The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-04-30
GATHERING ON THE DANUBE
Movements Of the Bslligsrent Armies
Before the Conflict.
THE MILITARY SITUATION.
How R0umania's Troops Are Disposed
For Her Defence.
A HOME GUARD
The Russian Army and It's Base
of Operations.
THE DOBRUDSCHA
Lines OF Defence on Which Turkey Can
Resist Invasion.
A HOME GUARD
The Russian Army and It's Base
of Operations.
THE DOBRUDSCHA.
Lines Of Defence on Which Turkey Can
Resist Invasion.
DISTANCES BETWEEN POINTS

Tho forced march that brought the Russian advanced
guard and leading corps to Gaatz Dra and Barboschi
proves the capacity of tho troops for rapid and de-
cisive movements This quality will BIO put to somo
severe tests during the coming campaign and
southward OF the Danube. because tho Russians beng
operating on what arc termed ''extcrior lines"
against an enemy whose lines OF retreat will DO
linosof concentration, the numerical strength OF the
Invaders must DO augmented until the corps
operating In any given direction separately able
defeat or check any assault made by tho united Turk
4sh forces While these reinforcements coming
into the field the Indifferent roads OF Roumana
and Bulgaria tho activity OF the troops fronting the
Turks must DO redoubled to every threat
ened point. It will be forgotten that tho threat.
ened invasion Of Roumania by the Turks Rustchuk,
Silslra and possibly wddin seriously complexities
the situation both for tho Roumanans and
Russians Tho former would In any suffer great
losses 10 tho destruction OF the villages along the val
ley OF the Danube, especially the invading force is
composed OF cavalry and light artillery. The Russians
would BIO forced to extend their lines parallel with the
river SO as to cover the railroad from Barboschi TO
Bucharest and Krajova, thus presenting an exceed
inRy long and necessarily weak barrier the advance
and operations Of an cnterprising Turkish force.
However, events indicate that tho Turks lack enter
prise and dash, otherwise they would never have per-
over the sereth River by the Russians by such
splendid march as has been described.
THE RoUMAMAN POSITIONS
10 guard against any surprise the RoumAnian divi-
sons which held the frontier previous the Russian
advance have been Withdrawn. and cover Krajova
on the right and Bucharest tho lett of their line Of
defence The troops ut Krajova especially intended
TO guard that important position from any Turkish at
tack from the direction OF Widdin Rahova or Nicopo-
lis, three fortified towns tho right bank OF tho
Danube Any Of these points can DO reached from
Boha where It is likely Turkish In course
of organization to operate either against Serva or
Roumania and which is in railroad communication with
Constantinope and the South. The Roumanian army
numbers from thirty thousand forty thousand men,
but it, officers inexperienced and the troops i'm
perfectly disciplined. On their soil and In de-
fence OF their homes and families they will do good
SERVICE without doubt and will relieve large Russian
contingent that should otherwise DO employed Tor the
defence OF Roumania-
THE RUSSIAN ARMY.
This force, which is being constantly strengthened
rom Jassy Kiscnener and Bender, Is intended for
active operations In Bulgaria Tho troops are at
present massed at Galatz, Bolgrod and Ismail and
southwcstward OF Barboschi toward Bucharest 1t
is evident that when sufficient force is
bed At these points 1t will cross tho Lower
or region between tho Danube and the Black
Sea northward OF varna and Schumla This plan of
attack before described in the HERALD. will gvo the
Russian army AN unopposcd passage OF tho river and
clear road southwark to the railroad line between Kus
tendji, on tho Black Sea- aud Tschernawoda, on the
Danube. On this line the Turks will probably make de-
termned stand as It's possession extremely important
TO their interests at Sistria and along the Danube
As schumla and varna Will DO the main objective
points OF the Russian attack In this direction tho
roads leading to them through tho Dobrudscha WILL
probably, DO stubbornly defended, for tho loss Of
either position would be fatal to the Turks In Bull.
garIa and would result in practical evacuation OF
tho province by tho sultan's field army In order to
give the reader idea Of this prospective theatre OF
war moro detailed description is necessary of ts
physical features
THE DoBRUDscHA
This territory begins ut Is bounded the north
by tho Sulina middle one OF tho 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
channes-is included within its and is known us
St Georges Island. Numerous sub-channels or
creeks this OF tho Dobrudscha and its
coast Is indeniod by wide bays. protected by
harrow necks OF marshy land and broken by
largo estuarcs very much like the delta OF the Misss
nOftuWcStcTn corner,
the land Ii also very low and marshy being broken by
several lakes and crecks But southwark OF Tultcha
and between the Danube the Black Sea the Iand
rises with rolling country which discharges It's rain
shed about equally to the and west far SOUTH
ward No the Kustendje Railroad Between this line and
varna the land s high with few rivers, and only
scattered villages to Indicate liz character n
poor agricultural country. Taken MS whole tho
unfavorablc for military operations as
owing 10 It's barren character there are lew good roads
and In parts absence OF water. II IL, however,
stated that horned cattle abound this region, Afford
Ing very important supply OF food 10 Russian
army, besides enabling II 10 establish magazines,
which form the bases OF operation Tor southwark move
ments toward tho Balkans Four defcnsible lines pre-
sent themselves TO tho Turkish troops the Dobruds
cha. Tho first 10 the danube aud the st. Georges
Channel, sixty miles in length, and is covered by
email but Mvorably situated fortified place called
Tho second, thirty miles long, tho limo
OF the Kustendje Railroad, aided by tho remains or
Trojan's wall, which, at places be strength
ened and supported BY earthworks so az to form
very formidable intrcnchcd limo resting two points
Of supply. Tho third, seventy-two miles long.
tends from Sstra southcastward TO Buitchik Bay,
tho Black Sea coast, and Is supported It's centre
BY tho town CT Basardjik and has It's front widc
barren and almost watorcss area, over which the
enemy would DO forced to encamp or fight his way
across tho lines OF the Turks Tho fourth must, OF
sourse, be the limo between varna and Ruslchux, los
miles In length, covered by schuma
DISTANCES.
AZ Adrianope covers the road 10 the Turkish cap.
tai must fall before ConstaDtinoplc Is threatened
nil distances to points the Danube and the western
md northwestern territories should be from
The chief points Of interest at present are
distant from Adranopio by direc, line ioIlows:-
10 Gala,z, 264 mcs; Kostcndj, 200; Bucharest,
1870; widdin, $40; Silistria, 1885, Ruschuk and Sis
Iowa 144 varna. 100; schuma jos; Sofia, $50; Phil
lipopols, %; Constantinopc, 49,. ana tho Balkan
llsuntaips directly TO the northward ~ miles. From