NEWS BY THE MAIL.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 984, 21 August 1877, Page 2

NEWS BY THE MAIL.

THE RUSSO-TURKISH WAR. The San Francisco correspondent of the "New Zealand Times " gives an interesting account of the progress of events up to July 18th, from -which we make some extracts. After giving an account of the crossing of the Danube, he refers to the next step in the War: — THE CAPTURE OE NICOPOLIS. A "New York Herald" special correspondent, giving an account of this, says:—"As soon as the Russians came within effective range of the Turkish position, they were met by a severe artillery fire, which, however, did not check their advance, and to which they replied with a still more formidable fire. The Turks being posted on a commanding position, had a considerable advantage, and as the Russians approached frightful gaps were made 'in their ranks by the Turkish artillery. With surprising valour, however, they continued to approach the heights, and as soon as they came within rifle range they opened a terrible fire on the Turks, and for half an hour this military duel was continued with unabated vigor. About mid-day on Sunday an order for an assault was given, and the whole of the Russian line, supported by several batteries of artillery, stormed the heights occupied by the Turks. During the awful climb, in the face of a deadly fire, the Russians suffered terribly, while the Turks, stubbornly defending their position, sustained an equal loss. After obtaining possession of the heights commanding the town at terrible cost, the Russians virtually had Nicopolir at their mercy. The Turks, finding their line of retreat threatened, abandoned the town, which was filled with Turkish dead. Many wounded were found in the streets and in houses, where they had been abandoned by the Turks in the haste of the retreat." One correspondent says, " Nicopolis was occupied by a garrison of 6000 men and forty guns, who surrendered, with their commander; '' but all other accounts represent that the Turks evacuated the place before the Russians entered it. After this the almost unopposed advance of the Russians in Bulgaria was at first almost unaccountable. Despatches from the "Times " correspondents at Shumla and Bucharest describe the brilliant onward movement of the invaders in Europe, which were tarnished by atrocities committed by the Bulgarians, unhindered by the Russian troops. Like the famous Uhlans of the Eranco-Ger-man war, the cavalry pushed their way ahead, their sabres Hashing in the defiles of the Balkan mountains, far beyond the main body of the army. " They spread terror in every direction in the country through which they pass. Mussulman families fly before them terrified and panic-stricken, and the savage j Bulgarians fall on the helpless crowds of these fugitives, and massacre them in cold blood. Fugitives are pouring into Shumla and Varna, j with terrible tales of death and suffering. The i country is alive with Russian troops. Hill I and dale echo to the noise of the martial I hosts. They hold the road from Viela to Tes- ' linik. They are marching by the way of the ■ Remir Capu Pass to Aides and Jamboli. They threaten Rasgrad, where the Turks are posted. They are, while I am sending this despatch, in the midst of a desperate engagement with the Turks at Drenova, battling fiercely for the possession of the road to Kesanlik by way of the Shipka Pas 9. The Turks have fled before the victorious standards of their enemies at Biela, and the latest news places the eagles triumphant on the fortifications of Nicopolis." In fact, everything seemed to go on swimmingly for the Russians, who speedily had a flying column through one of the defiles of Balkans. CROSSING OF THE BALKANS. A Russian official despatch gives the following account of this event dated from Tirnova:— General Gourka, with an advance guard of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, crossed the Balkans, and on July 11th surprised and defeated the Turkish battalion which guarded the outlet of the pass near the village of Khanki. G-eneral Gourka is now marching upon Kesanlik, in the rear of his enemy, who occupy the fortified Shipka Defile. The Cossacks have arrived at Yeni Saghra and cut the telegraph line between that place and Constantinople. On Sunday an engagement was fought near the village of Orzazarare between the Cossack force and some Bashi-Bazouks and Circassians, supported by Turkish infantry. The enemy held their ground until the arrival of dragoons and a battery of artillery, which were scut by G-eneral Gourka, and then they fled. The flag, several standard-bearers, and a quantity of arms were captured. As regards the Russian supply during then* advance they apparently left nothing to chance. Bucharest is the great centre of their base and their principal depot. It contains stores of meat, to which the suplies of rice for the relief of the Bengal famine were a mere bagatelle. Sistova will be the intermediate and Tirnova an advance depot. A. rapid advance on Rustchuk does not seem imminent. Cavalry outposts extend from a point on the Danube twelve miles west of Kustckuls to forty miles ialuti

facing the Turkish foremost position on the river Sora. Small reconnaissances are pushed forward, hut the mass of the division has been stationary for about a week. As the ."Russians advanced into the districts of Bulgaria, quitted by the Turkish troops, they found the country desolate and waste, the corn crops not ready to be gathered, and all the grain storehouses deserted. Every head of cattle had been seized and run off bv the retreating Turks. So complete and widespread was the devastation in Bulgaria that every Russian train sent to the front had to convey stores or biscuits and other supplies not only for the army, but also for the starving population. The advance guard of another Biissian corps arrived at Ployesti. It was reported that a camp for 80,000 men was prepared at Ployesti. Many Mussulmans, with their wives and children, who were fleeing before the Russians, had been killed in the defile between Tirnova and Kesanlik. The Turkish troops which were to have garrisoned the Greek frontier were ordered to join the army in Bulgaria. An Adrianople special reported that the Russians from Tirnova had advanced to G-abrova, their force being estimated at 90,000. In the meantime all sorts of rumours were plentiful as to the condition of the Turks. Letters from Constantinople give alarming pictures of the distress prevailing there. Government had wrung from the people their last piastre, and was still penniless. The streets were full of respectable people begging for food. Thousands were subsisting on scant supplies of dry bread, and absolute starvation stared multitudes of Christians in the face, as well as the families of Turkish conscripts gone to the war. Unless speedy relief comes from some quarter, pestilence such as the world has seldom witnessed might be expected to add its horrors to the existing situation. A decree it was said had been issued ordering the creation of a national guard at Constantinople, six battalions of which were to be formed immediately. Railway communication on the Adrianople line was suspended for everything except the passage of troops. Count Von Moltke was quoted as an authority for the statement that the Balkan mountains may be passed without serious difficulty by an invading force whose cavalry already holds Tirnova, from which lead three of six roads available to an army. The only serious obstacle is the entrenched camp of Shumla, lying in front of the Balkans, which, it is thought, must be either taken or masked before any force can safely pass the mountains. The Cossacks were seen within a few hours' ride of Rustohuk. A Pera despatch said that Biela was evacuated by order of Abdul Kerim Pasha. A despatch from Varna announced that the town was declared in a stage of siege. The Russians at Medige have cut the Kustendge railway and threaten Kustendge. A detachment of fresh Russian corps, to reinforce the Danube army, passed through Bucharest, and Prince Teller Kassi was sent in all haste to Tirnova, probably to establish a provisional Grovernment. All, in fact, seemed to argue a speedy and complete triumph for the Russians, when suddenly the whole position changed, and the vanquished of yesterday became the victors of to-day. It was made plain that the Turks had been playing a deep game, and had permitted the Russians to overspread a portion of Bulgaria with ease, confident that with the unmasked fortresses behind them and the troops ready to fall upon them at the proper moment, when scattered and divided, the consequence must be a repulse of the invadere.

A telegram dated July 17th, the day before the mail steamer left, reported a Turkish victory over the Russian forces south of the Balkans. The New York Herald's" cable correspondent at Yeni Saghra reported that on Monday afternoon the Turks, under the command of Sulieman Bey, had an engagement with the Russians, defeating them and driving them back into the Balkans, with heavy loss. The battle-ground was at Febitch, twelve miles from Yeni Saghra. At first the Russians seemed to be successful; but the determined lighting of the Turks afterwards appeared to promise a Turkish victory. The Russian forces consisted of infantry and cavalry, outnumbering the Turks, whose first attack was repulsed, and a flanking column of a force of dismounted dragoons greatly imperilled the Turkish position. The Turkish artillery was splendidly handled, raking the columns of the Russians, and tlunning them at every discharge. Perceiving the terrible havoc caused by the Turkish fire, General Gourka ordered the Russians to charge. A fearful hand-to-hand conflict ensued. The Turks formed a hollow square. After losing several guns the Russians attacked the Turks desperately, and fearful carnage followed. The Russian Hanking movement and its desperate onslaught threatened to exterminate the Turks, when suddenly _ brisk firing on the left announced the arrival of Turkish reinforcements under the command of Raouf Pasha. The Russians had no artillery, and the rapid advance of the Turkish reinforcements compelled them to face a new enemy, thus affording their opponents an opportunity to abandon their hollow square, throw forward the flanks, and renew their attack vigorously. The Russian line, thus held between two rows of bayonets, was completely overwhelmed. The Cossacks made a splendid resistance, fighting with the utmost but unavailing bravery. The Turkish charge was made over heaps of dead bodies, driving the Russians back into the mountains. Their flight was precipitate. The Turks pursued the flying Russians until the mountain pass was recovered. The Russian advance column consisted of Circassians and Cossacks, commanded by Colonel Judomin. The main body was commanded by General Gourka. They were in light flying order, without waggon transports or artillery. It is impossible to estimate their loss. The Russian main body intended to cross the Balkans at this point, the Eighth Corps leading. It is not known what effect this repulse of Gourka's flying column will have on the main advance.