Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-06-28
BLOW Struck.

Eight weeks have elapsed since the
opening of the war, and after waiting
thus long the advance of the Russians
across the Danube into the DObrujda
at Ibrsil has the appearance OF The pre-
cursor of q movement Of the whole
grand army soon to follow. The force
which has passed over the stream is |
only a section of the left wing, and ii |
is not likely that the great advance
will be made in this locality, but fur
ther westward along the Danube. The
fighting does not seem to have been
very severe, as the Turks abandoned
their batteries soon after the attack
was made, and without waiting for an
assault upon it, precipitately fled from
the town of Matehin. This neighbOr-
hood on the river has been the scene
of all the belligerent acts of any ac-
count that have taken place, as it was
near there that the two Turkish moni-
tors were sunk, and the artillery firing
across the stream has been quite con-
slant for some weeks past. In the
fighting which preceded the abandon
ment OF Matchin tine Russian troops
are said to have shown magnificent
courage and discipline, and it is at
least evident that this event of hOstili-
ties on large scale has resulted most
unfavorably for the Moslem cause.
The success of this movement must
tend to confirm the general opinion of
correspondents with the Russian army,
that il is in superb condition, and that
nothing can save Turkey from crush
ing disasters except the Intervention
of other nations. In this connection,
thara iS still mad raaSop fnr
looking with spprehensive eyes to
wards England. Although the Bea
lconsfield Government has ceased to
talk of Intervention, 1t continues an
Iominous preparation of the army and
, navy to be ready for the worst emer-
, gency, and the commencement of the
Russian invasion of Bulgaria can hard
ly escape bringing matters to crisis.
The crossing of the Danube as low
r dewn as the Dobrujda may be accepted
as pointing out some of the prominent
features OF the MuscOvite plan of cam.
> paign. AS crossing in heavier force
will be made higher up at Turnu Ma
gurelli, opposite Nikopolis, it will be
a seen that the intention is TO flank the
strong fortresses of Rutschuk, Silistria
Varna and Shuma, which constitute
what is known as the turkish quad
lateral, and also to turn the left wing
: of the Turkish strength concentrated
q between the Danube and the eastern
!: extremity of the Balkan Mountains
b Such plan does away with the neces
e sity of attacking these strong positions
e and If the Turks venture out of then
y they will give the invaders the Oppor
q Itunity of fighting them without th'
g support of these fortified places. Th
9 Turkish force in the territory betweel
e the centre of the Dobrujda and tn,
IS quadilateral would thus be menacet
l. on two sides on the northeast by tn,
q corps which have already crossed tn
g river in the vicinity of Matchin, ant
y on the southwest by those which ar
p to cross at Nikopolis. The latter wo't
e be on the shortest route to CONSTANT
n pie, the old military road through tn
u western passes of the Balkans to tn
n Moravo Valley, leading to Sofia, Phil
d ippopolis and Adrianople. The plal
y can only be success in its execution
e on the supposition that the Russian
70 so greatly Outnumber the Turks as t
e be able to march onward into Bulgari
e and leave behind them the enemy o.
r the line of the Danube, and thisrelativ
l. proportion of the hOstiles is an admit
T. ted fact