The Hickman courier., 1877-07-20

tops are not easily accessible, anu oie
covered, not with the magnificent trees
of the main range, but with dense brush
wood. For long distances from the loot
of the lower range the plain is covered
with an undergrowth of oak, winch
renders themovements of masses OF troops
across the country difficult and almost
impossible. The idea in former times
that the Balkan was impossible arose not
so much from the height and inherent
difficulties of the range as from the TACT
that no really good roads existed, anc
that within a distance of five or SIX
marches many small difficulties were ac-
cumulated which had be overcome by
all the troops in succession.
The most westward are in the vicinity
of Sophia, where two main roads cross
the mountains. One comes from
Ukschub, where roads unite from Mon
tenegro, Herzegovina, Bosnia and oervia,
and passes through DubnitZa to Iatar-
Basardschyk. The other comes from
Sophia, where the road from Belgrade
and Nisch unites with that from Wldin,
and also leads to Tatar BasaI dschyk;
thence the united road lead to Adrlano-
pie and COnstantinOple. Sarimberg,
about seven miles west of Tarar- Basard-
schyk, is the terminus ofa railway through
Adrianople and ConstantinOple, with a
branch to Enos, on the Kgean sea.
These passes present comparatively iew
natural difficulties the roads have been
improved and fortified of late years.
The next important pass is that through
which the road from TIrnoya to has'
sanilk and Adrianople is constructed.
Another road leads from TirnOva to
Seddino, and Samboli to Adrianople;
this road is connected by a branch with
Kassan and Karnabad, as well as with
Aidos, the two last being strategical
points Karnabad is connected toward
the north by roads through Kasan with
Tirnova on the one hand and through
Osmanbasar with Rustchuk to the lett,
and through Rasgard with Turtukai on
Ike right to the south roads lead to
AdrianOnle. to Bourgas and to CoDstan-
tinople. Aidos is connected toward the
north, through Prawady with Shumla
and Osmanbasar on the left, with Narna,
Bazardjik and Sillistria on the right !;
while on the south it is also connected
with Bourgas, Constantinople and
Adrianople. Most of the roads through
Karnabad and AidOs to Varna and
Shumla have of late years been made
practicable for artillery and fortified in
the mountains.
The most important Turkish fortresses
in this region are Widin Rustehuk K,
Silistria, Shumla and Varna. Were the
Turks in condition to assume the ohen-
sive. Widin would be Of great importance
as facilitating their crossing the Danube
and gaining the rear of the Russian posi-
-. ~. -e~.l,,- Il. i
Silistria have already been alluded to
they were originally imperfect works of
masonry, which have from time to time
been extended and strengthened by the
addition of numerous earthwoTks. They
are too strong TO be taken by direct as
sault, unless by surprise, and must be
attacked with heavy artillery or masked
by corps of observation. If simply held
by garrisons they can produce little
effect upon the general result of the CAM
paign, except in rendering the passage OF
the Danube difficult in their vicinity.
It can probably be assumed with safety
that the Russians have sufficient force to
mask them while operating elsewhere
Shumla IS at the northern base OF the
foothills of the Balkan The town is in
a horseshoe, formed by projecting spurs
of the hills, and the fortress has gradually
assumed the dimensions of an intrenched
camp. 1t does not directly close, OF
command by its fire, any PASS over the
Balkans, for troops in mass can march
around and behind it in every direction
1t is of great importance only when the
strength of the army encamped withir
/ its lines is so great, in relation to the
active columns of an enemy, that th'
| latter can not leave a sufficient force K
mask it while pursuing the chief object
/ of his operations. Varna is strong by
/ its situation and by its exterior defenses
/ 1t is important as controlling the termi
nus of a railway, as enabling the Turk
to land troops and supplies in the rear 0
an enemy seeking to cross the Balkan
( from the north, and as being the bes
/ harbor between the Balkans and til
/ Danube.