The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-07

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When general leading an army of invasion misses
good opportunity OF establishing himself in strong
offensive and defensive POSITION and thus secure hts
communications without reducing the effectiveness OF
his main advance, and this through incxcusable
oversight ho creates for himself the graves Difficult
ties in military sense that arise. Such
calamity has bciallcn the Russian commander In
Bulgaria. and the effort repair the original error
has him heavy defeat and tho dsarrangcment of
all his plans. When the Russians crossed the Danube
at sstova with very slight opposition and massed
great army the flank OF the quadrlatcral,
aud made rapid advances toward the Balkans,
the prospects OF the Turks assumed very
menacing appearance Tho Russians pushed
their cavalry directly southwark to Tirnova and
after SELLING that town by coup de main, they
tablishcd strong line facing eastward toward the
quadrilateral but covered by tho River Jantra With
Sistova on the northern or left flank and Tirnova on
the southern right flank. great baso line of opera
tons was formed which was strong enough 10 resist
any attack from the eastward. Advancing from
both TANKS, the Russians occupied Bela
Rustchuk and Rasgrad, and tho second holding In
check the Turks at Shumla 1t the work OF only
few days to isolate Rustchuk against which fortress
the Czarevitch sent with two corps d'arn,f while
another force despatched against Ras
grad tho key to the Turkish communca
tions by railroad between Shumla and Rustchuk.
While these operations in progress Ncopolis
was captured by Baron Krhdcner. General Gourkha
the Prince Rupert OF the war, made his celebrated
and successful dash over the Balkans and, with
the cooperation OF Prince Mirsk seized the Schpka
Pass and large section of territory in Roumelia
along the Tundscha Valley as tar as Jeni Saghra
far south Karabunar the Jamboli railroad
Adrlanople in panic, and the Sultan was medi-
tating retirement from Constantinoplc to Broussa
in Asia Minor. So far the Russian operations were
crowned with the most brilliant success.
RUSSIAN OVERSIGHT
But in the torrent Ike advance that carried them
almost to the walls Of Adriauope the Russians neg
leoted precautions which the simplest rules of war
faro pointed out demanding immediate attention.
There was a strong Turkish garrison at widdn, and
numerous large detachments of Ottoman troops In
occupation OF the towns situated in South
ern Bosnia, along tho frontiers of scrvia
and Montenegro and scattered through the
territory between the Russian line of advance and tho
limits OF Turkish territory westward. Tho town Of
Sophia which wi, hin railroad OF Adr
anople was tho centre of the area OF Turkish occupa-
ton. Metrovtza 10 the westward OF Sophia, also
communicates by railroad with Saonica and tho
coast of the .Egcan Sea. There were, in fact
| all the materials OF considerable Turkish army to
be found these districts which might DO collcctc
and welded together by q vigorous commander into a
serious menace to tho Russian line OF communica-
lions. Tho Russian bridges crossed the Danube ut
sis,ova and Nlcopolis. On these bridges depended
the supplies, and consequently the safety Of the
army Of !nvason. good ana dlrcc, road extended
from Sophia to Sistova and Nicopos, along
which Turkish force could rapidly advance
! 10 threaten the bridges Such force would
have TO cross only important river the vid IN or
der TO become dangerous The vid, therefore, covered
the Russian flank. and II held IN force would render
the communications secure. There was one point on
tho vld ard on mo main road from Sophia which was
/ al.lmpor,ant TO the Russians This was Plcyna and
tho town entirely neglected b. them Until It was
too late to remedy the effects OF the oversight
now ruE TURKS rREpAsrn
Directly after the capture OF Nlcopol,s by the
russians q large Turkish force OF regulars from tho
| garrison OF widdlD. finding that 1t was too late 10
render any assistance IN that direction moved RAPIDLY
so utheastward ana occupied plcvna a previous
occupation by small forco of Russians had re-
suited in tho massacre OF large number OF their
men, AMI before they could or did mako
second attempt with a stronger force Picvna had
been converted 10y the Turks into great stronghold
From all points westward the troops wore hurried up
to reinforce Osman Paeha lie was aDo to beat Off the
Russians under Kr6dcncr In an attempt to dsIodrc
! him. and had fully ATTY thousand good soldiers behind
his ntrcnchmcnt when the combined forces Of Krii-
dcncr and scbackoskoy advarcod to drive HIM
from Plevna. Tho accompanying map shows
how the Turkish deences and troops covered tho
| town. The chains Of carthworks formed q pointed