EXTRACTS OF THE WAR BY THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 792, 22 June 1877, Page 3

EXTRACTS OF THE WAR BY THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

Tho Russian attacking force which captured Ardahan numbered 8000, besides several thousands 'in ’front of the town. During the Turkish flight the Russian cS'valry inflicted a loss of 700 on the enehiy. A force of -15,000 Bashi-Bazouks and Kurds moved northwards from Lake Van tb join the Turkish forces St Korakalisa. The Russian advance in Asia was delayed by the difficulty of procuring provisions in Armenia. In the attack on Batonm, where the Turks defeated the Russiaiis with a loss of 4000 men. the Turks were entrenched on the heights defending the town, with a fleet outside. . As the Russians advanced to the attack the Turks mowed them down by hundreds by a well directed fire of cannon and muskdtry. A aovtie'hy the Turks was made under the cover of n thick forest, but they wore outflanked by the Russians, who inflicted a serious'defeat on the attackers. The courage of the Bashi-Bazoucks is highly extolled, The Russians did not withdraw till midnight. They lost several cannon. A Russian war steamer which had run the gauntlet from Scbastapol endeavored to place a tbrpedo under a Turkish frigato off Batoum, but thcTorpedo filled to explode, afid the vessel was driven Off. The defeat of the Russians below Roni was that of a reconnoitring force in the boats. The Turks waited till they came within easy range, and then opened a destructive fire. The Russians sunk torpedoes opposite Matchinahd Galatzto harrass Turkish gunboats, and constructed a battery of heavy guns at Ghitic on y tho mouth of the Danube. The Turks made three attempts to cross the Danube and to construct a battery at Islatz, but were repulsed by the Roumanians. 1 The Porte have notified to the European Powers that they have blockaded all the ports of the Black Sea. Kossuth has written urging an alliance between Hungary and Turkey to protect their independence from the common enemy—Russia,. All the Hungarian papers urge action by Austria and Hungary. Largo troopships are ready in Portsmouth, and thouao'hds of barrels of powder havc-'be&v teilt'to Malta, i . La Rnsse reports that an English steamer in endeavoring to enter Kertch without observing the necessary precautions, was totally destroyed by'Vtovpedo. Lieutenant General Sir John Simmons will be Commander-In-Chief of’the English army if sent v io the seat of war. i Eight Turkish soldiers captured near Ibrail wire armed 'with American rifles firing 3G cartridges without reloading. The report has been confirmed that the’ Russians sank'a large Turkish mouitor in the Danube. An Englishman fdpbrts that the Turkish troops in Widdin and vicinity number about 58,000. They expect an increase of 25,000 from Sophia. A Roumanian vessel, full of Russian Soldiers, has been sunk by the Turks. According to news from Constantinople, 16 Bulgarian villages have been pillaged and burnt by the Turks. The Turkish meu-of-war are bombarding and burning Russian settlements. Panic reigns not only at Odessa but all along the Black Sea. The Sultan has proclaimed a holy war,, and has signed a decree deposing the Prince of Rouraimia. The first collision between Greek insurgents afid Turkish troops Occurred hear Armyros, iu Thessaly. The Press of Athens unanimously demand war. A St Petershurgh despatch (official) contradicts the reported attempt of the, Russians to ;cross the reported attempt of the Russians to cross the Danube at Roni. There is no doubt, however, that a large reconnoitfering expedition of 500 which attempted'to Ihake the-passage in boats was driven back with, heavy loss.. The Turkish commander on the Danube has been empowered by the Porte 'to close' the river to all navigation. Another Turkish squadron is to make a fcconnaisanoe of Odessa and Scbastapol. The following’is a summary Of operations at Galatz and Ibrail: — Eire was opened at 10 in the morning by Russian batteries near Ibrail, and three Turkish monitors began to bombard Ibrail, but were compelled, towards nooh, to withdraw before the Russian firo. The Russian batteries and the town worte uninjured. The Turkish gunboats attacked the Russian batteries at Tomrova, belOfv Galatz, destroyed portion of the and dismounted a gun. The Porte is angry with America for supplying arms to Russia and harboring the Russian fleet. The Turkish Ministers have resolved to ’draw no pay during the war. The Russian's on the 17th May attaoktd Batoum. but after eight hours hard fighting, wore repulsed with heavy loss. It is estimated that the Russians lost 4000. The Turkish loss compared with the Russians is insignificant. The Sultan has ordered the purchase of 20,000 revolvers, to bo paid for out of his private purse, for distribution in. Circassia.

On May llth, the Russian Government declared throe Circassian Provinces to bo in a state of siege. The Egyptian Prince Ilassan, son of the Khedive, with 0000 Egyptians, has embarked for Constantinople. The Egyptian contingent in Turkey is to be increased to 12,000. It is stated that England has givrin notice that she will oppose everything which might hamper the passage of merchant ships and mcn-of-warof the neutral Powers through the Sues Canal.