Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-01-31
Some Account of AdrianopIe.

There come moments during the
progress OF all the great chapters o.
history when events march onward
with so quick stride that journalism
finds it hard to keep pace with them
Even as we write Russian army may
be entering Adrianople, and the
Turkish power In Europe seems to be
breaking in pieces, much as the Byzan
tine Empire did when it perished
434 years since-Iess from attacks with
out than from disease and rottenness
! -Thare ererouIo nncient pro-
phecies held dear in Russian hearts
old as the days of that disa +ler, which
say that COnstantinople is to be held
by the Moslem until the Gar Of
Muscovy rides through its Golden
Gate. The feeling at COnstantinOple
that Mahmoud, after his victory, Or
dered that gate to be walled up, as 1t
remains until this day. The inteior OF
Turkey is actually less known to the
general public of christendoD than it
was century since; or even when the
overland route to the Crusajes lay
through it in the Middle Ages. A
century ago the high road from West
ern Europe to the East was down the
Danube, or along its shores, to Belgrade;
through Vienna, Buda and Peterward-
in; thence on by the old highway,
kept in excellent repair, through
Servia, Bulgaria and Roumelia to
ConstantinOple. The road led from
Belgrade to Nisss, about $50 miles,
thence to Sofia, the chief city OF
Bulgaria, through gorge in the Bal
kans, 100 miles; from Sofia to Philip
pOpolis, about IS miles, and thence
100 miles further to Adrianople. 1t Is
this high-road that the Russian army
is now marching upon since taking
Sofia, but their advanced troops have
already descended the last slope of the
Balkans, between Sofia and Philip.
popolis, and are threatening Adrisno-
Pile.
This is not the first time during the
past fifty years that the double-headed
eagle has perched upon the walls Of
Adrisnople. In 1926 the Treaty of
Ackerman, between Russia and the
Porte, guaranteed the independence
(save for a small tribute) Of Romania
(Wallachia and Moldavia). Two years
later the infrsction Of that treaty led
the late Emperor Nicholas to declare
war. The Russian army crossed the
Danube much further to the east than
1t hes done in the present campaign,
and set itself to reduce the great fort-
ress Of Silistris, and the two other
strong places, Sbumla and Varna, call
ed the gates of Constantinople. There
Is superstition among the Turks and
Russians that whichever power pre-
walls in siege of Silistris, will conquer
in the war; but in the campaign Of
1877 the Russians left Silistria, Shumla
and Varna on their. left, and after
bearing down, after crossing the Dan
ube, In an almost direct southerly line
into Bulgaria, they have recently
made wide detOur to their right, and
are now coming down, as we have
said, along the great highroad to
Adrianeple. In 1928 both armies
went into winter quarters, the Rus
SLAMS continuing, however, all winter,
notwithstanding the unusual cold, to
skirmish along the southern shore OF
the Danube, capturing on one occasion
considerable Turkish feet, tight
frozen, near NicOpolis. The following
year, 1929, having secured their com.
municatiOnt by the fall of the "Gstes"
and of Silistria, they passed over the
Balkans at the Pass of Selimm0, and
on August 10th, in intolerably hot
weather, they entered Adrisnople.
Here, in the following month, a treaty
was signed, securing independent ad-
ministration to Romanis, the free
navigation of the Black Sea for pur-
poses Of commerce to all nations at
peace with the Porte, and guarantee
ing to Russia the payment OF = large
indemnity. On the payment OF the
first instalment the Russian army was
to retire from Adrisnople; on the
second, to pass the Balkans; on the
third, to recross the Danube, and on
the fourth, to quit Romania. While
this war in Europe was going on Ger-
eral Paskievitch was fighting with
brilliant success In Asia Minor, nearly
over the same battle ground at Kars
and Erzeroum, where the Russians are
fighting at this day. In 1871 the Porte,
getting alarmed by the conquest OF
Syria by Ibrahim Pasha, son of tile
Egyptian Viceroy, invoked help from
Russia to put down Its rebellious
vassal. The Powers of Europe then
interfered, France taking the side Of
Egypt, England that Of the Porte, and