New-York tribune., 1877-07-09
TIE BULGARIAN INVASION.


r1RSovA STRONGLY DEFENDED A MILITARY CoUS-
Gil ESTABLISHED AT sHUMLA-A NAVAL ENTER
PRISE CONTEMPLATED.
LONDON July s. 1877.
Concerning the situation ON the Danube We
have no new information from any quarter except
denals If the first hay reports of the rapid adj
vance of the Russians. TITnOva is not IN their
hands nor likely TO be immediately, as the Turks
nrobably mean TO hold the line of the Jantra if they
can, and Trnoya is very fayOrably situated for
strong defence 1t stands on the PERCEPTIONS banks
Of the Jantra. The houses IN many cases are built
on the sides Of hills which surmounted by cta-
del. the castle of the ancient Bulgarian kings
with higher hills all around and within the
winding Of the river, on which strong redoubts
and earthworks have been constructed, and which
certainly need not be given up without struggle.
The fighting thus far reported canuot have amount
ed TO than outpost affairs, for the Russians are
not yet prepared for serious work. The turkish
ouadrilateral remains intact and not less threaten
ing to the 10000 Russians sad to be across the
Danube at Sistova, than if Gen. zimmerman had
not crossed at Braila and swept the DobrudJa.
This 80 600 men must account with the earrisons of
the three fortified positions of Kustendic Sstra and
Varna before they can render encctual help to the
army now at Sistova In the same way provision
must be made against the Turkish forces about
Nkopos and Widdin before any serious advance
upon the Balkans can be undertaken. Nothing is
vet known of Turkish dispositions except that the
Headquarters remain at Shumla, where Redlt Pasha,
Minister of War, has joined Abdul kerim, and
council been established, under whose direction the
campaign will be prosecuted, possibly with more
vgor than heretofore as the only good quality gene
rally conceded to Rcdif Pasha is energy.
The Turkish Danube fotilla remains supine, while
q single pontoon bri1ge at SistOva is permitted to
supply the large Russian force with provisions and
war material. The bridge is reported 50 weak that
il has broken of its own weight several times in the
past week. One iron-clad in determined hands
might place the Russian army in desperate position,
for the country along the Turkish side Of the Dan
ube would not maintain them many days if deprived
Of their cOmmssarat. 1t reporte recently that
Hobart Pasha conemplates an operation OF this ma
ture on the Danube under his personal direction but
has thus far been restrained by jealousy the part
Of Turkish Pashas
Tie Bucharest dispatch to The Times says: "The
military situation now appears TO be follows: ! he
Turks bad changed front and faced to the westward
since the Russian entrance into Bulgaria. The Rus
SLAMS are dcployng with their left flank resting on
the Danube 20 face the Turkish line from Rustchuk
to Shumla. When this movement is completed, a
general battle may be expected, unless the Turks
fan back to the Balkans or the Russians mask the
whole quadratcral and turn it by passing the Bal
kans. The Russian forces coming through the
Dobrudja nre approaching The rear Of the Turkish
Rustchuk and Shumla line. This column IS too
strong to be opposed by any force detached from the
Turkish main body, while the main body
itself cannot turn upon it without exposing
Its rear 10 the Russian man force"
The latest information xes the garrisOns at Sllis-
tria Varno and Kustendje respectively at $4,000,
10000 and 10000, which, operating on the flanks
OF rear of the Russian Dobrudja force might parayze
It's efforts to cooperate with the army in central Bull
gara Besides the garrsons at these fortified places
SHERMAN Pashas army which is now stated to be
emharkinC At AntivaT, may be landed at Narnas-
which would make the number of Turks on the
Russian left flank alone over $4,000. The Russian
Dobrudia corps is stated TO number only 10000.
A RUSSIAN RAFT SUNK.
CoxsTANTINoTLE, July 8, 1877
Redif Pasha telegraphs from Shumld under date
of Friday as follows: 'The Russians attempted
near the Baba redOubt, five hours march from Ss-
tria to disembark the troops with the artillery
crossing the Danube in 20 RATS towed by three
steamers The Turks bombarded the RATS which
precpitately turned back. One large raft with
troops and stores, sank. The tugs were damaged"
ANOTHER BRIDGE TO BE BUILT.
BUCHAREST. July g, 1877
The current of the Danube has been found too
strong for the pontoon bridge built straight across
tie river. The Russians have Therefore been Obliged
to close il for day for alteration Another bridge is
l. IL. ,ra