Year: 1877

a stage over which the whole civilized world
has equal occasion to rejoice, for the next
step must almost necessarily be the conclu-
sion of peace. In the final and absolute
defeat of the heroic commander who has
held this post with a courage, devotion and
intelligence that would add lustre to the
glory of any army the Russians achieve
q success that at once puts the
most hopeless aspect on the Ottoman
cause and renders it altogether impossible
for the Moslem to make head against the
Muscovite advance. If this were an iso-
lated success its Importance would justly
| enttle it to be regarded rs decisive event |;
| but it comes hard on the heels OF the great
victory over Moukhtar Pacha in Asia and
| that splendid coup de main, the capture OF
Kars, and is the crowning triumph
of a series every one of which is
the more valuable because hardly earned,
since hardly earned victories, victories
that are not happy chances, are guarantees
that the beaten side is exhausted and at the
limit Of its strength. Any victory is glori-
Gus, but victory that leaves the enemy un-
able to fight another battle has substantial
value to which the glory of ordinary mill
tary success is mere fume. If this event
were to be esteemed by its least consider
able effect, by its merely numerical conse-
auences, it would be rs if the Russians
were for their general operations in
Europe suddenly reinforced by an
army of one hundred and fifty thousand
nd khok <hav
had before Plevna are now liberated for
other operations and the fifty thousand
with which Osman faced them are counted
out. The two results change the balance of
forces to that extent, and rs the overtasked
Ottoman armies were at standstill before
how can they hope to withstand this great
accession to the force that pushed them to
the wall?


It is upward Of four months, or about
one hundred and thirty days, since Osman
Pacha's occupation Of Plevna threw the first
serious obstacle in the way Of the advance
Of the Russians to the Balkans Imme-
diately before that occurrence the invasion
seemed to move with irresistible force. An
army of good quality, but not overwhelm-
ing in numbers, had marched rapidly to the
Danube, across the Roumanian territory,
and at the edge Of the river had, with what
seemed very like patient confidence, waited
over o month for the spring foods to
subside and leave the river practicable.
At the end of that time they passed the
stream about as easily as if the Turks had
not had notice Of their presence. They
had crossed leisurely and taken time to
complete substantial means of communica-
ton as if conscious that against the enemy
by whom they were confronted they did not
need to avail themselves Of such important
elements of military operations as rapidity
and surprise. In few days they
were at the Shipka Pass in the Bal
lans, and their cavalry swept down
the valley of the Tundja and raised q panic
at Adrianople. In England-a sure sign
that the Turkish case was thought to be
desperate-it was Justify declared that the
honor of England was concerned in keeping
the Russians out Of Constantinople. But at
| that moment there came a change in the
whole aspect Of the war through the advance
Of Osman Pacha from Widdin to point at
which his comparatively small command
became an immediate danger to the
Russian communications. With the River
Jantra on their left flank and force
concentrated at Biela the Russians did not
apprehend the army in the quadrilateral,
but boldly crossed the mountains. West Of
| the Jantra to the Servian frontier there was
nothing to apprehend but the force at
Widdin which they intended to shut up in
that place. But the commander assumed q
bold initiative, and practically moved Wild
din from its remote position into the very
zone OF country necessary for the Russian
advance. BY that one happy stroke
he arrested what seemed the hand
Of Fate and gave to the tottering
Ottoman Empire respite Of four months,
with all the chances that might be crowded
into that period. The Russians saw clearly
enough the danger to their campaign, and
threw their infantry desperately against
Osman's we'll fortified lines. Three as
saults failed and seemed like vain butch
cries, though the result Of the escalade at


Kars makes the attempts at Plevna seem


less foolhardy than they did formerly But
Osman held on tenaciously, and the Rus


slams over the Balkans had to return ; the


troops at Tirnova we're kept ready for re.


treat, and the advance so splendidly init.


ated was paralyzed.


Osman Pachas defence Of Plevna was il


every military respect q splendid achieve


ment. and, though it comes to surrende,


at last and will therefore nomnally be


counted q failure, few successes could have


been of greater advantage to his country.
cause. When we reflect that with his littl,


army he has kept in check through tn,


whole summer and autumn an invasion nov
supported by o force Of three hundred