WAR NEWS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 800, 17 August 1877, Page 3

WAR NEWS.

(VIA SAN FRANCISCO). The Roumanian Government, before sending troops across the Danube, consulted ■Austria, and the latter replied she was in'different'if Servian neutrality Wes rcspeot■cd. Two thousand men are working on the fortifications at Constantinople. In crossing the ®anube the Russians made their disposition under cover of night. ’Boats and troops were collected in the willows under a strong covering of parties of infantry, with field guns. The whole force ■crossed in boats, the Turks keeping up a sharp fire. When sufficient had collected •on the other side they charged the Turks, driving them back. The Turkish loss in 'the engagement is estimated at 1060, and ’the Russians 300 killed and 400 wounded Horrible sacking'followed the capture of 'Sistova, attributed by the Russians to the 'native Bulgarians, but which were really. perpetrated by the Russians themselves. In the House of Commons Sir Stafford' Horthcote denied theft Layard had asked 1 .'permission for the conditional occupation •of Constantinople. Bismarck, in an interview with the British Ambassador, said the occupation of 'Constantinople was the purpose for which the War was begun. The British fleet him been strengthened •to 24 ships. Eight thousand men and two torpedo 'boats was sent to the Danube to protect 'British interests. The Russians are securing the country up to the foot of the Balkans. The Russian force, in making a demonstration at Beila, came upon the Turks in force lunch sooner than they expected, and they suffered severely. Several hundred Wounded reached Bucharest from this engagement. The Turks devastated a large portion of Bulgaria for the purpose of preventing the Russians from provisioning their army. The harvest was carried off and the fruit trees felled, and the torch had been applied to the large grass plains. Everything that would be of any use to the invading army was removed or destroyed, and the people were left in utter destitution. The utmost *c msternation prevails among the unfortunate people, who see no prospect before them but famine and pestilence, added to ■the horrors of war. The want of a commissariat was seriously felt by the Russians, avho proposed to construct a railway from Sistova to Tirnova, to convey provisions for the supply of the troops and starving inhabitants. A detachment marched upon SeTvi and Plevna, and burned four villages between these points. Turkish accounts charge the Russians with reckless devastations in Bulgaria, and murderous outrages against Mussulmans. The Russians make similar charges against the Turks with reference to Bulgarian Christians. Complete anarchy prevails beyond the linos of the contending armies. Bulgarian, Circassian, and Tartar are murdering each other indiscriminately. Ex-Colonel Valentino Baker accompanies Redif Pasha to Adriauople,

Ootistautiuujilti is miller a reign ef terror. Great crowds ut desperate and lawless solilieis till the public places, and Circassians and Debiks go about tbo city robbing and murdering with impr.aity. A body of Russian cavalry, with one bat* tery, surprised Tirnova, and captured the Turkish camp with ammunition and baggage. The Turks retreated to Osman-Bazar. The Turkish'quadrilateral remains intact, and threatening to the 120,000 Russians said to bo across the Danube at Sistova. Rustchuk was aot'ivdly bombarded, and up to June 28 700 persons, including many women and'children, were killed. The Russians attempted storming, but were repulsed The Russians were attacked simultaneously by'Oarnan Pasha at Plevna, and Ahmed Eskoub Pasha at Monastin. The'fight lasted two days, the Turks gaining the advantage. An official dispatch, dated Constantinople, July 11, announces that Lykoop Pa»ha' attadked the Russians under the Grand Duke Nicholas north of Tirnova, and defeated them with a loss of 1200. The l Turkish monitors destroyed the bridge at Sistova. ‘One monitor was subsequently SUiik by torpedo. ! The Porte officially declares that Rus- 1 Sians have burned alive inhabitants of Jonis near Tirnova, who had taken refuge in the Mosque of Shumla. ‘Horrible masacrca have been committed by the Russians and iSulgarians at Tirnova, Gabrova, and Iliana. From all directions fugitives in largo numbers are coming in, who state that in the districts occupied by the Russians most terrible cruelties are perpetrated on Mahommedan ’population by Cossacks and Bulgarians. Mabommedan children and old men-are Slaughtered, and women violated and carried off. Official dispatches substantially corroborate these statements. The greatest panic exists among Mahoramedans in the civil population, who are fleeing as fast as they can. The Russians met with no resistance in crossing the Balkans till they reached a village at the outlet of the Pass, which they surprised. The Turks claim a victory, with great slaughter, over the Russian force south of the 12 miles from Yeni Saghra, driving them back on the Balkans. One correspondent telegraphs : “ After blockading the fortress of the quadrilateral 100,000 men are available for crossing the Balkans by tbo western line of invasion, and the extension of General Zimmerman’s army in the eastern section.” Tho Emir of Cabool has received the Turkish envoy on a mission. The Emir undertakes to furnish to the petty chief in Central Asia a force of men and a supyly of arms and itnonoy to harass the Russian forces wherverthey can strike them. The Russian expedition in Cabool would at once open the Anglo Khivan and Russian difficuPy, and might compel the interior- n:e of England. The Greek, reserve is being called out. Military defensive measures are progressing in Constantinople. A correspondent Says Hobart Pasba bad a long interview with the Sultan recently, who gave him permission to command the expedition in the Black Sea, with complete ibertyof 'action. The Turks made a brave resistance at Nicopolis, the Russians dosing heavily in storming the heights over the town. Other accounts state that the Turks evacuated Nicopolis before the Russians entered, and made good their retreat. The Russian disaster in Asia is confirmed. They Were attacked 'by the garrison of BatoUm, who defeated the besiegers with great slaughter. A correspondent at Tiflis writes : Muktah Pasha’s brilliant generalship unost be acknowledged, and his troops fought like demons incarnate. All tribes in the Caucasus are in armed revolt against the Russians, and have taken all important outposts. The Russian garrison at Bayatid made a gallant resistance against IS.OOOTurks, who besieged the town and bombarded it. After a brave defence the garrison was relieved by General Targkassoff. He found tho garrison in a fearful condition, almost starved, and suffering from all the loathsome diseases incident to camp life. The Turkish contingent had made sad havoc with the original forces. Many dead were lying unburied in a horrible mass. The stench arising from the bodies was awful. The dead and wounded numbered 500, and had lived on horseflesh for a long time. Vermin tormented them, bad water had a debilitating effect, while tho blazing sunshine, added to all other troubles, placed them in a pitiful state of weakness and inefficiency. The Russian victory was of short duration : a fresh arrival of Turkish troops caused them to evacuate. In doing so, however, they had a sharp engagement with the enemy. The loss was 200 and a heavy ambulance train. The Crescent once more floats over Bayazid. A St. Petersburg dispatch says that after the reinforcement of the army of the Cancasns, if necessary, and tho trooops from tho central Asiatic frontier arrive, a second invasion of Armenia is meditated, commencing with the capture of Batoum and the suppression of the Caucasian rebellion. Advices from St. Petersburgh state that the reserve of Cossacks, consisting of 20 regiments and battalions—in all 20,000 men—are preparing to follow 12,060 men who have already marched from Saratove for Armenia. Dervish Pasha telegraphs from Batoum on July 7, that two Turkish frigates bombarded and burned Chevokitii, and landed a force which defeated the garrison and compelled them to abandon tho town. The ohject of the expedition thus being attained tho frigates re-embarked the troops and returned to Batoum. From the scene of the insurrection in the Caucasus it is leported that the Russians

have resumed the offensive. General AlUboschoff marched on Jnly 15 from Tokveli to Skufcho, on the right bank of the Goligeao, and drove the enemy from their ontrenched position and ocoflpied Goum, 20 miles north of Suknm Kalch.