The New York herald., 1877-10-04
Meh.mst AIRS Disgracs-Aetivs oper-

The sarcastic order. attributed to the
Turks, which forbade their troops to fire on
any Russian general, lest he might be killed
or wounded, and consequently replaced,
would, seemingly, apply as well to Turkish
generals if it purported to come from the
Russian headquarters. At least the Turks
act as if they regarded change of their
own generals as advantageous to their
cause as the replacing of Russian COM
mander might prove injurious. Mehemet
Ali, the hope of Islam, the man who was to
hurl the invaders into the Danube, and do
q great many other things glorious to the
cause Of the Sultan, has been weighed and
stantinople. He has therefore been recalled,
and Suleiman Pacha, the General who did
not conquer Montenegro and who has failed
to take the Shipka Pass, is appointed to
succeed him. Reouf Pacha is ordered to
try his hand at Shipka and endeavor to
tread the blood-stained road to Tirnova, but
where Suleiman Pacha failed it is not likely
that any other Turkish general will sue
ceed. Now, it would not in the least degree
surprise us to learn that Osman Pacha was
dismissed from his command at Plevna and
some court favorite appointed in his stead.
1t is by such blunders that great causes are
sacrificed. Mehemet Ali fought just one
battle too many. He won at Karahas-
san, but he lost on the Banica Lom
when he attempted to.drive the Czarewitch
out Of Biela. He was then forced to retire,
but more on account Of the difficulty ex-
perienced in obtaining supplies than from
any direct hostile pressure. That retreat
gave the anxiously looked for opportunity
to Suleiman Pacha, and he used it with
effect. It will be remembered that
when Mehemet Ali confronted the Russians
on the road to Eski Djuma he urged
Suleiman Pacha to hasten to reinforce him
by the open passes east of the Shipka
defle. Suleiman, however, preferred to
sacrifice thousands OF his best troops in the
attempt to force the Russians over the
Balkans. He failed in doing this, but he
succeeded in Withholding help from his
rival just at the time 1t was most necessary,
and thus accomplished his ruin.
near being sacrificed in the same way on
account of the jealousy Of his rivals. But
he sensibly paid no attention to dispatches
from Stamboul, and fought on, winning
success and the grateful thanks OF his mas
ter by sheer perseverance. Now it is his
turn to suffer the defeat which will give his
enemies the excuse to recall and disgrace
him. His army has been attacked and
defeated with heavy loss near the Armenian
frontier, and he runs no little risk Of
being cut off from Kars and his
army captured or dispersed. The Rus
sian preparations for another attack on
Plevna are being pushed on energetically
The last regiment of the Imperial Guard
has passed through Bucharest en- route to the
front, reserves and reinforcements have
arrived and large supply Of ar
tillery is ordered from the Krupp
factory. An inspection of the Russian siege
works by the Grand Duke Nicholas, Prince
Charles and the celebrated engineer, Todle-
ben, shows them we'll advanced toward the
Turkish lines. We may therefore look
for q general movement at the seat of war
very soon. Suleiman Pacha is certain to
signalize his attainment Of the chief COM
mand Of the Danube army by some stu
pendous and perhaps stupid coup, and Os-
man Pacha at Plevnn may find the attentions
of the Grand Duke more pressing than
pleasant.