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

Bey, the Turkish Charge d'Afiaires a
ST. Petersburg, To |" be so kind rs 10 In
form" his Government that from tina
day Russia considered herself in a state
Of war with the Porte. The substance
Of this polite notification was simulta'
neously communicated by circular 70 the
great powers. Without d moments de-
lay the Russian armies which, for some
months, had been gathering on the
frontier, crossed into Turkish territory,
And thus began the war which within
nine months has brought the Porte "a
the feet Of the Gar.
The diary Of the war which follows
this article gives the sequence of the
main events. Unable 20 put down the
Herzegovina revolt or TO satisfy Servia
with promises, the matters were, by
mutual consent, referred to q neutral
commission of inquiry, which accom-
plished nothing, and was followed BY a
joint request known as the Andrassy
note, which was sent 10 the Porte by
the powers and elected the usual half
asserting reply. Then came the fanat-
zeal Moslem outbreak at Salonica, the
bulgarian massacre, and open war with
Servia. 1t was speedily evident that
Turkey was more than q match for the
~Seryians, and an armistice was arranged
through the intervention of Russia.
Further negotiations succeeded, ending
with a protocol Of the Powers, to which
the Porte testify replied in SUBSTANCE
that "Strong in the justice Of heI
cause, and trusting in her God, Turkey
had determined 10 ignore what had been
decided without her and for her.
Then was it that Russia came 10 the de-
cision Of independent action, and gave
the order for the crossing of the Turkish
frontier.
The average familiarity Of the reader
with The map Of the confines Of Europe
and Asia is sufficient for the understand
ing Of the geographical outlines. OF the
war thus precipitated. The peculiar
geographical conditions determined the
plan and conduct Of the campaign en-
tered upon b. Russia, compelling her to
pursue two lines Of advance instead OF
one-io cross both the European and
Asiatic frontiers Of Turkey thus by one
way or the other 70 circumvent the
Black Sea barrier, and threaten the OBJ
point Of Constantinople far 10
the southwark As we now look back
over the conduct Of the war, the Eu-
pean advance il plainly the one most
vigorously conducted, and the one
marked by the most important events.
The entrance into Asia has more the
appearance Of a feint on a large scale,
designed to draw Turkish attention IN
that direction and to furnish some nee
essary occupation for a considerable
part of the Ottoman armies.
Three critical steps marked the cam
paign in European Turkey. The first
these was the crossing Of the Danube.
This majestic river, full Of the associa-
Of omance and history, after
reversing a large section Of Turkish
ierritory nearly from west 10 east, turns
% the north just before reach
ng the Black Sea, into which Il finally
BY several mouths. The
asst IS miles DR. 80 Of its course consti-
utes the boundary between Turkey and
russia. The long and narrow neck OF
and formed between the later course Of
he river and the Black Sea is called the
)obrudscha. Along the river, above
his, and stretc hing westward almost 10
he confines Of Austria, l. a line Of Turk
81 fortresscs. the most important Of
are Widdin, Nikop0l. Sistova,
iustchuk and Silistria. Further 10 the
outward, and in quadrilateral rela-
ions with Rustchuk and Silistria. are
fortresses Of Shumla and Narna. the
after lying upon the Black Sea. Rus
las flrst move was to get beyond this
barrier of nature and mill
airy art. One army crossed into the
)obrudscha, and took up a watchful
'ossessioR of that territory as far south
the bend in the Danube. Thus sup
'or.ed on the left, the remaining forces
rossed the Danube ut Soninitza, oppo-
ite Sistova. The crossing was made
he latter part Of June, after long DELAYS
nd with much hncssc, and not without
difficulty and some armed OBJ
but on the whole far more
asily than was to have been expected.
Immediately upon the passage Of the
an Army Of Rustchuk was formed
watch the fortrcsses Of the quadri-
The Army Of Rustchuk and the
~ the DODruuscna mus fOrmeu a
upon the left flank Of the
iain forces Of the Russians headed to
he southwark.
The second critical step Of the Rus
was the passage Of the Balkans.
his was effected by cavalry. under
zen. Gourko, in July, through a pass
Thich the Turks had strangely left I'M
uarded. Had the Russian generalship
cen better, the main army might prob
bly, have followed Gourko, and SUISSE
events would have taken a differ
ut turn, and led 70 a speedier conclu-
ion. As II was, Gourko was obliged to !
ncross the Balkans, and then, growing
Of the attempts Of the Turks 10 fol-
Nv him, ensucd the series Of terrible
attIes for the nn.sessinn 81 the Shinka