The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-02
TURKEYS WAR IN 1877.
a REVIEW OF THE LAST GREAT
CONFLICT IN EUROPE.

-
Russia's Eiundcru Mt the Beginning ana Tur-
hcy's Toward the C~lose-Mmtnry Opcr-
ntions Around Pievnn - rho Treaty or
SUN stornno ana tho Berlin Congress.
On April 90. twenty years ago, tho Emperor
Alexander II. Of Russia, after reviewing his
armies at Kischencff md Unghoni. on tho plains
Of Beesnrabia, proclaimed war upon tho Turk.
1t had boon tho desire of tho Emperor to mako
the war the previous autumn, Immediately after
tho closing of tho Constantinoplo conference
that met ut the termination OF tho Scrvian war;
but the uncertainty of being able TO keep open
the communications of tho army across tho
Danube during tho winter caused 1t to be do
fcrred TO the spring OF 1877. From tho declaration
OF war TO midsummer tho preparations for tho
passage Of tho Danube went on unlnterruptcdly.
Tho neutrality OF Austria had been secured by
the consent of Russia to her occupation OF Bos-
MIA and Herzegovina after the war, and tho
promise that the Russian movements IN Rou-
mania, which was used as q bass against tho
Turks, should not extend westward ofthc Alnta.
By tho first, Austria secured tho timberland of
Dalmatia and tho read toward Salonica. and In
the second tho superstitious among diplomats
discorncd the eventual boundary between Rus
sia and Austria north Of the Danube.
Tho Turkish army In Bulgaria that was assem-
blod to meet tho Russian invasion was divided
into two separate armies, tho western forco
under Osman Pasha, with headquarters at
Widdin on tho Danube, close TO tho Servian
frontier, and tho eastern. under the personal
command of Abdul Kcrim Pasha. sirdnr Ekrcm,
or genoraliss!mo OF tho whole Turkish army in
Europe, In the Quadrilateral. with Shumla as
headquarters. The principal fortrcsscs along
tho Danube from Widdin 10 the Black Sen were
strongly garrlsoncd, and an Egyptian contingent
under Prince Hnssam held Varna on the Black
Goo T1,a fr,,..ysgh ,lan - 5nen.,n h,I Ia,n
drawn up by Won Sioltko, subject to the
contingencies of the Russians forcing .hc pass
age OF tie Danube on q flank or tho centre of
tho line. The facilities afforded by the railways
through Roumania decided the Russian stan to
make tho passage Of tho river in tho centre.
Tho plan that had been drawn up for the Turks
was to offer only q faint resistance TO the pass.
age OF the Danube, but so soon as the Russian
army had taken ground on Turkish territory to
close in on It from both tanks, A few
days before the crossing took place sew
eral Russian officers found their way
to Plovna in tho disguise OF Bulgarian
peasants, made these Reconnaissance Of tho
neighborhood and found thei- way back into
Roumania. At that moment tho Turkish force
at Plcvna was but one company of Mustahfz or
territorial militia. and there was not n symptom
to show that the old Sirdar, Abdul Kerim, had
destined tho quiet little town surrounded by a
horseshoe of hills opening on the Wild to take
its place among tho backgrounds OF history.
The passage of the Danube BY tho Russians
toward the end OF June was effected without re.
sistance from tho Turks, and almost Immediately
the plumbers of tho Russians began. Instead of
pushing out at once for Plevna, they wasted
precious days waiting for tho reduction of
Nikopolis, which was commanded by Hassan
Pasha, q nephew Of the Sirdar Ekrem. By tho
time that was effected and q Russian brigade
sent forward to Plevna. the advanced guard Of
Osman Pasha's army that was advancing
from Widdin had taken up its position
on the sites selected for the defencos of
the place, and was engaged in throwing up
that afterp%ardy de rSdIo1edtS in soa the of feamiSobis
lines before which the Russians threw away
much valuable time and sacrificed tens OF thou
Russians to drive off tho Turks was rcpulscd,
and the rapid arrival of reinforcements enabled
carry them by assault.
staff. carried out In the most admirable manner
his part Of the Turkish plan. the execution OF
E iha ears w az NJ nu lfSfsdf by ' the h refssal oF the the sultan sultan
TO send forward the reinforcements which had
been called for until he had divulged his plan OF
tion would soon find its way to tho Rus.
the old pashn's disgrace, and he was sent
years after. During tho CONFUSION that ensucd
The RI mn $ proa.eI BY the Turkish =inaetlon;
the hhnsES a hiRRshsa n " isT0 Gsn. oG aSup pt ssT By The sf HSis
Swinging round 10 the Right after descending
rapidly to the westward through Eski Saghra
and through Hezsnlik, from which be tprped
self firmly on the summit OF tho pass. From there
the Hnssians never we're dislodEed during the
lost no time. in establishing their CONNECTIONS
with, Gonrkho through Tirnova and GabrovI.
which the Turks made several efforts to broak.
the turn affairs haa taken. called Mehemct All
pasha from Noyi Razar. where he was watching
the se:yien and Montencgrin frontiers. and N.
vested him with tho supreme command of thS
ssTmmy in Bulgaria; and At the same time ordered
marches to shipkas;, Mehemet All. immediately
snn,z a5FI tSe ARMY at sh %RiaS; h p1GGeG n%% re to %fi
tho required achievements. for a for.
ward movement. Tho corps OF Ahmed Eyoub
Rustchuk. had, several minor e~nsagements with
ths CORPS p pTf ut The c=ss.rewitsh; af nn
OF tho LON toward Shumfn. From these Nc.
"%stions al a. o K"rsh hns@ Ias1il IN ana ' Rafsc &c m,'H oS
tho ISco( R rct ! = C,d tEio q; ne Tch valley Of thhss T{antr1 bnt
fall back on his original limo running from
Nasgshd, Oh tho Narnn.l tustchuk hallway, to
Eski DjuIna and Oman Bazaar In the Balkans.
Meanwhile the Russians had been rcprised IN
two successive assaults on Plevnu with terrific
loss. and tho Toumanian army WAS called to
the rescue. Hero AZ elsewhere throughout tho
camnaign tho enormous superiority Of the Mar
tint Peabody rife, with which tho TURKS wero
armed, exhibited itself over the transformed
Krinka rifo that WINS IN tho hands Of the Rus
tho Russian was about Us seven to three in
organized his forces and formed a now
plan OF campaign, sent Instructions to osman
to cvacuate Plevnn and retro either on
Orkhanich toward Sofia or on Lovdsha, imme.
diatcly south OF Ploypa. as no thought most
expodlont. Osmnn replied that as soon rs he
had sent away HIS sick and wounded no would
act on instructions. A. tho Sumo time Niche
met All autographed to Sulciman. who was vast
Ing tho flower OF his army In Intellectual attcmrts
to carry Shlpka. to leayc a force oIihttont, to
and move round to Osmnn Bazaar by forced
merclies to join him; The outcome Of these
met Al! that osmnn had received ORDERS from
himself to hold on to pleyna, and Suleiman
20 n-nnt - It-L .-l .l..t