THE TURCO-SERVIAN WAR.

Evening Star, Issue 4231, 18 September 1876, Page 4

THE TURCO-SERVIAN WAR.

English papers trace the events from July 2, when Montenegro declared war, up to the end of the month. The declaration of Prince Milan contains a summary of grievances against the Sublime Porte, particularly the blockade of the southern frontier, the evidently hostile intentions towards Montenegro, and the impossibility of reforms in Herzegovinia. The proclamation was received with great enthusiasm by the people. From the best informed sources, the Turkish reports of victory are entirely false. Since his victory at Belina-Glana, Tchernayeff holds his own on Turkish ground, and has fought no further engagement. Olimpics is still before Balina. On July 17, 2000 Nizams were surrounded by his troops and cut to pieces, a small number only escaping by night. All attempts of the Turkish army to cross the frontier have been ■notoriously repulsed. A despatch from Osman Pasha, dated fro'ja Widdin, has been received by the Government stating that the Servians had 25,000 men at Saitchar. The battle at Izvor ended in a brilliant victory for the Turks, the enemy being repulsed with a loss of 2,000 men. The Turkish loss was 50 killed and 160 wounded. The Servian account of this affair is that Neschjanin, with about 10,000 men, attacked the Turks, 12.000 strong, in order to drive them from their positions. The fight lasted from 9 a.m. till mid-day, when three of the positioas were taken by the Servians. The Turks having received reinforcements, the fighting went on for two hours more, and the Servians were compelled by the numerical superiority of their antagonists to return to their first position. The losses on each side were considerable. On July 16 the Montenegrins attacked one of four blockhouses between Medun and Podgoritza with artillery, and captured it. The next day the Turks came from Podgoritza to protect the three other forts, but, finding the positions commanded by the Montenegrins, they attempted to cover with artillery fire tho space around the blockhouses. The garrisons attempted to escape to the Turkish lines, and part succeeded, part being killed. The Montenegrins set nre to the blockhouses and then engaged the Turkish army, driving it first to Fundina, and thence at night to Podgoritza. The main body was twice obliged to return to disengage the rear guard. The losses are not stated.

A letter from Belgrade, dated July 10, gays:—"During the last eight days the Servians have fought ten actions, with a loss of 5,000 men. They have not always been victorious, but on the whole the result is satisfactory. There was a fearful tragedy at Belina. The Turks, during Almiwic's attack, massacred all the Christians residing In the place. The Bulgarian insurrection is spreading widely. The enthusiasm everywhere is sober but f»rvid. The Servian artillery is reported to bo admirably served, and is contributing vastly to the success of the army. Distinguished among the volunteers ia George Bilkovitch, the sanio who lost an arm and a leg at Sobastopol, and afterwards when Belgrade was bombarded l>y the Turks suddenly fell with his battalion npon a strong body of them and exterminated them. After him comes Alimpitch, also a man of considerable reputation. Many French officers seek to join the volunteers. Bach person subscribes'to a voluntary tax of two ducats, and besides this a public subscription is opened. Vast numbers of wealthy AustroServians also subscribe money and become volunteers. The present war is looked upon by each man as not only a national but a private quarrel, and the hatred of the Turks, is intense. There i 3 po lack of fte material of war,"

Some excitement Is being created in Paris by the attitude of Roumania, the immediate neighbor, on the East, of Servia, towards the Porte. It seems certain that the Roumanians hare entreated the Sultan to rectify the limits of the Danube, in consequence «f the frequent disputes between themselves arid the inhabitants of Ismail and Kilia. It is officially denied that Roumama has any hostile intentions against the Porte, or that she is mobilising her army with offensive aims. On the other hand, it is asserted by a correspondent of the *Dix Neuvieme Siecle,' that Ronmania is intent upon becoming completely independent of the Porte, and on discontinuing the tribute payment which is the only tie attaching her to the Ottoman Empire. Whatever may be tho designs of Ronmania, they will not be disclosed I before the struggle between Servia and the Porte has entered upon a mora decisive phase. Lord Darby received on Friday, July 14, two very large deputations on the subject of the war. The first was introduced by Mr Bright, who represented the universal sentiment of the country as being that England should not " by armed force, or in any way whatever, give support to the oentinued dominion ef the Turks in that portion of Europe which is the scene of the insurreation. Lord Derby replied that the Government would observe a strict policy of neutrality, except where it may be able to interpose its friendly offices to hasten the close of the complications " ; that the British fleet was sent to Besika Bay, not as a demonstration in favor of the Turk, but as a proof that the British Government would peremptorily put down any outrages upon British subjects in the East which it was feared might be prompted by a spirit of Mussulman fanaticism ; that a general European war was "the most improbable thing in the world"—"one of those hypotheses which are so remote that it is scarcely worth while to speculate upon them ;" that while Austria and Russia, who with ourselves were alone or chiefly interested in the settlement «f the Eastern question, had every reason to desire peace, they could have no motive for war. The second deputation was from the League in Aid of the Christiana in Turkey and advanced arguments not so much in favor of English interference on behalf of the Christians in the East as of English intolerance of any form of Mnhommcdan rule. Against this view Lord Derby protested. Christians and Mahommedans might, he said, live in perfect amity, and in the unrestricted profession and practice of their respective religions, as, was proved from the experience of our Indian Empire.