Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1877-08-11
1HE DANUBE CROSSED
Il Graphic Description Of tie Hen ~ ~,
Situation.


Situation.
AT last the forward movement nv tho
Russians from ROumania into Turkish
territory has commenced. The impatien,
car brooks no further delay, and at his
imperative order the Danube has heer
crossed. The places selected or the frs,
movement are where the Turks have Of
late least expected an advance. ana the
the Russians, in consequence, met with
10 opposition in crossing, and encoun.
'e''u ii''ie resistance taking up a
strong position on the heights threaten
ing the Turkish town of Matschin. When
the Russian hosts first marched into
koumania, the interest was confined to
the region in the neighborhood of the
locality where they have now crossed
but as additional masses of men were
hurried to the front, the Russian lines
were extended far to the westward and
advance movements were threatened
from points far distant from those where
the Russian army was first concentrated.
The Turks have warily watched the
RUSSIAN movements in the vicinity of
Glurgevo, but they have comparatively
neglected the more easterly line of their
defensive position on the Danube. and
the Russians have taken ADVANTAGE
of this neglect or inability to cover all
points which afforded a possible crossing.
The Russians have studiously concealed
their intention of crossing at Galatz or
lbrail, and events have shown that thew
purposely allowed or sent reports abroad
which were misleading respecting their
real purpose.
The latest report placed the entire
Russian forces cas-. of Ibrail, available
for operations, at 10000 men, with re.
serve of 10000 at Belgrade. From
Ibrail to near Giurgevo. it was reported
that there were no Russians, except, per.
haps, sufficientnumber to keep up com.
munications. The main body was said
to be near Giufgevo, with oxtlyinc
forces west.
The natural conclusion from the rre.
viOus movements of the Russians is that
the crossing at Galatz is more likely to
be intended to harrass the Turks, and to
compel them to weaken their line further
west rather than as a preliminary to
grand movement thence to Constantine.
pie, although the plan of the
Russian campaign will probably be mod
flied 20 meet exigencies which may
arise. Certainly neither the force which
has already crossed, nor that which the
Russians have at present available to
cross at Galatz or Ibrail, is sufficiently
strong to make the march through the
unhealthy region of the Dobrudscha and
turn the strongly fortified places, which
must be passed or overcome before Con.
is in serious danger, even if
the Turks detached no forces from other
points on their line to meet the Russians
As a harrassing force, the Russians
threatening Matschin can do the Turks
injury, and if they succeed
n making the Turks believe that they
ire the advance Of formidable army of
INVASION, and thereby cause a concentra.
ion of the Turkish troops in the Dob
udscha, they will probably feel that their
present mission is accomplished.
Galatz, where the crossing has been
made, is an important port on the Dan.
lbe. and contains population of nearly
$1,000. 1t is eighty miles from the
mouth of the Danube, and three miles
rom the confluence of the Sereth with
ne Danube. 1t has been the scene in
ne past OF several conflicts between the
russians and the Turks. Ibrail is few
niles south of Galatz and a little to the
rest, the Danube taking sudden turn
the south at the latter place.