The New York herald., 1879-03-17
General Tchernaieff's Plans
Discussed.
THE UNION OF THE BULGARTANS.
The Panslavist Ideas Considered Utop;an
by the Russians.
sr. PETERSBURG. Feb. q. 1879.

ton of sensational character relating TO the move
ments Of the Russian and Bulgarian armies. He
described certain military movements and prepara-
tons IN Bulgaria which to him appeared to indicate
that the Russians intended to make o heightened
stay In the countries beyond the Danube, or that
some important military enterprise again con-
templated by Russia in Bulgaria and Eastern Rou-
melia.
He spoke also of the formation of many new bat
taons of Bulgarian militia. of the continual arrival
of fresh troops from Russia. and descended in
his minute details to the construction of tenn
porary home for General Todleoen in the picturesque
Wilderness of the Balkan passes. Persons
quainted with the internal struggles of the localities
may be induced to believe in the conclusions at
which the correspondent arrives.
A RUSSIAN EXPLANATION.
Many of these assertions are, it may be here said
highly probable although the correspondent is quite
mistaken to the and tho motives which lie at
the bottom Of tho movements and preparations
observed by him. The Russian government is not
only quite candid in its expressed wish to
carry out the provisions of the Berlin Treaty. but
is essentially opposed to all further disturbances on
the Balkan peninsula. The Russian officials have
received .hs strictest instructions to oppose with
ell their energy any national movement on the part
of the BuiGarians which may to their knowl-
edge. because any such occurrence is radically ad.
clear. must refer to something which took place in
Russia some time sgo and which not oven men,
toned by cur local papers. Almost Simultaneously
with the recall OF the Pansavst leader Mr. Aksakof,
from his temporary exile in Of his remote coun
try seats. thcre had been arranged several meetings
of the Panslavic circle in Moscow. Many schemes
Were enc-tained for the attainment of the of
Bulgarian unity. seriously compromised but none
of them could be considered feasible enough
to claim tho exertions and money which the
Panslavists ready TO apply for tho attainment OF
ultimate They had at last GEN.
eral Tchcrnaief and that gentleman showed them
many chances for the success OF their enterprise
that they were quite ready to subscribe any sum
wanted in the preliminary estimates OF the contem-
plated actions.
TcuERNAIEpT's PLANS.
General Tchcrnaic submitted to them all his cal
culatous and it must be acknowledged that those
calculations based actual facts aud were srs-
tnined by very wcighty figures. His plan was not
complicated He rcckoned mostly on the forces
ready ut hand-callcd by the undonbtcd prestige
was to 70 to bulgaria, who're there are forty.four
battalions OF the national militia already drilled end
placed o on al p military ssndng by the
Sides to be had eight battalions from the western
part Of bulgaria. in the ncighborhood Sophia.
| to scvcnty-two battalions. and. finally. Tcher-
naie declared. that his rst appeal Oil the young
| men OF Eastern Roumclia would be ready to leave
their country apdjoin him in large Accord
ing to the above calculation Tchernaief have
III ali about one hundred and twenty thousand
men; but he to be ablo TO resist all attempts
on the part OF the Turks to reoccupy Eastern hou
1 mella even with 900 men.
| PANsLAvrsTs GOVERNMENT.
| Eut even tho hottest supporters OF Iehornaiefrs
plans never hoped ror the slightest assistance from
the by which they were to repair the damages
inflicted on their cause by the Russian government
| the newly organized province. General Tchernaef
| is not much troubled by secondary consdera-
tons He declared II that as the Russian ad%nistra ira
arrival OF their Ottoman substitutes. he will let tho
Turkish authorities enter the country in order to get
quiro quiz nm much siiii.' said General Tchcrnscfi. m H.
| ito master the Turkish officials and mako
| them quito inoficnsive when the Russians
have gone. They will be allowed to live In sccpsion
IL they show themselves obedient but will be sacri-
feed il they attempt to prejudice But the
| ince as long ss have o handful of men to oppose
such q catastrophe" SO the plan was declared to
contain the capacity for success. and WINS eucr
| getically sustained by the psnslavistic party Of
Russia. Not being ip position to know exactly
the contemplated action will limit myself to tho
contemplation Of the means they will have at their
rcaites, and the latter must be considered possible
THE PROBABILITIES OF SUCCESS.
Tche-naiefi made an attempt to gain Prince Milan
to the he is about to represent but in this he
failed. the Prince seems TO be quite satisfied with
the actual state OF things and does not want to
change his position OF an independent Prince for the
visionary honors OF king OF projected kingdom
he refused to General 1chernaief at Nish.
Not so. however. the Scrvian government AS far
can judge Rstish is completely on the side OF the
asussan Panslavst party, and there is doubt that
f"yr ~, ~ uT a nc can sne IN
he is able to hold the Balkans and prevent the Turks
from occupying Eastern Bulgaria. even with forco
already Il is sad in srsas Quantities. s fcher
naicfr rcckons himself able to hold the Turks
The artillery is to be left to the Bulgarans after tho
evacuation OF the country by the russians. II must
not bc supposed, either. that the Emperor Alexander
presented the greater part of Russian guns to tho
Bulgarians in any provision for future insurrcc-
ton. Such sacrifice was dictated by considerations
quite foreign to all Pansavistc fancics and not
even due TO any magnanimity on the part of tho
Gar It had been simply ascertaincd during the last
positively good for nothing: only one-third Of
1.-THE guns recently purchnscd-proycd 10 answer
the exigencics of modern warfare. We're the Rus
SLAMS Obliged to fight the English. the Aus
trians these old fashioned guns would be of use,
and there certainly will be other occasion TO
tight Turkey for long time 10 come IL not
thought worth while to carry that part OF the artil
lcry home TO Russia. The cost OF the transport OF
the guns would perhaps have been greater than tho
sctual worth Of their material. SO il decided to
leave them behind for the Bugarians. Tchcrnaicf on
well the purpose OF the actual moment. and is on
tho whole quite confident in the sufliccncy of all
tho means provided TOR tho contemplated rising Of
SO much for tho plans and hopes of the Bulgarians
and their supporters. who. although Russians for
the most part. decline to see what inopportnnc
hcnt-so far as Russia is concerned-thcy have
chosen for hcfurthcrancc of their idea.
RUSSIA orrpsEs TIE PLAN.
have already stated that the Russian government
Is for the present decidedly adverse 20 any efforts on
the part of the Bugsrians to achieve the union
of their country against the wishes of tho great
Powers of Europe. The Bulgarahs. sustained by
Scrvia would probably be able to attain thcir ends
II they only had TO fight Turkey. but is not to be
doubted for moment that England and Austria
would Interfere in such case. What would then bc
the part imposed Russia The country il ex-
hausted by tho last struggles the bad state CT her
finances requires many years of rndisturbcd peace
In order 10 be put proper footing The Russian
people tired OF war; the Emperor is. and ever
was. opposed 10 it, The need OF many reforms. sus
pcndci during tho last disquictng yesrs, is univer
sally felt, and such reforms indispensable they
are for the welfare of the Russian people, cannot be
carried out except with several years Of assured
peace and all possible economy in internal expenses
Let us suppose for QUO moment that Russia could
allow things take their without supporting
the uso OF bulgaria agninst Turkey, would IL be
possible for her to leave Bulgaria without assistance
IL the Other Powers were to come down upon herY
Would not tho Bulgarsns be right i'll saying then
that Russia had disavowed them after having been
the first cause of their rising? Could Russia hold 10