The New York herald., 1878-03-04


manded. The insurgents, however, refused to trust
the report without from the Great Powers
which they could not give. Bands OF servians ana
Monten egrins crossed the frontier to aid tho nsur
gents and tho Porte was about to mako war on
Prince NiKita, but was restrained by tho Powerx
The murder oi the French and German consuls by
tho ianatlcal Moslem populace at saonica brought
the British fleet to Beska Bay, and Prince Bismarck,
Count Andrassy ana Prince Gortschakon agreed upon
the famous Berlin memorandum, which was based
upon the Andrassy note, and demanded an armistice
OF two months, falling which It was hntcd that
''other and more eIcctual means" would be adopted
to secure pcace Italy and France approved tho
memorandum, but England objected.
THE sERvIAS
In tho meantime tho Sultan, Abdul Azz, was do.
throned and tho note was not preset The pub
licaton Of the horrors OF the Bulgarian massacres
aroused Europe to OF tho atrocty OF
Turkish rule, and 400 public meetings were hold
IN England 10 denounce 1t. Early In July Scrvia
commenced hostiities against tho Porte but toward
tho end OF August reduced such straits as to
ask for the mediation OF tho Powers. The Porte OBJ
jected to armsticc, and proposed conditions OF
peace to Servia which the Powers declared to be
inadmissable. Hostlties resumed, but
the Servans were continually defeated Russia now
proposed foreign Intervention, suggesting that Aus
march Bulgaria that the united fleets OF tho
Powers should enter tho Bosphorus To this England
objected.
cONsTAyTSoPLE CONFERENCE.
Lord Derby, In stating his objections, proposed an
armsticc Of six months and the assembling OF
conference 10 settle disputed questions and
suggest reforms. After some negotiation
Russia finally proposed an armis,ice of six
weeks, (Which was agreed to by the Porte.
In November Mr.. Disrueli's speech at the Guild
hall and the Czar's famous speech at Moscow
set all Europe specuating, and soon 1t be-
came known that orders for tho mobilization
of Russian army corps had been issued. On
the Goth November the Porte accepted the proposed
conference and alter number OF preliminary meet
ings held without the Turkish representatives,, tho
pcnury conference met the 2lst of December.
The previous day marked by tho advent to power
OF Midhat Pacha and the proclamation OF tho new
Turkish constitution. 1t soon became apparent
that Turkey determined to rcsst all interference
with internal affairs, and finally, on the 18th OF
January, 1877, the Turkish Pienpotentiaries having
rejected tho ninimizcd proposals. Of the Powers the
conference broke up.
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.
Preparations for invasion had been carefully made
during the previous year. large army had been
massed In Bessaraba, In the immediate neigh borhood
of the frontier, and the Emperors brother the Grand
Duke Nicholas, appointed Commander.in-Chef, began
to cross the Pruth almost simultaneously with the
declaration OF war. The army destined to operate
Bulgaria was supposed TO consist Of 200 900 men, IN
cudng large force OF cavalry and the due proportion
OF artillery. Through neglect and naive many of
the battalons were not complete In numbcrs ana tho
actual forcc at the beginning OF tho campaign has
never been accurately ascertained. Although the
province OF Roumania was theoretically a
dependency OF Turkey the invading army
found itself In a friendly country between
the Pruth and the Danube; and the rcigning
Prince, anxious to acquire military renown and
increase Of territory, after going through the form
OF discovering some cause OF quarrel with Turkey,
eagerly pressed his alliance on Russia. HIS offers Of
active cooperation at first coldy received, but
after the early misearrages OF the campaign tho AID
OF the Roumanian army became more than welcome,
and Prince Charles, leader OF 900 3d. 600 men,
has rendered valuable service to his powerful ally.
INVASION RoUMASA
After the declaration Of war, on April a. tho Rus
troops hurried across tho Pruth and seized
the Barboshe bridge Not an hour was lost getting
complete control OF the railway system OF Roumapia
GaIaz and lbraiI, two important points tho Dan-
ube nacing the portion OF the Dobruds
cha occupied and the tide swept onward 10 Bu-
charest The Don Cossack the hero this
He showed himself then as rough diamond OF q
soldier but his ride with Gourko, prince and gen.
cra, In the never-to. be-forgotten dash over tho
Balkans afterward fashioned him into oean-cut
gem among modern heroes. Tho invaders from the
North did not halt at Bucharest but swept to tho
southward and gathered at tho strategic points
along the Danube. Turna- Magarelli, Simnitza
and Gurgevo. opposite NikoEolis, Sstova and
Kustchuk respectively were occupied. For two
months, however, after the declaration Of
the hostile armies In Europe did not come uto COL
ision. Although tho Roumauian railways, with their
rolling Stock placed at tho disposal OF the
Russian staff the transit OF troops aud ne-
ccssay tedious and time was required for the pro-
vision OF magazines and for preparations cross ng
the Danube. A daring soldier command OF the
Turkish army might havc dono great service by .
ticipatibg the Russian advance.
RIVER
On the oath OF June Russian force crossed the
Danube, without serious opposition. by two bridges
OF boats from lbrail and Galatz Three days afer-
ward tho main army commenced It's passage IRON
Simnitz1, and occupied Sstova, ON the right bauk
OF the river. Tho Turkish Commander In -Chiol
scarcely attempted to impede movements which had
been regarded us difficult and dangerous expert
ments. The Turkish gunboats which ought TO have
commanded the navigation Of the Danube In.
efficient the lnnd forces. Some oil them disa.
bicd by tho fire OF the batteries on the Roumanian
shore, and attempt was mado by the remainder to
destroy the bridges during construction after they
had been completed The command OF the soa secured
to the Turkish the great advantage of safe
and open communication by way OF varna, while tho
Russians have been restricted 10 the moro tedious
and costly conveyance Of troops and stores by road
or rnilway. The feet, IN the absence OF enemy
seu, performed brilliant exploit Sebastopoi and
odessa wero inaccessible and tho Admiral prop.
erly declined TO b.mbard undeicnded towns the
coast. For three weeks alter the first passage
of the Danube the Invading army met win
no serious resistance. on the advance Of a small
body Of cavalry from Sistova, garrison OF Turkish
infantry fed In disgraceiul confusion from Tirnova,
and "A civil government, composed chiefly OF Bulga.
rians under a Russian commander, was estab-
lshcd tho provincial capital. An imperial procla-
nation addressed In severe terms to tho Mussulman