The New York herald., 1877-09-22
THE WAR.
Reported Defeat Of the Czarewitch's
Army Near Bjela.
A CRISIS AT HAND.
Extensive Preparations for a
Winter Campaign.
MORE MONTENEGRIN SUCCESSES.
Sweeping the Turks from the
Princes Dominions.
GREECE A SECOND BULGARIA
Three Thousand Turkish Irregu-
lars Overrunning Thessaly.
Extensive Preparations for a
Winter Campaign.
MORE MONTENEGRIN SUCCESSES.
Sweeping the Turks from the
Princes Dominions.
GREECE A SECOND BULGARIA
I Three Thousand Turkish Irregu-
lars Overrunning Thessaly.
CBY CABLE TO THE HERALD.

BY CABLE TO THE HERALD
LONDON, Sept. %, 1877.
''The feeling at the Russian headquarters,
Gornie Studen, is not so gloomy as I ex-
pected, telegraphs special correspondent.
sThe military men acknowledge that they
have been beaten, but as much by their
own errors as by the bravery of the Turks
There is not the slightest sign of
hesitation or weakening of determination to
fight it out. Everybody feels that it is a
death struggle, and final successful issue
Is not doubted for an instant. Every
preparation is being made for winter
campaign. military railway from
Giurgevo to Simnitza is to be constructed
which it is hoped will be ready by the end
of October Steam iceboats have been or
dered in view of the freezing of the Danube.
Anybody knowing the feeling of the Rus
sian nation and army knows that persever-
lnce in the war is the only possible policy,
but those whose mismanagement has so
complicated the future may expect stern
reckoning"
REPORTED DEFEAT OF THE czAREw1TcH's
ARMY.
A despatch dated Constantinople, ten
o'clock last night, says:-'It is reported
here that great battle was fought to-day
at Biela, lasting from nine in the morning
till seven in the evening, and that the Rus
slams were completely defeated" The Daily
Telegraph has q special despatch from
Shumla which asserts that the Russians lost
1000 killed and 5000 wounded in the
battle.
AS YET UNCoNFIRMED.
The Daily 1elegrapHs despatch, dated Pera,
Friday, says:-"A telegram, just received at
the War Office from Mehemet Ali, an
nounces that serious fighting began to-
day The Turks were advancing steadily
when the message left Shumla this morn
ing" No other paper has anything touch
ing the reported battle, although several
have correspondents both with the Care
witch and Mehemet Ali.
THE TURKS CONCENTRATING.
The Vienna Political Corresponelence's Bu-
charest despatch reports that all the Turk
ish regulars in Widdin have started for
Plevna in all haste.
THE RUSSIAN FORCE BEFORE PLEvNA
correspondent at Gorny -Studen after inspect.
ing the positions before Plevna estimates that the
Russians with the relnlorcements received since
the battle, must number nearly fifty thousand. The
casualties on the llth and 18th amounted to over
sixty per cent.
IN THEIR OLD POSITION.
The Daily Nears' correspondent who was at the
battle OF Pevna, teegraphing from Bucharest Sep
tember II, says:-"The Russo Roumanian army
has abandoned now even pretence of prosecuting
the attempt against Plevna, and fallen back into
the positions occupied before the commencement
Of the bombardment The field artillery remains
still in some of the positions OF the bom-
bardment 1t Is announced that a third
the Imperial Guard in fortnight.
have great doubt whether another attempt will
be made, and much stronger doubt whether, If
made, 1t can succeed. The Turks are better SOL
diers Individually than the Russians. OF that, alter
seeing not few battles. stand assured The
strategy Of both, perhaps, is equally bad, but, as
regards both major and minor tactics, the Turks
nre simply immeasurably superior
THE TURKS BETTER ARMED.
"They are better armed than the Russians both
in great and small arms They have engineers
who can design admirable defensive positions
The Russian engineers seem incapable OF repairing
D hole In bridge. The Turks seem as well pro.
visioned as the Russians and are flushed with
success. The Russians are depressed by failure
after failure Nor is this all that mpairs the Rus.
sian soldiers dash-for that 1t is becoming i'm.
paired, my reluctant personal observation of the
war can testify
BRAVERY OF LITTLE USE
There is no braver man than the Russian soldier,
but heroic soldier cannot continually face more
than the fair chances OF war. The Russian Is called
on to face these and dangers in addition which ap-
peal with infinitely greater intensity Of horror to
his Imagination. He knows that If he but receives
o bullet in the ankle JOINT when lie Is in the front
OF an unsuccessful attack the chances are that he
will die death of torture, humiliation and mutia-
ton. No moral courage, no mental hardihood can