A Parallel To The Present Russian Campaign

ALthougn tue Kussians and the Turks were constantly at war during the eightoenth century', only one eanipaign offers a parallel to the preeent military operations. Tlie seat of war lay north of the Danube, in the Crimea and Bessarabia, and the Danube was seldom crossed. In the canipaign of 1773- '74, however, Romanzoff bridged the Danube near Braila about the middle of Juue, defeated the Turks in the vicinity of Silistria, aud iuvested the fortress. The advance of a large force froni Shumla compelled Mm to raise the siege, and he retreated across the Dauube early in .Tuly. In Oetobor he reopened the siege, and sent a column iu the direction of Varna. His forces were again compelled to withdraw, owing to the superiority of the Turkish eavalry. In the uext year the Russians crossed the Daaube at Tui"tokai, whieh Suwarrow had captured during the previous summer. The Turks inade no attempt to defend the line of the Danube, but concentrated their forces at Sliumla, leaving strong Kiu-rifions at Rastoh.uk and Silistria. Kamiski and Suwarrow defeated the Turks in the field, and the Grand Vizieralmost deserted by his army, shut him, self up in Shumla and sued for peace Constan ti nople was saved by the pLigue hen, just as it was in 1829.