Geneva Convention for
permit to transport timber across the Danube Tor
huts for the Russian wounded. the Porte has de-
ferred reply until 1t is made certain that tho huti
are only to be used for the wounded.
HOPEFUL OUTLOOK
A correspondent at Bucharest, writing under
date OF Wednesday, takes o decidedly hopeful
view of the Russian prospects; but it must be OBJ
servedth this was before the Roumanans at
tempted and famed to take the second Grevica re.
doubt, If indeed. this report (which comes from
several directions, but not yet officially from any
be not entirely baseless The correspondent says
A GRAND FLANK MOVEMENT
''The star officers In front OF Plevna express the
utmost confidence that the place viii fall into their
hands. Should Osman Pacha's army be finally de-
stroyed there is nothing to prevent great flank
movement down the valley OF Sofia to Adrlanopis
and the Turkish capital itself.
NO FEAR OF suLEIMAN. trlf
"Suleiman Pacha has squandered the lives of his
army on the forts In the Shipka Pass, and, were he
to attempt to withdraw, TO oppose this flank move
ment, he would have General Radically at his heels
and his army would have its hands full without at
tempting to NEEDLE with the Plevna army Should
Mehemet All attempt to move to the southwark
Russian hordes OF cavalry would entange him at
every step. Perhaps 1t Is with u view to some
thing like the above that the Russian command
crs keep their hold on the Shpka Pass and persist
in their attacks upon Plevna.
STRAINED THE UTMOST.
'sThere Is no doubt that the Turkish powers Of
resistance strained to high degree Of tension,
and in such circumstances semciyilized organza-
tons Ike those OF Turkey liable to collapse in
most unexpected manner, so that in spite OF the
gross blundcrs OF the Russian staff great change
Is possible ut any moment In the military situation
In Bulgaria
ABUNDANCE OF PROVISIONS.
"There is an abundance OF wheat and barley re-
naming in Bulgaria Every bamlet Is crowded
with immense stacks of these grains, while very
large crop Of Indian corn Is awaiting the husband
man. Very little Of the crops raised this year In
Roumania has been touched Ivy the Russians, con-
soquently they have provisions in abundance for
man and beast, and II they can surmount the dill
Guilty Of obtaining fuel they can winter In Bulgaria
very comfortably.
THE RUSSIAN sOLDIERY.
"As to the present morale OF the Russian forces
there is some difference Of opinion but from my
own experience with them l am convinced that.
although the Russian soldier Is unreserved In his
comments on what lie deems bad management on
the part OF his commanders, he forgets oil his past
grievances when he sees the hated Moslen, and
goes at him as though he had always been com.
manded by Napoleon" tr
The contingency on which oil these projected
operations admittedly rcst-namely, the capture OF
Pcvna-has been rendered more distant than ever
nv the facts which this correspondent did not
know when he wrote.
.y PLEvNA REPROvIsIoNED.
Whatever the explanation may be OF the cause
that has led to the Of Riizi Pacha the fact
is now uncontested that he has safely carried re.
iniorcements, supplies and munitions into the en-.
trcnched lines held by Osman Pacha, and his being
able to do so demonstrated that the fortress Is not
invested but Is being merely attacked on portion
OF its 'front.' and the two former disastrous failures
to carry it by assault forbid the expectation that 1t
will fall by spade and pick while the Turkish force
defending 1t is not inferior to the attacking army
In numbers or lighting capacity.
LAuDATi0S OF sUIEIMAN.
Tho Times military critic says OF the operations
of the third Turkish army:-"lt IL dnlcult 10 per-
celvc tho full objects of Suleiman Pachas strategy,
but he has certainly proved himself bold and in.
trcpld leader and, until the result Of his operations
is made manifest and their full purport discovered,
II is only fair to suppose he Is acting with adequate
reason
AN ANGEL IN DISGUISE
ellis characteristic bravery, the seffdenial and
abstcmiousness OF his mode OF life, his cool nerve
ana updaunted courage and his high military rep,
utation which Was apure eli ted on all hands till his
check IN front of the formidable Fort St Nicholas,
should now be remembered"
DELAYED By Rad WEATHER.
A correspondent writing from CnerIovna last
Saturday. says:--'I do not believe 1t possible at
present, TO advance evon with the rclnforcements
which havo arrived. day or two Of rain has
made TIM roads almost impossible. The ground Is
sodden and the mud ankle deep. The immense
nunhar Of horses have eaten almost all the forage,