Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-06-01
THE EASTERN WAR.


Progress Of the Campaign.
The weeks kilograms confirm the Rus.
sian advance to the Aluta ut Turnn-
Magurcli, Islah and Simnitza The forces
actually at these places are only advance
posts. The main body is distributed in
the rear between Alexandria, Komani
and Ruschedevede, $4,000 men being at
the latter place, from whence good
roads lead to Turnn .Magureli and
Simnitza; ID, 200 are at Alexandria, 49,
600 at Komani; 10000 at Karakal.
There arc thus in what may be termed
the center advance, between the Aluta
and Vede, 104,000 men. As regards
the extreme right full fifteen batteries
have been sent, part to TurnSeverin and
part to Kalafat. Two batteries have ar
rived at Vircicorava, the terminus of the
Roumania railway. This movement of
artillery further west, coupled with the
constant arrival of detachments Of sap.
pers and pioneers with the other forces
now amounting to some 100000 men
west of Krajova, leaves little doubt that
the Russians intend to turn Widdin
Everything goes to show their campaign
will be directed with view to compel
the Turks to fight in the open field
The chief concentration on the left and
extreme left is at Giurgcvo and Slobosia
Between these points there are now 35,.
600 men exclusive of cavalry and artil-
lery. At Kirnogi and Oltenitza there
arc 10000 and at Kalarash an advance
post of A 900 men to guard against any
flank attack from Silistria. Thence to
Ibrail there is only a chain of Cossack
outposts, but at Slobosia there are 5000,
exclusive of cavalry and artillery. On
the Galatz, Rcn and Ismail line there has
been no increase of men, but notable
increase of defensive works in the shape
of batteries.
All these arrangements and the dispo-
sition SO far of the Russian troops show
that the attempts to cross into the Do.
brudscha are feints. The chief conccn-
trations are at and near Giurgevo and on
the Aluta line.
The intelligence from Tihis and Van
illustrates the progress of events in Asia
Minor The first attack on Batoum was
feint to cover operations on the other
side of the Kolova range of mountains.
The Turks had strong position on the
heights south of the river Choruk, which
in turn was commanded by a force and
field batteries on the northern slope of
the Kolova, where it forms the southern
boundary of the Choruk plain. The con-
tinuation of the Kolova chain, forming
the southern and eastern boundaries of
the Choruk plain, is called Khatzubani.
In order to quite shut in Batoum on
the land side il was necessary to oust the
Turks from their position on the Kolova,
so as to flank their position on the river
heights lower down. The Russians were
unable to force either position, but have
succeeded in half turning the Turkish
position on the river by occupying the
Khatzubani Heights. The next battle
will result either in the occupation of the
lower Kolova or in the complete defeat
of the Russians, who will then be thrown
back on Osurgethi; but of this the Rus
slams in Tiflis appear to have no fear
The movement is regarded there as hay
ing been successful, since it is further
step to the complete investment of Ba-
toum 1t is said, however, that the Rus
sian commander exceeded his instruc-
tiOns, and it is not denied that the losses
have been heavy. Each side carried of
its own dead and wounded. Many of the
latter have arrived at Osurgeth.
The Russian third or Erinan column
has arrived at Utchkelisses, and an ad.
vance guard pushed forward to near
Jeranos and Chamur, about half way be-
tween Bajazid and Erzeroum. From
Jeranos road lead across the Agry
range to Kagismau, which is also in the
hands of the Russians. From Kagisman
another road leads to Getshevan, on the
southern route from Kars to Erzcroum.
Thus, east, north and south of Kars the
mountain passes and roads are in Rus
sian hands, and one of the outlets of
these passes to the Kars district, with
the means of its defense-namely, Arda-
han, on the north-has just been captured
by them.
The Turks still hold the positions of
Getshevan and Delimusa, on the south
and southwest. A detachment of Rus
slams has arrived at Arnis, on Lake Van,
and is believed to be the advance guard
of column directed against Melaskert,
on the Euphrates, south of Jeranos.
There are, on the other hand, large
number of Kurds congregating at Bitlis
and Diarbatir, but all are miserably
armed and wretchedly mounted.
From all this it would seem that the
center advance of the Russians around
and before Kars is being held back, and
the right and left wings pushed forward,
with the intention of outfanking Moukh-
tar Pacha's position at and south of Bar
diz; but the roads and weather are bad
and the advance proportionally slow.
The nOhrnd