The Globe. TUESDAY, JULY 10, 1877.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 949, 10 July 1877, Page 2

The Globe. TUESDAY, JULY 10, 1877.

The new r s from the seat of war becomes day by day more exciting, as the contending forces are being brought face to face. If we read the telegrams published in yesterday’s issue aright, the pluck and heroism of the Turks are upsetting all the well devised plans of the Russian generals. The forces of the Czar have been defeated wdth heavy loss in Armenia, and compelled for a time, at any rate, to fall back, and assume the defensive. Yet when the last left England, it was the general opinion that Russia was putting forth her greatest strength in Asia, and was confident of an easy victory. It is generally agreed that it is in this portion of the Ottoman Empire, not on the Balkans, nor even in the Isthmus of Suez, that the portion of the Eastern Question most vital to British interest lies. It has long been felt that the occupation of the Caucasian provinces by Russia, and her endeavours to open railways converging on the Armenian frontier, are most significant facts, and are indications that her next attempt at Turkish conquest will be in that direction. When war broke out in April last, her army in the Caucusus was supposed to be larger and better equipped than the one on the Pruth. But Turkey has been more than prepared for the emergency. She has forced the troops of the Czar, not only to act on the defensive, but to fall back to the valley of the Aras, the ancient Araxes. A great battle has also been fought in Europe at a place called Biela, when the Russians were defeated with heavy loss.

In the face of this activity on the part of the Turks, the apparently unopposed passage of the Danube is almost unaccountable, and in strange contrast to the Turkish movements in other quarters. It may be that they are about to adopt the same tactics pursued by them in the campaign of 1828. On that occasion the strength of the Russian army was dissipated in fruitless endeavours to reduce the fortified towns of Bulgaria. The remainder of the army, it is true, succeeded in passing the Balkans, but so successful did the tactics of the Turks prove, that Diebitsch succeeded in reaching the gates of Adrianople with only 20,000 men. On that occasion, according to Count Moltke, ailittle more resolution and activity on the part of the Turks might have hurled the Russian general from the summit of victory and success to the lowest depths of ruin and destruction. The Turks have perhaps resolved to pursue a similar course on the present occasion. The main body of the Russian army appears to be in possession of Dobrudscha, and before it can enter the open country, Trajan’s "Wall has to be passed. Rassova, Silistria, Shumla, and Varna, have each in turn to be invested. The Russian strength will thus be divided, and the march towards Constantinople rendered much more difficult and dangerous. Besides, it must be remembered that in 1828-29 Russia was a great naval power. She had command of the sea, and her army was aided by her fleet. She has no such aid now. The Turks are masters of the Black Sea, and may be able to menace Russian communications over the Danube.

Nor must it be forgotten, in comparing the campaign of 1829, with the present one, that the relative strength of the two Powers was very different. Then Turkey could only spare 25,000 for the garrisons on the Danube, and 30,000 men to operate on the field; at the present time, according to a writer in the “ Edinburgh Review” (to whom we are indebted for the information contained in this article) her peace force is 300,000, which can be easily raised to 600,000 men during war. In 1828 the passes of the Balkans were not fortified ; now they are carefully defended. The fortresses in Bulgaria have been supplied with the newest weapons of defence. Schumla, according to the latest accounts, is strongly fortified. The whole of the district surrounding the town bristles with forts and redouts, and every commanding hill within a radius of a mile is covered with fortifications. The well informed correspondent of the Gazette, says that even to •' -<* army in possession of the a victorupm „ i -, r Danubian foA""“ eB Schumla might bar the _ ; on ' stantinople. If it were garm* with 40,000 men it would not be possible to pass it by without cutting off his retreat, and. in order to enter upon

the regular siege of the fortress at least 100,000 men will be required. We have said that in 1828 Turkey was iu a state bordering upon utter ruin. After a six years’ war, Greece had declared her independence. Constantinople was only kept in subjection by the presence of 30,000 troops, and Russia was triumphant in the Black Sea. Yet, against all these odds, Turkey struggled bravely, and all but averted a defeat; the result being that the Russian advance on Adrianople nearly ended in disaster for the victors. The disproportion between the two powers, in the present contest, is not nearly so great as it was then. The Russians, it is true, may have the largest and best-equipped force at their command, but they have no fleet in the Black Sea, and all military writers, Count Moltke among the rest, agree in the view that, as the provinces south of the Danube are incapable of feeding a large military force, the command of the sea is absolutely needed for the transport of supplies. The almost unopposed passage of the Danube by the Russians may, therefore, be the result of Turkish strategy —a strategy which was so successful in a former war.