‘The Russo-Turkish War. 1877. Operations in Europe.’ [‎8r] (15/66)

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Midhat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , from whose influence in favour of peace much was expected, Fel) - 1877 *
and who was the author of a new constitution given to his people by the
monarch, as a concession to the demands of the Conference.
Peace negotiations were understood to be in progress between Servia and
Montenegro on the one hand, and Turkey on the other, to avoid a renewal of
hostilities on the expiration of the armistice which was to end with the month
of February.
Early in February the presence of drift ice was reported on the Lower
Danube, interrupting the river communication for the Turks, and compelling
them to disembark their heavy stores and war material, destined for the various
fortified places along the banks, at Varna, for conveyance by rail to Rustchuk,
or over bad roads to the other points on the Danube. Simultaneously with
this intelligence came that of the commencement of the collection of the war
tax in Bulgaria.
On the 11 th February, a military movement was begun which was stated
to be purely experimental, to test the marching powers of the horses. At
that time, thaw had set in, and the state of the roads was very had. The
movement was called a military promenade from Kischinev to Odessa and back,
a distance altogether of upwards of 200 miles, and there took part in it the
General (Chief of the Staff) and Staff, and a force of Cavalry and Horse
Artillery. The test was pronounced most satisfactory.
At the same time, the troops about Kischinev w r ere regularly exercised
in parade and other instruction manoeuvres, notwithstanding the daily increasing
badness of the roads in Bessarabia. A forward movement towards the Pruth
near Jassy, of 60,000 men from Balta was reported in the middle of February,
but the report was not confirmed. From Bucharest, towards the end of
February, spring weather was reported, and the departure of the snow : and
from Vienna it was stated that a Turkish flotilla on the Danube had made
a trial trip from the Sulina mouth of the river to Rustchuk and back. Other
news denied the presence of any Turkish flotilla on the river.
Towards the end of February, the Grand Duke Nikolas was again
reported ill, and confined to his room.
Austrian intelligence also relates that the presence of the large force in
the south of Russia had caused great destitution and distress in the country,
resulting in much crime.
Constant rumours of a Russian advance were rife towards the end of the
month. Nine bridges were said to be ready to throw over the Pruth, and the
troops were constantly exercised at their construction; but the bridges were
not carried quite across to the Moldavian side.
The proposed Russian plan of action was said to be to enter Bulgaria at
several points at once, so as to compel the Turkish commander to divide his
army; and to enter with imposing forces, so as to invest the fortresses without
weakening the advance. It was not proposed to attach very great importance
to the Turkish quadrilateral formed by the fortresses Varna, Silistria, Rustchuk,
* and Schumla.
Putting the advance at eight Army-Corps, six regiments of heavy, and
16 of light Cavalry, and 435 guns, it was calculated that the quadrilateral
could easily be blockaded without weakening too much the force intended to
operate in the open field, which, moreover, would have a powerful reserve in
Southern Russia.
The Grand Duke Kikolas had taken up his abode at Odessa.
So far as the weather and state of the country would allow, the troops
forming the Southern Army were being constantly exercised in drill and
parade movements, and combined movements in the field on a large scale were
being arranged for, especially about Chotin, Bender, and Akerman, although
the severity of the climate had proved a great hindrance.
Other accounts said the army was composed mainly of recruits, and was
unfit to practice combined field manoeuvres on a large scale, and that the
parades, of which so much was said, were merely recruit drills.
During the month of March negotiations were in progress between the March 187
Great Powers, having for their object to avert the impending war between
Russia and Turkey, and, as a preliminary, to bring about the demobilization of
the Russian Army.
It was assumed that the Czar was anxious in the same direction, and only