The European War

[From tbc Chicago Timos.] Three months ago, when the Bussians orossed the Danube, the war appeared to be destined for a place iu the short oampaigiis; the chances W6T8 all in Bussia's favor; the Kussian polioy was one of rapid march from the northern boundary of Turkey to the Bosphorus. The Turkisli policy was one of inscrutable indolence. A month ago the prophets declared that peace would bé proclaimed by tlie end of summer, the Sultan in Broussa, the Czar in Constantinople, and Germany, Austria, France, Italy and England assisting in distributing the European estato of the Osmanli. A fortnight has changed the aspect completely. It is now manifest that the war ■ must be a protracted one. Tlie original plan of the Turks has recenüy been revealed, and had it been oairfed out the Eussians might still be engaged in attempting to cross the Danube - at least they ■wonld not have got across unresisted. Tlie Turkish forces for Bulgaria were to be divided into the upper and lower Danube armies, nominally under one head, but practically independent, to deiend the Danube wherever the crossing was not rendered impossible by nature or the fortifications. If, in despite of determined opposition, the Kussians succeeded in getting across, the two Turkish armies were to be concentrated, the garrisons withdrawn from unimportant fortresses, and battle given en masse before the passes of the Balkans should be surrendered. Outposts were to be placed along the river; behind these, strong supports; and the reserves were to be stationed at strategical cross-roads - the design being to deceive the Bussians as to the number of men they would have to íight. A hundred and fii'ty thousand men would have been furnished to carry out this plan, 90,000 witliin the quadrilateral, 60,000 with iieadquarters at Tirnova. Abdul Kei-im declined to accept the plan, claiming to nave a better one of his own. That was early in June. He was given, for a ;ime, full liberty to develop his own campaign, without interference from ZJonstantinople. He declined to explain lis designs except to special Oommissioners. Special Commissioners were sent who reported adversely, and the Commander-in-Ohief was again urged to accept the counsel of the Porte. But it was already too late. The crossing into the Dobrudscha at Braila was effected without difficulty, and Kedif Pasha, Minister of War, telegraphed to Abdul Kerim requesting an explanation. What reply the latter sent is not known. 3ne account says that he did not expect he Bussians to cross there ; aiïother, ;hat he donied being slirprised, did not hink the marshes of the Dojrudscha worth defending, that the tfiuistry were bound to retain confldence in him as long as he was in battle and victory soon. The next event was the crossing, also practically unopposed, at Sistova. For four days the irutb was kept from the Sultan. The dispatch given to the public and circu,ated in the Turkish camps was this : " A certain number of Bussians, in boats, have passed the river at Sistova. The imperial troops were sent to Sisfcova, and succeeded, after a battle, in killing half the Bussians and throwing the other half into the river. This is the truth ; all the reports which have been spread about Sistova are without foundation and the work of enemie3." The tramping of so many thousands of invaders clown toward Biela could not be 3onoealed iudeflnitely, and Redif Pasliá, Minister of War, was ordered to go aortli and interview Abdul Kerim at 9hümla. His visit was not terminated wlien the occupation of Tirnova was announced at Constantinople, and threw the Porte into consternation. Deoisive meaaures were at length determined tipon. Bedif Pasha was dismissed, Abdul Kerim removed, and Mehemet Ali reappointed his successor. When Redif Pasha was arrested at Slmmla, he was informed that he must go before a conrt-martial xt Constantinople, and on the journey he fainted twice, displaying ai'resh the soldierly qualities which had enabled the Russians to reach the Balkans. Abdul Kerim made the journey with him, and never spoke during it excopt ouce to ask for bread. Both men expect death, and are not likely to be disappointed. The commanders of Sistova, Biela and Tirnova are to be court-martialed, also, and the naval commandant of the Danube has been called upon tor an explanation why the bridge at Simnitza had not been destroyed. Having thus oleared their front of incoinpeteney and inJolence, the Porte have had time to investígate the f acts kept back as long as possible. It is now cleax thot the crossing at Sistova was a genuine surprise to the Turkish officers, who did not dream of the possibility of it at that point. Ahmed Harndji Pasha, in command, had seven battalions of infantry, one and a half field batteries, aud 800 cavalry. One battalion was m the town, one between it and the village of Warder, and five were encamped south of the ;own. There were troops to spare at Llustehuk on the right and Nikopolis on the left. On the night of the 2Gth of June, the scntries on the river bank reoorted that there were suspicious moveottents on the opposite shore. The sagaoious Ahmed Pasha paid no attention to the reports. The next morning, four steam huinches, with a large mimber of boats, crssed the river in full sight of the Tnrks, who were wildly panic-stricken. A battalion was gotten to the heights commanding the landing, and opened fire upon the invaders. The Russians greatly outnumbered thom, and,no supports being sent, they retreated, leaving 400 dead. A second landing was accomplished anhour ü'ter the first. Ahmed Pasha and all his force took Ihe road to Biela and ran until nightfall. The rest of the story is too familiar to can readers to be repeated. On the 8th of July, the Bussians had cleared the roads steadily, and were tkeniselves in possession of the very base oí' tüe poliey wbi-eh the Porte liad beaought Abdu Kerim in vain to adopt - Tirnova. The Russians sent a detaohment agains Nikopolis, whioh commenced a bom bardment on Jtüy 14, on tlie east, wliile tlie Ronmanian batteries opened írom the other side of the river. ün July 16 Nikopolis surrendered 6,000 men, forty pieces oí' artillery, and two Pashas The Bussians constructed another pon toon bridge from Turn Magurelle to the town of Nikopolis, whicli is ne.ar enongh the fortress to be protected by its guns It is over this bridge the Boumanian troops have crossed. ïlie surrender o Nikopolis was inevitable. Abdul Kerin hád made no arrangements wliereby aii might be sent promptly to the garrison ■whose escape was wliolly cnt ofl'. It was the suirender of Ni.kopoli whioh fully arouspd the Porte. Nikopolis was considered as safe as Silistria or Widin. It was here that Bajazet defeatcd Sigismimd so overwhelmingly that the victory gave the Ottoman power in Europe a tremendous impetus. lts capitnlation not only disgraced the traditions of Mussulman prowess, but insured the Russians against disaster by the destruction of their bridge lower down the river. While the Porte were endeavoring to devise means of stopping the panic on the Danube, Gen. Gourko was carrying consternation into the Turkish army south of the Balkans. On the 18th of .Tuly, Schipka pass was in possession of the Russians. The reorganizaron of the armies of the Danube and the Balkans followed with surprising quickness after Mehemet Ali had superseded Abdui Kerim, and Suleiman Pasha was placed at the head of the Balkan army. The fight at Plevna was the first fruit of the new policy of intelligence and vigor. The fleld, as reviewed at large, presented, before the 20th of .Tuly, an entirely new appearance. The Russians were distributed in the ligare of a cross, with one arm at Nikopolis on the west, another toward Rustchuk on the east, the head at Bistova and the bridge, and the main column stretching down to Tirnova and into and below the Balkans. Then the new Turkish policy began. Osnmn Pasha was assigned the duty of destroying the west arm, Mehemet Ali was to harass the right, and both meet and cut off the main column at Tirnova, severing the Russian Communications Bouth of the Balkans, and leaving Gourko and his forces to be surrounded by Suleiman Pasha coming up from the southeast and Raouf Pasha from the southwest. Plevna proves that the Turks can both plan and fight under a plan. The aspect of the war is, therefore, completcly changed from that which it wore since the crossing of tha Pmth and the bridging of tlie Danube. Up to the 20th of July the Russians were aggressive and conüdent. To-day they are on the defensive in the Balkans, and not contemplating an advance in any direotion.