New Orleans Republican., 1877-05-05


large Russian contingent that should
otherwise be employed for the defense of
Roumania.
The Russian army, which is constantly
strengthened from Jassy, Kischenef and
Bender, is intended for active operations
in Bulgaria. The troops are at present
massed at Galatz, Bolgrod and Ismail
and southwestward of Barboschi, toward
Bucharest. 1t is evident that when suf-
fcient force is assembled at these points
it will cross the lower Danube at or near
Jultcha into the Dobrudscha, or region
between the Danube and the Black Sea
northward of Varna and Schumla. This
plan of attack, as before described in the
He1 aid, will give the Russian army an
unopposed passage of the river and a
clear road southwark to the railroad line
between Kustendji, on the Black Sea, and
Tschernawoda, on the Danube On this
line the Turks will probably make de-
termined stand, as its possession is ex-
tremely important to their interests at
Silistria and along the Danube As
Schumla and Varna will be the main OBJ.
j9ctive points of the Russian attack in this
direction, the roads leading to them
through the Dobrudscha will probably be
stubbornly defended, for the loss Of either
position would be fatal to the Turks in
Bulgaria, and would result in practical
evacuation of the province by the Sultan's
field army. In order to give the reader an
idea of this prospective theatre of war,
more detailed description is necessary of
its physical features.
The Dobrudscha begins at and is bound
ed on the north by the Sulina or middle
one Of the three channels through which
the Danube discharges into the Black Sea.
Therefore section of the low marshy
delta-namely, that between the Sulina
and St. Georges channels-is included
within is area and is known as st. Georges
island. Numerous sub channels or creeks
intersect this corner of the Dobrudscha,
and its coast is indented by wide bays,
protected by narrow necks of marshy land,
and broken by large estuaries, very much
like the delta of the Mississippi. In the
northwestern corner, opposite Galats, the
land is also very low. and marshy, being
broken by several lakes and creeks. But
southwark of Tultcha, and between the
Danube and the Black Sea, the land rises
with a rolling country which discharges
its rainshed about equally to the east and
west as far southwark as the Kustendje
railroad. between this line and Varna
the land is high, with few rivers, and only
some scattered villages to indicate its
character as a poor agricultural coun-
Nv. Taken as whole the Dob
rudscha is unfavorable for military
| operations, as, owing to its barren
character, there are few good roads
and in parts an absence of water. 1t is,
however, stated that horned cattle abound
in this region, affording a very important
supply of food 10 a Russian army, besides
enabling it to establish magazines, which
form the bases Of operation for south
ward movements toward the Balkans.
Four defensible lines present themselves
to the Turkish troops in the Dobrudscha.
The first is the Danube and the st.
Georges Channel, sixty miles in length,
and is covered by small but favorably
situated fortified place called Babadagh.
The second, thirty miles long, is the line
| of the Kustendje, aided by the remains of
| Troian's WALL which, at some places, can
be strengthened and supported by earth
works so as to form very formidable in
trenched line resting on two points of
supply. The third, seventy-two miles
| long, extends from Silistria southeast
ward to Bultchik Bay, on the Black Sea
coast, and is supported near its centre by
the town of Basardiik, and has in its front
l
over which the enemy would be forced to
encamp or fight his way across the lines
of the Turks. The fourth must, of course,
be the line between Varna and Rustchuk,
1O8 miles long, covered by Schumla.
As Adrianople covers the road to the
Turkish capital, and must fall before Con-
stantinople is threatened, all distances to
points on the Danube and the western
1 k,sr,4 k,r+ CHI Ha
measured from Adrianople. The chief
points of interest at present are distant
from Adrianople by direct line as follows:
To Galatz, 264 miles; Kostendji, 200;
Bucharest, $50; Widdin, $40; Silistria, l68;
Rustchuk and Sistova, I44; Yarna, 100
Schumla, 108 Sofia, 1870; Phillipopolis,
96; Constantinople, 1872, and the Balkan
mountains, directly to the northward, ~
miles. From Schumla to Varna, AZ, and
to Rustchuk; 60 miles; Galatz to Buchar.
est, 120 miles; Bucharest to Krajova, l09
and Kraiova to Widdin, 48 miles; Buchar
est to Rustchuk, AZ miles; Galatz to Boil
grad, SO; to Tultcha, 49, and to Silistria,
96 miles; Silistria to Rustohuk, 66 miles
Rustchuk to Sistova, SO miles.
: Constantinople by sea to Yarna, 162; tc
the Sulina mouth of the Danube, 270
and to Odessa, 378 miles.
The interruption of the navigation o
the Danube by the Russians at Galat!
, will have a very important influence oI
, their military position, as it insures an un
molested crossing of the river and th
, cutting off of the Turkish supplies b,
by water. As soon as the spring freshet
, subside they may be able to seize anothe
, section of the valley, and by means o
: batteries and torpedoes further limit th
9 length of the Turkish gunboat patrol. Il
a this way it is possible for them even t.
+ seize these iron-clad gunboats and us
, them with effect against the Turkish rive
fortresses.
> This great campaign on the Danub
4 | will not develop into activity until tn
! middle of the coming month, when th
/, Russians will be prepared to move foI
: ward with overwhelming force towar
! the Balkans.
{ LINES OF COMMUNICATION.
/ The New York Herald of the first says
While mastering on the Danube pre-
paratory to a crossing in force into Bul
garia, when sufficiently large army
Q assembled for the purpose, the Russian
i are actually marching forward into Arms
; mia and have already felt the enemy. Th
J movement has taken place from thre
: points-namely, the fortresses of Alel
: andropol, Akahiltsikhe and Osurget. 4
3 the advance from the first named base {
. operations menaces Kars and Erzeroun
the siege train of the Russian army a