The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-01
PROBABLE STRATEGY.
1solating the Threatened Turkish
Fortresses.
BRINGING UP THE SIEGE TRAIN.
Importance of Securing Control
Of the Black Sea.


whio mastering on the Danube preparatory to a
crossing In force into Bulgaria. when a sufficiently
large army Is assembled for tho purpose Russians
are actually marching forward into Armenia and have
already ieIt tho enemy. The movement has taken
place from three points--uamely, the forresses OF
Acxandropol Akahiltsikhe and Osurgcti. AS the
advance from tho first named base OF operations
menaces Kars and Erzcroum, the siege tram or the
Russian army accompanies the column. The other
columns arc made up OF infantry the right coast
road toward Batoum and cavalry on that toward Ar
dahan place Of some importance situated In q wide
valley and the branch oil the river
rchurukson which drains Lake Cheldir on the
frontier The object Of tho middle column Is
quite apparent from its movements II intends
70 break tho communications between Kars and Tre-
oisond and finally between the latter port and
Erzeroum, so as to isolate these points en-
treiy from any aid coming from tho Black
Sea coast The valley through which this
centre column is moving extends southeastward
ss far rs the ridge Of hills covering Erxeroum
and through the southern side OF which the road be-
tween Kars and Erzeroum passes. Thus successful
advance by tho Russian cavalry will result in cut
ting tho direct communication between the two
iortresscs and probably render the TAIL of the
drst named easy matter before the attack
OF the AIexandropol column. Already, ms was
pointed ont by the HERALD OF Sunday, the Russians
nave approached close to Kars that defence OF
that stronghold may be said to have begun. The dis
lance from Alexandropol Is only twenty-five miles,
over comparatively easy country. tight IT, how
ever, very probable the road near the little village
Of Dschamush and close to tho crossing OF the River
Aara As Il Will be part OF the plan OF the
Turks TO delay tho Russian advance NJ every
point and so gam time tor their roinforccmonis
TO como up some sharp lighting will take place DO.
N asta hofOr Kara
But those who imagine the Turkish successes OF
1855 at Kan will be repeated in the present
war forget what modern ri1ed artillery
40 against the stoutcst dcences Of the town.
Tihis, being the Russian headquarters In the
Caucasus distances will measured therefom Tor tho
present Following the roads these are as fol-
lows From Ttdis to Alexandropol, 70 miles; to
Aktsikhc, IS miles; TO Orsurget 05 miles; Alexan-
drapol to Kars 25 miles; Kars Erzsronm IS miles;
Erzeroum, 70 Batoum, 30 miles; Erzeroum 10 Trepl-
sond, 100 miles, Trebisond to Siwa zoo miles; silva 10
einope, 220 milos
rHx CONTROL OF TUE BLACK SEA.
Turkey claims this advantage ut present, and her
monitors and Other claAs are cruising on the
coasts Of Asia Minor and or the mouths Of the
Danube, rendering the forwarding Of supplies by
sea difficult for the Russians There are. how
ever, In all agebraic expressions certain I'M
known quantities. and in that representing
tho relations Of the belligerents now, the Russian
neet must be set down q. IL is unreasonable to
suppose that Russia, having ample time and
prepare for this war, could neglect secure power.
full, though small iron-cad fleet for the protection OF
her coasts and communications Even the rumored
appearance Of Russian Runboats on the Danube, At
Galatz, Is q straw which indicates the direction
Of the wind this respect The map of
the Black Sea and tho Caucasus published
to-day. shows tho several lines OF communication
between tho Russian and Asatic ports and along the
coasts The most important TO the Russians
would be those from Odessa to Sebastopo S'nope
Trebsond aud also those from tho OF Azof to the
two last named coast towns. Ncoaief and Taganrog
eastern corner of the Sea OF Azof the chief naval
depots Of Russia ana both well fortified and jealousy
guarded from foreign visitors Tho following dis.
the Black Sea will give useful infor-
nation TO the reader:-From Odessa to Sebastopol
100 miles; Sebastopoi TO Cons,antipoplc, $40; Kos
tendj, 24O. and TO Sinopc 200 miles, Constantinople
TO Sinope, $50, and 10 Erzeroum 500 miles,
sInopc 10 Taganrog. the Sea of Azof, 420 miles;
Erzsroum TO Taganrog 500 miles; Erzeroum to
Bntoum, 80 miles II will DO seen Ivy these
distances that coal Is important munton OF war;
especially for the small light draught of both
nations II Sebastopol becomes OF operations
for the Russian feet advantage tho OF fuel
will be entirely on tho side OF the Russians, Tor tho
Turkish ships will burn great deal OF their supply
coming from and going TO their depots on the bos-
phorus and at varna.