NOTES ON THE WAR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 122, 25 May 1877, Page 2

NOTES ON THE WAR.

(Evening Atgus.) To comprehend the meagre news received by telegraph it is necessary to realise the fact that Russia is fighting two campaigns against Turkey in almost parallel directions, one in Turkey in Europe, on the banks of tlje Danube, the other in Turkey in Asia, with a view to advance into Asia Minor and Palestine Now, Plovesti is a town in Wallachia lying about 10 miles to the North of Bukkerest and about 20 miles north of Guirgyo, which lies ou the northern bank of the Danube, just opposite thefortreas of Rustchuk, which is on the southern bank of the river. Ploresti is on the main line of march which was taken by the Russians in the campaign of 1828 and is just the position likely to be taken by a commauder-in-chief for his head-quarters He would then be on the main line of communication with his rear, and with his base of operations on the north side of the Pruth and he would also have direct communication with the Russian authorities in St. Petersburgh. He would have all his columns in front of him, and would be able to issue hia orders to one flank or the other with the greatest facility. Daia is a town near the banks of the Danube, a little to the north of Cruirgvo and Rustchuk, and we are still disposed to think that Daia is the place meant, as mentioned in a previous telegram, and that the Russian advance guard had reached there at t e time the telegram was despatched. We must remember that in Europe the first great point de resistance will be the fortresses that the Russian mam attack appears to be entered. We may mention that "esti" is the termination of the names of many towns in Wallachia and that the news appears ' reliable. Jn Asia the Turks appear to be

holding their own, Soukhum Kale is a Russian town in Mingrelia, in the Province of Georgia, on the Asiatic borders of the Black Sea, on the Southern side of the Caucasian range, and about 30 miles from the Turkish frontier. Batoum h just inside Turkish territory, and it would seem from the news that the Turkish fleet and army are operating together, and that while the sea forces are attacking the Russian towns the land forces are attacking it just inside the Turkish frontier. It seems rather a bold step for a Turkish fleet to have sailed across the Black Sea, past the arsenal of Sevastopol, and bombarded a Russian seaport town in Asia. We shall probably soon know the result of the fighting at Batoum.