Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-06-08
THE EASTERN WAR.
The situation on the Danube and 1
Asia.


last occupied the chief positions, and
their lines extend from Galatz to Kala-
fat. But the river bars their way, and
until the stream returns to its normal
summer level it will be perilous, if not
physically impossible, to take the army
across. 1t is now hardly possible that
the Russians can execute this great mill
tary operation for the next three weeks.
They may come to close quarters with
the Turkish armies about the beginning
of July, so that the campaign will proba-
bly, be prosecuted under the greatest
heats of the summer. The region of the
Lower Danube is terribly unhealthy for
strangers, so it may be presumed that the
Russians will endeavor to traverse with
all celebrity the more unhealthy districts.
Those troops will fare worst which have
to sit down before fortresses or guard
strong places in the chain of communiea-
tions.
The character and duration of the
struggle in Bulgaria is the subject of
much speculation, particularly in Ger
many and Austria, where every officer
seems to have made his own particular
study of the campaign. The general
tenor of these criticisms is adverse to
the Turks, not from any doubt that they
will make a good fight and even inilict
serious repulses on their enemy, but from
prepOssession that superiority in num-
bers, efficiency of organization and stra-
teglcal ability are on the side of the Rus
slams. There are "a 900 Russians in po-
sition on the Danube. without counting
the Roumanians or reserves that are be.
ing brought forward, that amount to co.
600 men. There are $4,000 men east of
Ibrail, and 10000 with considerable re-
serves at Botgrad, which is the point of
support for this part of the line.
The strength and position of the works
at REM and Ibrail indicate that they are
defensive and not offensive, the precau
tions taken being directed against an at
tack by the Turkish fleet, and to prevent
the passage of the river by the Turks.
AT Ibrail there are three batteries, one
west of the town, sweeping the Danube
with four twelve Founders, and two guns
of larger caliber off to the point formed
by the Matchin Channel, and two east of
the town, raking the Matchin Channel,
one of which is armed with four guns of
position and four bowitzers, and the
other with eight pieces of stlll larger
caliber, and two mortars from which pro-
jectiles are said to have reached Matchin
From Ibrail up to the lines of Bucha-
rest, and Oltenitza, and Giurgevo there
are no troops except the number requisite
to guard against surprise, but between
Bucharest and Giurgcvo the concentra-
tion is on a large scale. The forces are
in three camps, each containing 10000
men, to which must be added another
10000 at Giurgevo. There are now 10,-
600 men concentrated ON the Bucharest
and Giurgevo line along the railway,
who may be directed either against the
line of Rustchuk and Turtukai, or Rust
chuk and Sistova. On the spot it is be-
liGved the latter will be chosen, and that
the demonstration at UltenitZa is merely
feint. The second concentration is on
both sides of the river Aluta. East of
the river are 10000 men in two camps,
both on the high road to Turnu Mugureli,
West of Aluta are four camps, represent
ing about $4,000 men. This may be re-
garded as the center of the line. Farther
west, on the line of Kalafat and Turn
SEVERN, the last accounts stated the num-
Der of Russians to be over 10000.
The Turkish army on the Asiatic side
appears to have been deplorably neg
lected The troops are worse disci-
pinned, worse equipped and provided than
those on the Danube, but the nature of
the warfare in Asia to some degree makes
the deficiencies in the armies less vital.
The campaign will be one in which
strategy will be of less and hard fighting
of more Importance. Even the irregular
troops NAV be able to do service in some
positions which it is in the power of
Mukhtar Pasha to defend.
The Russian right wing has advanced
from Ardahan ola Urut to Pennek, tif-
teen miles north of Bardez. OF the cen
ter.we have no reliable information, but
it has been reported that they have taken
both Dilimusa and Getschevan. Accord
ing to another account these places are
being attacked by detachments, while
the main force is following the northern
road over the Saghouli range. At all
events the right and center are well
down toward the positions from which
an attack could be made on Mukhtar
Pasha, but the left wing has not yet ad-
vanced far enough to participate in the
combined movement. This delay is to a
great extent in consequence of the diff
culties of the country through which the
left wing is marching.
All supplies have to be drawn from
Erivan, from which place the only easy
road leads through Persian territory, the
other routes being mountain passes. If
the battle which is to decide the fate of
Erzeroum is not fought until the Ervian
column has forced the Turkish position
at Toprak Kaleh, and is within support
ing distance of the other columns, prog
ress is likely to be, as heretofore, very
slow. 1t is nots impossible, however,
that the right and center, with the aid of
force from Batoum, operating on the
Choruk River, may attack Mukhtar Pasha
from the direction of Olti and Soghaniu,
provided Mukhtar waits to be attacked.
The latest news of him ola Constantine
pie represents that he was falling back
from the Bardez and ErZeroum positions.
1t Is to be remarked, however, that
news from Constantinople, whether
favorable or unfavorable to the
Turks, is peculiarly untrustworthy
Thus we had last week announce
ments that the Russians had occu.
pied Van and Olti, both of which were
false, and the probable result of panic,
just as the reiterated story of the recapt.
ure of Ardahan was the probable result
of laundering design on the part of the
Government to appease the populace OF
Constantinople. On the other hand wal
news made public by the Russian Gov,
ernment is of no Importance whatever
or several days behind time.
The Garrison at Kars.
The garrison of the fortress of Kars
the investment of which has been an
nounced, consists, according to the
AUenir Militaire, of three brigades of in
fantry, commanded respectively by Has