OCR Text |
Show RUSSIA. AND TURKEY. Tlio Emperor Alexander ban idBiicil his proclamation of war against Turkey, Tur-key, and tlio advance of the Russian army into Kou mania baa commenced, 17,000 troops having erosaed the frontier on Monday night. Rou-mania Rou-mania protested against tho invasion, but submits to tho Baperior forces of Russia, hor troops retiring before the advance of the formidable army now about to pass through hor torritory. Tho porta had protested to Princo Ckarlci against tho passage of Russian Rus-sian troops through Roumania, to which tho prince ropliod that a question ques-tion of bo great importance could not bo settled by tho executive authority, and that tho legislative body would be convened to couaidor it. But the invasion has already conimoncad and Turkey will prob.ibly make baste to check the Russian advance at the most favorable point, and Rjuusania may become for a pariod tho soat of war. At tho last accounts Turkey had sotno 30,000 troops posted along the lino of tho Diuubo river, towards to-wards which tho Russian army is concentrating, and at Varna, a port on tho Black eea in railroad communication with tho Dantibo there wore located in March last 110,000 soldiers, making the firat line of tho Turkish army about 230,-000 230,-000 moo within easy reach of the Danube river, which for hundreds of miles separates the Turkish province of Roumania from Bulgaria. Addod to tbeao forces a second line of reinforcements rein-forcements has been concentrated in tho interior comnmios a liko num ber. This -100,030, it must be recollected, recol-lected, is confined to Turkoy in Europe. Eu-rope. Other Turkish forces have been concentrated in Asi to cope with the attack of the Russian troops from that quarter. It has bom reported re-ported that the Turks aro building a bridgo over the Danube at K.ilafAt, which it ft Roumanian town jiut opposite, the great Turkish fortification fortifica-tion ot Widden. This looks as if tho Russian army would not be permitted an undisputed path to tho Danubo, This river is not navigable- for largo vessels to any groat distance, and tho Turkish gunboats cannot become largely serviceable in aid of the infantry. in-fantry. Of late there have bjcu indications that . tho Russian movements in " Europe wsrs not intonded to cover tho principal operations of the army Of tho czar, but that while fully occupying occu-pying tho Turkish army on the Danube Dan-ube the real invasion of Turkey would be through Asia Minor, where a largo Russian army is available, A few days or weeks will probably sullies to unveil tho dofiuito plans of tho Russian Rus-sian ganorals, as their moyementa in both continents must bo timultane- 1 oua and cooperative in order to realize success. By a glance at the map it will be seen how extensive tho theatre of war is likely t3 be should it be even confined to tho two nations who have now embarked in it. It will be seen, too, that Turkey has tho advantage of the interior lines and of the defensiro 'position, which aro points very much in her favor, as they were in favor of the south during the late war in tho United SUtes. Both Tintirtno linvfl rtAfI thft TftliffifHlS bail- nor, Russia claiming that she fights only to rescuo the Christian subjects of Turkey from the oppression of the Mahommcdans, and the porto will raise the banner of the prophet and rouse all the zoal and fanaticism of which his followers aro capable. It is the old fight of the cross and the crescent. |