Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-08-08
The Russian Disasters.

The Russian Disasters.
The Turks Of this generation are keen
ing up the old time fame of their race TO
great courage and efficiency in battle
Fatalsm and the belief that the most di
rect road to heaven is from where one fall
in defence of the Moslem faith are prea
aids to their native grit. If they are t.
leave Europe it is evident that the exodus
will be made as lannon's MS that of the
Moors from Spain. And last weeks CD.
CREATIONS indicate not only strong inten-
ton of staying in Europe. but great and
unexpected ability in carrying out that in
tention.
The reverses suffered by the Russians in
Asia in the last half of June have not vet
been made upthough re-inforcements have
arrived and forward movement is again
attempted by them on that side of the
Black Sea. After the advance on Elzerum
was converted into retreat, attention WAS
drawn to the campaign on the Danube,
and it is now some six or seven weeks
since the Russians crossed that river from
Simnitza in Roumania to Sistova in Bull.
garia.
This crossing place was about midway
of the northern line of Turkish defence.
or half way between the Servian border
and where the Danube empties into the
Black Sea. Not far to the west was
Nicopolis on the Danube which was taken
by the Russians three weeks ago Still!
farther west was Widdin, while to the
east lay the important defence of Rust
chuk.
The Russians swiftly advanced in large
force to Sistoya and quite near the Bal
kan Mountains which run parallel with
the Danube and are fifty or seventy-live
miles south of it. This movement divided
the Turkish armies north of the Balkans.
and Gen Gourkho captured two passes and
went with large force of cavalry and sup
porting infantry south of the mountains
where he captured Kasanlik and ravaged
the country towards Adrianople which lies g
in south-easterly direction about half c
way between the Balkan and Constantine t.
pie. I
Tuesday of last week heavy column of T
Russians was moving on Plevna, fortified I
town occupied by the Turks, to the south |
west of Sistova, west of Trnova and north e
OF the Balkans. Gen. Krudener COM u
manded the Russian right and Prince =
Schackoskoy the left. Krudener began the Y
battle too slowly, but the prince attacked q
force of $4,000 Turks, his own troops !,
not numbering more than 10000. The G
attack was at first successful and the first U
Inc of intrenchments taken after great N
slaughter on both sides. Not content with 1t
his, the prince attacked the second line of NJ
licences, where his troops were repulsed vi
With severe loss. The Turks then made II
IN attack on hisrear and pretty thoroughly
rushed the Russian left wing which re.
reated in great disorder Krudener, who vc
ad been unsuccessful in his attack, also F,
etreated, and the result of the day was m
ne worst disaster which has yet befallen tn
he invaders The Russians admit n loss orr
1000 killed and wounded, and it is prob IS
BILE that the real loss is two or three or
mes that. So
Last week. too, Gen. Gourkho was at tn,
cked by Suleiman Pasha who recaptured IS.
asanlik and drove the Russians back in mr.,
the Shipka pass which he will now have Ro
| he can do to hold. The Gar has called us
1t 100000 more troops and there seems W:
he no thought on his part of allowing W.
is eastern Bull Run" to back the in gre
lsion. W.,
The troops that defeated Krudener and VIII
hackoskoy came from Widdin and were He
by Osman Pasha. Mehemet bee
the Turkish commander in the Quad ical
"'ef"i' 10 the east oil the Russians, is gail
ID to be near the invaders with 10000 of Il
IN and has certainly forced them to give rec
for the present their attack from the inte
I'd side on Rustchuk. The Turks to the cou,
llh OF the Balkans are under Suleiman erin
sha ahd Raouf Pasha. wh,
The loss ut Plevna ought not to be suf- and
ent to disable the Russian army for if tbo
list be but small percentage of the was
mber they have south of the Danube. to "
e trouble however is that it see,Is to a h
We created a sort of panic among them whit
must have correspondingly eated one
II enemies. The Grand Duke Nicholas scho
st get his invading army ont of the of L
gle in which this defeat and Gourkho's hold
eat have put it, very soon or his cam 1860
On may be set down as failure for his
season. That result would undoubt. leavt
y lead to prolongation of the war whe,
Russia cannot afford to be whipped by nhvs
Turkey sngle-handed The Turk actiy
uld be worse than ever and the Rus tbeoI
would be snubbed by everybody in loso,
'ope. 1ishd