The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-03-01

stroying this menacing force. II was
a defeat for the Russians. A second and
bloodier battle was fought with the same
result. And then a third, in which the
Russians We're again defeated, and with
sorer loss than ever. This brought the
campaign well into September. Under
the direction Of the famous engineer.
Todlebcn, regular siege was now laid
TO Plcvna, and lis surrender 40 last fol-
lowed, the date being the 10th Of De-
cember.
Tho general outlines Of the campaign
are very family drawn, and include, Of
course, an infinite variety Of marchings
and countermarchings. Of engagements
ranging from battles Of considerable
Importance TO The slight skirmishes of
parties Of reconnaissance, Of cavalry
raids and artillery duels, Of torpedo
warfare and Cossack exploits. The
crossing Of the Danube furnished many
a picturesque and striking scene. The
occupation Of n Bulgarian village
after another was marked by incidents
romantic and pathetic by turns. The
cruclties practiced by kurd and BASH
Bazouk had pleasing relief IN the pre-
dominant kindness Of the Russian req
uiar. The piled-up masses Of the Bal
kans and the fertile plains and valleys
below combined To form q remarkable
landscape. Great regulations were
made and lost by Generals and other
officers on both sides, as in our w war
q the rebellion. There were displays
Of Incompetence by bureau officials and
higher commanders, and useless sacri-
flee Of brave and devoted men through
blunder and caprice. Turkish elm was
often more than a match for Russian
obstinacy. And though by midsum-
mer II seemed as il the Russiaa army
was staggering under the load It had
lifted, with the opening Of 1873 came
evidence that what had always been
deemed the probable issue OF the war
would be the actual one.
The campaign in Asia, though on a
smaller scale than that in Europe, fur
nished in some respects a striking par
allel 70 Il. There was NJ first the same
easy and triumphant advance Of the in
vading forces, marked by the capture of
Bajazid and Arabian: then a period of
struggle and disaster and check. lasting
from the middle of MAY up to Septeni-
Der; then a new impulse forward. with
the overwhelming defeat OF the Turks
under Mukhtar rasha in October. and
the capture Of kars in November.
The events since the fall 81 Pleyna and
Of kars are too recent to call for review
here. The swift advance Of the Russian
armies beyond the Balkans, through
koumelia, past Phillippopolis and Adria-
and so on toward Constantine
pie, has filled up the month Of january
with an exciting chapter Of current his
tory. And a. these words are written
the victorious armies of the Car are
practically in possession Of the Turkish
In the circumstances Of its origin: In
prestige and power Of the two nations
party To il; in the gravity Of the politi-
social and religious interests in
in its reconcile relation 10 the
prophetic voice OF the Christian Scrip-
lures; in the concern with which IL has
been regarded by all Of Europe: in the
character Of the ground upon
which i has been fought in the magni-
tude OF the armies which It has brought
INTO conflict; in the number and sharp
ness Of its battles; and in the heroisin
and military skill which il has witness
81, this R~usso-Turkish war Of 1877 de-
'ervedly takes place among the memora
Die wars Of all time; and its effects up-
The European fabric are likely to be
the most permanent description
lhristiaH Union.