Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-10-17
The War Situation in the East.

The war news continues to be favora'
to the Turks, and if Suleiman Pasha,
who succeeds Mehemet Ali as COM
mander-in-chiefof the Turkish forces in
Bulgaria, does not knock his army to
pieces against the earthwerks within
which the Czarewitz. has entrenched
himself along the line oftheDanube, be-
tween the Kara LON and the Yantra
rivers, he may be able to assist in trus-
trating any futher attempt of the main
Russian army under the Grand Duke to
carry the formidable position occupied
by Osnan Pasha at Pleyna. IAN he etr
forts thus far made by the Russians TO
get into the rear ofPlevna and cut off
Osman Pasha's supplies and reinforce
ments have signally failed, and he is
now guarding against the contingency
of being driven out Of his lines by sap
and mine by throwing up equally form
liable works in, his rear at Orchanle.
What the Russian Imperial Guard, for
ty thousand strong, may do, now that
it has arrived to reinforce the Grand
| Duke, it is impossible to- say. But it
must not be forgotten that the Russian
losses in Bulgaria since the opening OF
the campaign are estimated at tifty-tWo
thousand men, so that in point of fact
the army.of invasion, Notwithstanding
its recent accesslons, is weaker by
twelve thousand men than when it first
crossed the Danube flushed with its first
successes and confident of easily driving
the Turks before it, The season, more
over, is now getting too late for carrying
on extended operations. Even II Pley-
ma were taken there would be no posi-
bilIty Of crossing the Balkans, where
two feet Of snow are already reported in
the passes. Nor in any event could the
march into Roumelia be under taken so
long as the great fortrcsses of Rustchuk
and Rasgrad remained in hands of the
Turks, for the latter could then operate
in the Russians rear and cut of supplies
and achievements. The withdrawal OF
the headquarters Of the Grand Ddke
from Gorney-Studeni to Sistoya, that is
to say from the interior Of Bulgaria to
the banks of the Danube, whilst it can
not be characterized as retreat, must
nevertheless be regarded as sign OF
weakness and prudent consideration
ofeventualities. ifby the genius and
remarkable engineering skill Of Todle-
ben it were found possible to invest the
works at Plevna so completely as to
shut up 0sman Pasha in trap from
which there was no escape, as Bazaine
was shut up in Metz by the Germans, the
Russians might bring the campaign to
so promising close as would restore to
them no little Of the prestige they have
lost. The report that the whole Of the
Imperial Guard were to be sent to the
rear Of Pievna would seem to indicate
some such intention, but if it is to be
carried ont it must be done quickly.
In Asiatic Turkey the last and most
promising movement to outflank Mukh-
tar Pasha and drive him back upon and
into Kars has been sigually defeated by
the energy Of the Turkish commander
and the fanatical valor Of his troops. All
the ground first lost has been regained,
and the Russian forces that confronted
the Turks at all points along the line
have been compelled to retreat. Thus
closes the campaign in Armenia, with
the Russians still on the frontier.