Year: 1878

The Defeat OF Suleimam Pachn.


Another Russian victory comes in time to
influence the terms Of the treaty Of peace.


Suleiman Pacha has been beaten between


Tatar Bazardjik and Philippopolis, and has
retreated toward ehe latter place. In the
phraseology which people apply to all sorts
Of articles that are classed in pairs it may


be said that Suleiman is the companion
piece of Osman of Plevna. They are the
two commanders who have figured in the
war in Europe with most success, and they
are the two typical Turks. They have
been trusted at Constantinople because they
were under the inspiration of the same ideas
that prevailed there-the ideas, in fact, that
have prevailed in all Ottoman wars. Fight
ing with the fanaticism Of their race, these
men have had enough military science to
relieve their achievements from absolute
condemnation on that score, for even Sulei-
mans mad attempt at the Shipka Pass had
good military reason. In that general
tumbling to pieces of the Turkish defence,
of which the failure at Shipka and the sur
render Of Osman Pacha were the first facts, it
was instinctively felt that further resistance
was desperate, and that if there was hope
in any commander it must be in Suleiman
Pacha; and in the absence of any soldier
of great genius, as a soldier strictly, his
moral attributes which put him SO fully in
sympathy with the cause sufficiently justi-
fed that judgment. He was therefore re-
called from Shumla, where he had super
seded 8Iehemet ALI and was put in COM
in Roumelia for the defence of Constanti-
nople. Part of the force now in his COM
mand came with him from Shumla, hav-.
ing been brought to Constantinople from
Varna by sea- Except what is yet at Sh humla
this is the last remnant that has fought in
Europe of the excellent army with which
the Turks began the war.


In Mondays battle, therefore, the Rus
slams severely hurt the last hope Of the
Ottoman Empire, and as the operations
are incomplete they are likely to hurt it
still more. Indeed, the present appearance
is that Suleiman Pacha is cut off and will
BE compelled to surrender his army.
Whatever force was in front Of him on Mon
day was evidently strong enough alone to
handle him, since it drove him from his
lines toward Philippopolis and induced him
to endeavor to support himself on that
town. That force will follow him and fight
him again. but it will perhaps not have
all to itself the glory of the latest brilliant
success that the war can afford to any Rus
sian army in Europe Another Russian
army is in his rear. Coming down from the
Shipka Pass in line that cuts Suleiman's
line of retreat about half way between
Philippopolis and Adrianople is Russian
column as strong, perhaps stronger, than
the one that, moving from Sofa, has already
beaten him in one battle. Between these
seem possible that with the enemy on his
hands near Philippopolis he can run
for Constantinople fast enough to cut
his way through the advance guard
Of the force coming down from the noun
tain before the main body arrives, and if he
cannot there is no hope for him. Outnum-
bered, outfought and driven into the last
ditch, he must surrender. Such an event
would, of course, end the war, even if there
was any hope that without it the Ottomans
could make another campaign. The Grand
Duke Nicholas, if found by the commits
sioners from Constantinople, will be in no
haste to give an ultimate decision with this
important operation incomplete. If in q
day or two he is able to show that the last
Ottoman army on which the Porte could
count in Europe is in his hands he may
name his own terms and the Porte will ac-
cept them; for what else can it do?