The New York herald., 1877-07-10
Flooded Condition of Both Banks
of the Danube.
MAKING THE FIRST BRIDGE.
Strange Supineness and Inaction
of the Turks.
RUS SSIAN PAT E N c E

here ana REM, judging from my own experience how
measrc gets OF the extcns OF the HOOD from
anything that been hitherto published, aud con-
sider,ug /, necessary TO explain integiby the cond-
ton OF tho iowands order account for the extent
and kind OF preparations in full action here for
the expected crossing. Few cities boast OF more
admirable situation than Ibrail. On point OF table
land ut,nr out TO the north bank of tho new Danube
IL commands the river and adjoining marshes lor
twenty miles west and the view to the SOUTH
ward is limited only by the bold spur oil inc balkans
that rises from the vast extent OF green meaoo"s
now converted into shallow lakes ana swamps py 'he
inundation To the south directly The marshes
The little town OF Matchn covers the extremity OF
green slope sweeps from the rocky HANKS OF the
mountain to the shining water oil the Old Danube, and
bears upon its ur,hest point the square embankments
pi battery ana a few white tents. 1t is twelve miles
,way Tins little town. yet the white minarets can be
distinctly seen with the naked eye, and in tho sunlight
TIC low houses shine out strongly among the trees and
contrast with the rich green OF the smooth slope that
Is almost without another break III lis surface The
whole distance between here and Matchin is Hat and
loodcd with lines Of willow trees alternating between
patches OF tall reeds that grow wonderfully last
In the and wet, and here and there telegraph
pole marks the position OF the road and
also tho course OF old branch until within
mile OF The slope, where yellow line ana
cluster OF poles show that the nlshway oears
up directly the town. AT long intervals also are
seen tho dun brown matched roofs OF houses rising
out oil pools of water and solitary trees standing
up their shoulders in the food The surface OF the
pld Danube is hidden from view by line OF low
lrees along the north bank ana short distance from
,he junction OF tho two branches n thick red SPAR
handing high above the tree tors, marks the spot
where the monitor sunk a few days ago. East and
the horizon line the view Is the same-green
and silver, with the majestic curve OF the Danube
ike FURNISHED band, flashing in the sunlight. IL is
rery prcty look upon, this combination, but wnen
shuts up his aesthetic sense and considers Inc
great marsh a bulwark between Two hostile armies
he must believe II imprcgnablc. From keni TO Hir-
iarm houses, with the Waves washing ,he
window sills; roads waist deep, rivu!cts broad
rncd INTO rivers and the Danube rushing wildly along
with its whiring yellow mass. On this side OF the
railway embanKment is almost all Iho SOLID
yround between here and the hills OF GalaZ Beyond
Inc latter town. the point where the railway skirts
he river great raised by the late wind storm
beaten the soft earth OF the cmbankmcnt, swept
into the stream and the water has eaten It's way u
der the very ties Thousands OF sand bags fill the gu
progress OF the water has becn stayed,
only alter Efforts Tnc Renchusscc suffered
IN ike manner, and The engineers stiil busy with
their sand bags suilng the chinks and erecting iem-
porary dykes
Along the Galatz line, the Barboshi bridge west
ward, Cossack ouposis eDcanp on every tted dry Knoll
and their low TENS are seen away down among The
bushes These brave fellows, who ADAPT
themselves kindly to every circumstance, seom as
much AT home ID the water the patient storks, who
stand one leg aud watch the Uvouac VILE
pcctant, halt familiar air 1t Is picture worth re-
membering. little, low tent, haii surrounded by
shallow aad almost hidden by low bushes,
garments spread about on The branches, tho para
phernalia OF the soldiers in pile near the smou-
deripg IRE one or two figures crouchns over
the Goals, and sturdy sentinel coming cut
strongly against the gray INST that wells and
mystines the distance, and IN the foreground the
quaint forms of pair OF notonlcss storks reflected
perfectly Ibrail has its P!ncIo delight
fu httlc public garden directly the blum that
looks the quay. Here the youth and beauty Of Ibra
anu the handsome, sociabie Russian officers walk up
and down IN the twilight and admire one another.
From this point also Is very good view OF the rivers
bo good IN act that 1t was quite deserted In the time
Of the bombardnent
CONSTRUCTING THE FIRST BRIDGE.
The upper end OF thc quay crowded with vessels,
and the warehouses the lower part the land
ing stage OF the river Uoats which now busly ply be-
wccn here and the opposite SIDE carrying the relief OF
The guard there aud materials Ior the bridge now
siructing. The Matchn road meets the river just
low the Junction OF the two branches and some
days the Russians began the construc-
non OF landing there To attach to the
,horc end OF the hoans bridge On this side also
lor tue length OF live six hundred yards they have
,ullt tresilcworS bridge from the highland To the
emanuel, and now as write The icang section
rapidly being put together The construction OF the
trestIework very simple, consisting only OF immense
horses oil unhewn timber varying IN height according
10 inc deph oil The water anu placed at regular inter-
walls From one 10 another ol these horses heavy
panks are land, and the bridge is complete. For the
floating part large rats used, each with its anchor
and cable aud the raft ~ owed 10 proper anchorlng
distance above the line OF the bridge, The anchor Is
east the drops down It's proper place and
Is secured 1t Is evident then thai crossing the Dan
ube no longer any novelty here Hundreus OF
are carried across daily To work the Machn road
uects OF small boats every morning moving
slowly up stream ON the other side, and the Cossacks
waled up within gunshot OF Matchn only few
days since. The turks do not Interfere with the
work gong here, tor the very good
that the monitors are tar up stream and
not dare 10 come down, and no battery The oppo-
Iite sidc could throw shell Tar the bridge
rhe construction Is going quietly and rapidly,
md cannot ial to be IRON the opposite side
or the bridge Is iuli sight OF the hills there
The only signs OF soldiers near Ma,cnin besides the
tents mentioned above, are four shelter tents high
the slope Oi mountain two three miles this side
OF the town. ana with the exception OF slight skr-
mish between Cossack scouts and TURKISH outposls
lew days ago. there has not been gun hred Tor
week.
supISESEss THE TURKS
The town is, OF course, somewhat excited the
much-talked OF bridge, ana dare say IL is great dis
appointment 10 those who are hungry Tor sensation
there resistance from the Turks. The bluffs
along the crowded from sunrise to sunset,
field glasses at premium The distant hills ,ii-
igenty watched Tor pun OF smoke ana the horizon
ior tho mast ol monitor, bus the long day passes
without a break IN the monotony the work goes
steadily, the bridge grows very fast, and when
u completed, what next The answer
goes down. TO satisfy those who thirst for blood
perhaps II Is well TO say IN passing, that tho water IS
very slowly falling. and II tins information does not
bring them any balm let them imagine or a moment
The position OF those TO whom delay in these swamps
almost certain disease, or put themselves In the
place OF those VINO compelled quietly by and
observe all the deliberate preparation, uncertain
whether The next hour will not bring tue order TO ad
vance. There Is nothing more tedious than de-
lay. and there are days IA ibrai when a shell would
almost be blessing; nevertheless We must admire
tbe completeness Of the preparations that l0retcl
vigorous and successful campaign, and above ALI re-
spcct Russian officers Of every rank for their pru
dencc loyalty IN iorpearlng give the slightest
Information the condition OF the troops or hintInr
Of their hopes expectations The answer TO every
question is as / have said, "Wait until the Danube
tain"