New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-21

quentlv in the OF the position occupied there by
Mukhtar Pasha.
This il the with the road by which the
Russian right wing to be making preparations to
advance from the Baum side up the valley Of the Tshu
ruk su The object Of the advance from this side also
not to be Bam, but Erzcrum. Lying on the sea,
and therefore defended by the Turkish feet and to
be starved out like Kars blockade Of Batum is 40
much the out OF the question rs the road from
there to Erzerum by the valley OF the Tshurk SUI
be easily barred that fear need be entertained Of
any action of the Turkish garrison of Baum in the
Of force advancing up the valley. The advance on
Batum was therefore, probably fent 70 mask the al
OF the left wing up the valley OF the Ishuruk SUI
Once in the Valley OF the Tshuruk Su, tho Russian
army fair road converting Erzerum from the
norteas-that is, TO the rear or less OF the two
positions which bar the way OF the other two Russian
columns As II may be supposed that the Russians will
try to effect junction OF their three columns, each OF
them will support the advance OF the other two, ana If
the wing columns sooner the position Of
Mukhtar Pasha in front Of both Of them, Will be-
come untenabe, and he will be obliged to take mp q
position close IN front Of Erzerum. Fortunately for him
he has position on the plateau Of Dove Burma, 20 the
oil Ezerum, that unless chance should offer
itself Of some ally attacking one or The other Of the
Russian columns before they can unite, or unless
Mukhtar forced TO accept battle previously, the Rus
slams may possibly be heard Of in the neghboFhood Of
Erzcrum before serious attempt at resistance Is
made by the Turks.
II this be it will primarily BE- due 10 the vast snpe
rorit OF the Russian army and will show the opinion OF
he right who thought TINT the rst and most en-
crge.ic advance would he tins most exposed side OF
the Turkish frontier The scbcn divisions OF infantry and
one OF cavalry which form the framework Of the Caucas
ian army ought according 10 their nOmal warstrcngh
TO consist OF an effective force OF 10000 men
amp 1886 guns, besides the irreguars and Cossachs.
In addition to this adjoining military district Of
tine other two divisions have been modified and
cent oil to the Caucasus Even If these merely to
constitute reserve tLcy vii allow the whole Ciu"aan
army strcng heued by the Cossacs and native rregu-
lars 10 march of. The Turkish force opposed can
scarcely number tnan from 10000 to 10000 regu
nr. besides the kurs aud other rrcguars, with some
$50 $50 field guns. II comprises the Whole Fourth
Corn. d'Arm6a OF Ana.o!i aud Eiz'rIm, with all lis
Red T. and Reserves and portion of the Corps dArmee
Of Ragdad. The Russians seem to have estimated the
Turkish farce less than this, fora Russian ac-
count OF the Turkish de B1ate in Turkish Arue-
mia states that in Kars there twcntyone bataions
with eight field batteries which might have
been so far true: but portion could always be
withdrawn, as was the with hukhtar Pasha.
who took nine battallous with him Then there
were eight battalions statct 10 be at Rayazid
which does not coincide witt the 200 men only found
there hy the R>sitns. 50 u Ice that some Ot these
like the nine hattaous from kar,. mas have gone 10
strrng men the army at Ez'rHn. NJ ms later pace
according the Russian account, mere Wcfc nut 10
b1falions left and l3 batteries al artillery; SO tIat
orcor 10 this accOnt 30 ~ ne ll6 bat,SoGs
would only be available to bar the ROAD tO the hssdhs
in their advance on E?LcIuI1.