The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-27
RUSSTA'S ADVANCE.
Physical and Military Conditions Govern
Ing the Plan of the Invasion,
ENTERING THE DOBRUDSCHA.
Cutting the Turkish Lines
Of Supply.
A. COMBINED MOVEMENT.
A. COMBINED MOVEMENT.
Roumania, Servia, Montenegro
and Greece.

those who put faith in the efforts Of diplomacy
delay inevitable conflict, has already commenced.
The Cars Rubicon the Pruth, has been crossed and
his columns are marching southwark and westward,
developing the grand line Of battle in which they viii
move forward for the conquest Of the Ottoman Empire
IN Europe. The possibilities OF Tho campaign arc
therefore OF absorbing interest," filled they aust DO
With the tate Of one If not Of many nations Tho HERALD
map published TO-DAY Is intended 10 show the exact
positions Of the opposing armies in European Turkey
~ tho opening moves OF the grim game OF war, and
therefore, none OF the unnecessary details of topog
raphy are presented in Il that might tend TO confuse
the reader when studying the preliminary movements
PHYSICAL CONDITIONS OF RUSSIAN ADVANCE
Is vii! DO observed that geographically Turkey bears
Che same relation to Russia Us Spain does TO France
shat h. tho territories OF the empires united by
comparatively neck OF land, which is bounded
on the one side BY Austria and the other
by the Black Sea. Instead Of the mountain obstacles
OF the Pyrenoes, which would present themselves TO
. French invading army moving into Spain, the Rus
SLAMS nna almost equally dilhcu,t in the comp-
rated river systems that utcrsect tho country
between Kischenen and Rustchuk, the most
brmIdabie being OF the Danube. with It's
broad and rapid current The Russians,
the delays that must necessarily attend Transports
Non IN region like Roumania which Is poorly pro-
sided with common roads and haa only one line Of
single track railroad running through its length appear
TO have adopted the bold plan crossing the Danube
IN force from Bograd and Galatz into the region Of the
OobrudschA or that which lies between the Danube
and the Black Sea northward Of varna and Schumla
The effects, 10 military sense, Of crossing the river
she points named will be twoiod. The obstacle Of the
Danube itself win DO without opposition At
she outset OF the campaign BY torcs large
enough to take care Of itself In the enemy's
territory, and the river will be
The exclusive control Of tho Turks line Of defence.
Tho Turkish gunboas patrolling the Danube west
yard OF Sistra cannot pass the torpedoes and earth
works that wilt DO placed and constructed BY the Rus
SLAMS q Galatz and Brahiio 10 prevent their escape
and to close the river against any others that might
attempt 70 pass up 10 thor assistance. But then the
Russian army will enter very narrow territory,
ma as tho Turks control the River Danube a. yet
70 where Il trends northward near Rassova. the
Russian communications Will DO endangered as soon
% the army marches southwark OF Hrchova. The
danger 70 the Russians In their advance through tho
Dobrudscha is further by tho fact they
will be coirontcd by the united garrisons OF Ruschuk
Schuma Silistra and varna which troops readily
concentrate on the line OF tho Kustendje Rail-
road and defond thas important line OF supply
af defeated and forced back, the Turks
have another line OF defence namely, that
pf she vasns, schumla and Rustchuk
sfasiroad, which, although longer and difficult
hold, Is nearer their base Of supplies and furnishes
own points of refuge in the iortresscs named
Of disaster.
OCCUPATION RorMANIA
This movement by tho Russian army, although IA
cttated somewhat by tho railroad, will still be slow
one, owing 10 tho length OF the territory needing de-
fence. Il must not be forgotten that Roumania
be defended from the Turkish raids by the Russian
army Of occupation, AS we'll as mado ITS base
Of operations. The long line from Rassova
20 Gadova, the northeastern frontier OF Servia
near where the Danube issues from Austrian territory
This immense length Of frontier Is vulnerable ut
thousand points, ana II Is not TO be wondered At there
FORE that the Inhabitants should be flying toward
the interior OF Roumania avoid tho barbarites OF
the Circassians and Bash- Baxouks, who will DO en-
ployed at tho congenial work OF murder
and devastation through the valley OF the
Danube until the advance OF the Russian
army forces them southwark into iuckess Bulgaria
AS II is probable that the Russians will be massed on
tho railroad southwark from Bucharest previous to an
attempt 10 forco the Danube at or near Rustchuk,
concert Of action between the armies may relieve
that In the Do0rudscha but holding the Rustchuk gar
rison In that fortress and eventually soatng It IRON
the other Turkish forces In extending their limo
In RoumanIa the Russians will have to dc.
pend almost entirely on the railroad and
will not have tho advantages possessed by Turks
on the right bank OF the good roads lying par
alol with tho stream. All the Roumanian rivers run
across the line OF the Russian ADVANCE each present.
Ing IN additional mpediment.
WHAT THE RUSSIANS WILL ATTEMPT
Evidently from their movements they mean to cut
che railroad lines between Kustcndji and varna, tho
supply ports Of tho Black Sea, and the Danube. II
these limos arc severed the Turkish troops in the
6ald ba into
will then become isolated and DO mutually de-
fensve. Schumla like Metz will DO starved into sur.
render, ana the Russian army will have no enemy bo
tween II and Adrianope. Such result Is worth attain
Ing at tho expense VI tho most daring enterprises and
among these may be cassed the invasion or the Do
brudscha II Rustchuk tails tho railroad southeast
ward from that fortress becomes at line OF
supply for the Russian army, aud one that
cannot be seriously interrupted by any Turkish forces.
The cutting Of tho limo between varna and Schumla
would DO fatal to tho Turks than break between
Schumla and Rustchuk, because II would deprive tho
most important fortress In Turkey OF all means OF
supply determined effort will therefore be made by
the sultan's army to defend these railroad lines,
the heaviest fighting oil tho is likely TO take place
along them.
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TIN sgRvIASa
II tho Scrvans not utterly demoralixed they will
have splendid chance to win back their lost laurels
by cooperating with the Russians In attack tho
Turkish flank via Alexinatz aud Sofia Tho Turks
not oppose them IN force. combined movement OF
the Roumanian army from Krajova toward the Dan
ubc. tho Servinns on WiddIn and Nssa and Sofia and
the Bosnians ana Montcncgrins on Now Bazaar would
force the Turks TO tho Western Balkans and perhaps
over tho mountain range into Roumcib, This would
berate the whole OF Albania and give Greece m OPP
portuny Of striking at her old enemy from tho
southwark. Much depends now on the efficiency OF
the Russian fleet With tho Black Son at her disposal
Russia can cectualy destroy every ves,ige Of Turk
ish power.
A WAR LECTURE.
W. A. Cronut will lecture tonight on ''Tho War, and