The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-09-26

A Breathing spell IN the East.
For the moment the fighting in Bulgaria
has come to q standstill. Mehemet Ali has
not renewed his attempt against the Rus
sian LETT, because he has found it well de-
Tended and because the Turkish soldier 10
less at home in the assault than in the de-
fence of places, and the commander does
not see his way to success Before Plevna
the Russians and Roumanians are exhausted
for the offensive by their late terrible
failures, while Osman Pacha, no doubt
desperately hurt. is unable to utilize
the enfeebled condition Of his foe In
the Shipka Pass even Suleiman Pacha is
tranquil and can do no more. At all points
the conflict is SO evenly balanced that it in
clines to neither side. If the Russians are
unable to prosecute the purposes OF their
invasion at least they hold successfully the
ground they have occupied, and the Otto
mans. who can only triumph by the expul-
sion of the Muscovites, are unable to make
any impression that tends to that end. 1t
is obvious that the tension of such posi-
ton in three theatres of war is too great to
last. 1t must give way at some point,
and where is that point to be? Per-
haps at Plevna. It is probable that
the Ottoman defence will collapse Mt
that point, because the important ele-
ment Of war in o situation such as we
have described is tho commissary depart
ment. In the Turkish army if there is a
commissary general he has a sinecure, for
his army '1ives on the country" All the
country within reach of an army ut Plevna
must be we'll nigh exhausted by this time,
and the labor of tapping the country at
distance must be difficult in the presence of
the Russian cavalry. As the Russians have
a tolerable commissary department they can
hold ON. Suleiman Pacha hos all Roumelia
to draw from. and Mehemet Ali half OF Bull
garia; but Osman Pncha must fight, surren-
der, starve or retreat, and he will perhaps
try retreat.
The reported landing Of q Turkish force
on the Roumanian shore of the Danube OPP
posite Silistria recalls attention to move
ment against the Russian railroad line of
communication between Galatz and Blu
charest, which we have frequently sug-
gested as one of the possibilities
of the war; But it is clear that
the Turks cannot now muster q suffi-
cient force to render it successful. Their
opportunity to do SO presented itself just
before the first shock Of the defeat at Plevna
had begun to decline and when the Rus
slams were thoroughly demoralized. Now it
is too late, for even if the Turks gained the
railroad by forced march they would be
overwhelmed and destroyed by superior
numbers. Besides, infantry cannot under
take such an enterprise in Roumania, and
not less than five thousand good cavalry with
light artillery would be sufficient to make
the raid anything approaching to success
even under favorable circumstances. The
news from Armenia is not important, except
so far as it indicates Russian preparations
for the offensive. The garrison of Arabian
is strengthened. as also is the Russian
centre. 1t is evident that the Russian left
wing covering Erivan is no longer threat
ened and that heavy drafts have been made
on it to strengthen the right and centre
preparatory to another advance.