Events have proved that we did not exaggerate last September, when we spoke of Plevna as the probable taraing point of the campaign. If the Russians could be driven back from this fortress, the whole of their positions south of the Danube would be in danger; while, if they succeeded in crushing Osman Pasha, the road to Sophia and the Western Balkans would be open to them. After a defence which will rank high in the history of military feats, Plevna has fallen; and the Turkish defence seems to have collapsed as suddenly under the influence of the catastrophe as did the resistance of the South after Sheridan's march through Georgia. The surrender of Osman Pasha was followed by an immediate offer from the Porte to accept the mediation of Europe—in itself a confession of approaching exhaustion. Russiarefasingtonegociate exeeps under an armistice, Turkey consented to the condition, and sent an envoy to Kezaulik, at the foot of the Schipka Pass, to uegociate terms. But of the negociations or arrangements which might have been expected to follow, we have heard no word; and the Russian armies, pursuing vigorously their success, have crossed the Balkans and reached Adrianople, which the Tarks seem to be abandoning to them.—A comparison of the map with the recent telegrams will show with perfect clearness the movemetits which followed on the fall of Plevna. Siileiman Pasha gave up all hope of prosecuting the campaign in Bulgaria, and, leaving adequate garrisons in the Quadrilateral, withdrew the bulk of his army across the eastern Balkans to attempt the defence of Ramelia, Powerless to make head against the great force which the fall of Plevna set free to operate against him, Mehemet Ah fell back on the West, and, crossing the Balkans neat Ichtiman, otiant ie 50,000 Suleiman Pasha risked a al a men to swell the army wit
Philopopolis, Following ap Mehemed Ah on the one hand, the Ruésians succeeded, by an effort which coat them over 5,000 men, in clearing the Schipka Pass on the other; and were able, having thus cleared the Balkan range, to pour over their fordes, by both roads, to attack the new Turkish position. A battle ensued which lasted' two if not more days, but which ended in the defeat of the Tarks, who were driven back upon Adrianople, Here it was thought that a stand would have been made, but if late telegrams can be relied on, the Turks are falling back, before the. advancing Russians, upon their final stand-point at Constantinople. It remains to be seen whether the ring which Europe has so far maintained around the combatants will be still preserved, and the hereditary enemies be left to fight out the struggle to the bitter end, before the great fortifications which have been constructed around the Turkish capital, The writer whose forecast of the situation we reprinted Jately from the Times, considers these impregnable and as the command of the sea secures the garrison from the fate of Plevna, it is far from impossible that the "Russians may so exhaust themselves in ineffectual attacks upon lines in comparison with which those of Torres Vedras are declared to be weak, that the tide of war may even yet be rolled back across the Balkan range. Besides the fortifientions of the city itself, the writer whom we have quoted dea a series of fortified approaches, which conveyed to his mind an impression of simple security. If it be trae, therefore, that the Turks are bent on fighting out the struggle to the last, we may have to look forward to another siege, in comparison with which the attack of Plovria was child's play. The prospect depends on two chief questions—whether the Turks retain sufficient determination to defend this modern Granada with the tenacity they showed in the callier campaign; and whether Earope will be content to let the straggle go on, or will interfere at this supreme moment to stop the carnage.
@utyorts.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.