New-York tribune., 1877-09-29
THE RUSSIANS HOPEFUL

royvor is liable to collapse unexpectedly at any mo
-. The Russian officers before Plevna are conn.,
dont .hat the place will fall into their hahds
Tlo oninion "a expressed that the capture OF
.hat stronghold would entail irretrevable
disaster on the Turks. The Care witchs
army is now practically secure from attack
Mebemet Ali, who menaced it. has retired south
ward making Rasgrad his base. All is quiet IN the
sbipka Pass Snow is, however, falling, and is
nearly four inches thick at the base OF the Balkans
GENERAL ASPECT OF THE CAMPAIGN.
,uE TU.Ks NOT AS STRONG As sUPPosED-A GEN
ERAL COLLAPSE PRoBABLE-MEHEMEr ALrs RE-
TREAT.
LONDON, Friday, Sept 2S 1877
Writing on Wednesday last, the correspondent of
The Times at Bucharest takes hopeful view OF the
Russian prospects, but this was before the kou-
nanans failed to take the second Grivitza redouot
"Tbe staff officers" he says In front of Plevna ex-
nress the utmost confidence that the place will fall
into their hands. Should Osman Pasha's army be
finally destroyed there is nothing to prevent great
flank movement down the Valley of Sophia to Ad-
riapople and the Turkish capital itself.
"sulennan Pasha has squandered the lives OF his
army ON the forts in the Shipka Pass, and were he
to attempt TO withdraw to oppose this hank move
ment. he would have General Radetzky at his heels
and his army would have its hands full without at
tenpting TO meddle with the Plevna army. Should
Mehemet Ali attempt to move to the southwark
Russian hordes of cavalry would entangie MN at
avery STEP Perhaps il is with view to something
Ike the above that the Russian commanders keep
tbeir hold on the Shipka Pass aud persist in their
attacks upon Pevna There is no doubt but that
the Turkish powers Of resistance are strained to
hfcb degree of tension and in such circumstances,
seu,icivilized organizations like those of Turkey,
are liable TO collapse in most unexpected manner;
90 that in spite Of the gross bunders of the Russian
staff great change is possible at any moment IN the
military situation in Bulgaria.
"Thereis an abundance of wheat and barley re-
naming in Bulgaria. Every hamlet is crowded with
immense stacks of these grains, while very large
cron Of Indian corn is awaiting the husbandman.
Very little of the crops raised this year IN Roumanla
have been touched by the Russians consequently
they have provisions in abundance for man and
beast and If they can surmount the difficulty OF oo-
tanning fuel, they can winter in Bulgaria very COM
fortablv As to the present morale of the Russian
forces there is difference OF opinion, but from
nv own experience with them, am convinced that
although the Russian soldier is unreserved In hs
comments. on what he deems bad management
On the part of his commanders, he forgets all his
past grievances when he the hated Moslem. and
c,esat hin as though he had always been COM
manded by Napoleon"
1t is noteworthy that the capture of Plevna IS
deemed essential to the complete success of tho
Russians, in the scheme outlined above. The
facility however with which Riff Pasha has rem
forced the garrison, and the failure to carry the
redoubts after sapping operations render the kus-
sian prospects rather gloomy.
sULrIMAN's OBJECT IN DOUBT
Regarding the operations Of the Third Turkish
Army the military critic Of The Times saws: 1t is
difficult 10 perceive the full objects of Suleiman
Pashas strategy but he has certainly proved him
self bold aud intrepid leader aud, until the result
of his operations is made manifest, and their full
pnrport discovered. it is but fair to suppose he is
acting with adequate reason. His characteristic
bravery. the selfdenial and abstemousness Oh MS
mode Of life. his cool nerve and undaunted courage
and his high military reputation, which was appre-
ciated on all hands till his check in front OF the
formidable Fort st. Nicholas should now be remem-
bered."
THE RfTREAT OF MEHEMET ALI.
The retirement of Mehemet Ali behind the Kara
Lom seems TO indicate that the Turks will be salts
fed to maintain their present advantages and depend
on the severity of the Winter TO force the Russians
back across the Danube. The Shumla telegram to
The Times says the retrograde movement was partly
because the recent rains rendered 1t difficult 10 BRING
up supplies, and partly on account OF the Russians
massipg considerable forces on the LON. 1t would
holding the country between the LON and the Yam
ira has been abandoned by the Turks Thus 1t once
more becomes possible for the Russians to isolate
and blockade Rustchuk, which, however. has prob
abv been supplied for the Winter during the past
month that communication has been open. Me-
hemet Ais right viii again be about Kazelevo, with
Rasorad as base, while his left will extend as far
rs the defes south of Osman Bazar. being within
easy support from Shumla. Correspondents with
the Czarewitch are not sanguine OF his ability TO
force the line of the Kara-LOm. Notwithstanding
the arrival Of several divisions of the Imperial
Guard.
ROADS NEARLY BiPAssABLE
The correspondent Of The Daily NeWs, writing
from Cherkovna last Saturday, SAYS " l do not
believe it possible, at present to advance. even
with the reinforcements which have arrived. day
or two of rain has made the roads almost impassa-
bic The ground is sOdden, and the mud ankle
deep. The immense number of horses have eaten
almost all the forage and hay is very scarce, at any
price. Consequently communications are daily more
difficult The horses are decidedly losing flesh As
the season advances the difficulties OF the campa n
increase in geOmetric ratio"
SNOW IN THE sHIPKA PASS.
CoSsTANTNoPLE. Friday, Sept 2s 1877.
Snow has been falling in the Shipka Pass since
Monday, aud is ten centimetres deep lnearly
four inchesl at the foot of the Balkans.
OTTOMAN HUMANITY TESTED.
The Austrian and German Ambassadors, in the
name Of the Russian Government, have applied to
the Porte, in virtue Of the Geneva Convention for
permit TO transport timber across the Danube for
huts for the Russian wounded. The Porte has de-
ferred reply until it is made certain that the huts
are only to be used for the wounded
AI-t-a n