THE DEFENCES OF THE DANUBE.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 16, 16 May 1877, Page 2

THE DEFENCES OF THE DANUBE.

The right bank of the Danube, from the confluence of the Timok to Ruschuk, forms a continuous terrace, without any great undnlations, only parted by water channels frqm the Balkan. The terrace is often terminated by deep slopes, washed at their feet by the Danube. The Roumanian bank is a low plain of meadow land, which is submerged during floods, by serpentine streams running through it. Widin is the first fortified town met with in descending the Danube. It has 30,000 inhabitants, and is situated on low and marshy soil. It commands tho river and adjacent islands, but is itself commanded by high position on the right and left banks of the river. On the land side, Widin is surrounded by two concentric fortified enceintes. The first is only simple earthwork parapet, which is fl-inked by eleven redoubts, each armed with six guns. At either extremity of this line are strong redoubts. There is a second and inner line of defence, in the form of a half circle, composed of seven bastioned fronts, and on the river side, of two parallel walls. There are posterns for sorties. The casile of Widin, formerly a strong fortress, is now used as a magazine. The armament of Widin, in last July was 120 Paixhan cannons of 9, 11, and 17 inches ; 13 Krupp field guns, of 12£ inches. 16 mortars, of which two are 26 inches. f They were tp be reinforced by 24 Krupp A correspondent of the National Zeitung says this armament had a little different composition, vis., 62 large Krupp guns, and 85 other pieces, total, 147. Widin is considered on all sides as one ot the bulwarks of the Turkish Empire, able to offer some resistance ; but likely to be destroyed by batteries established on the other bank of the river at Kulafat. Widin, without Kulafat, is like a body without a head. Fifteen miles, south-east of Widin, near where the Lorn river fbws into the Danube, is Lorn Palanka, on the heights commanding the course of the river. It has a castle occupied by a Turkish gar. rison. The work is square, with ftaoking towers, armed with artillery at each angle. The Turks hive also erected three works for batteries to defend the river, and to cover the postal roads. Kulafat is now occupied by 4000 Roumanian troops, who are engaged in placing it in a state of defence. Lower down the river, opposite the confluence of the Schyl, is Rahoa (36,0"0 inhabitants), a place formerly fortified. A little further down is Ostrowa, where the Russian army cros?el in 1810. The Turks are said to be fortifying this position. Nicopolis, lower down the vall?y of the Danube, has 8000 inhabitants. It was dismantled by the Russians in 18-11. Bi« principally built on heights. The breadth of the stream is less than in any other p*»rt of its course, and it would form an excellent passage for an armr. From Niopolis to RuschuJk fhe left bank of tho Danube is a vast marsh, and the Russians would have great difficulty in crossing these marshes, especially with the fortress of Ruscbuk in close proximity. Ru9ckuk form* part of the faraoiw quadrilateral, Silistria, Varna, Schumla, against which, four times in one cenlury—lßlo,l3ll,lS2B,lßs3---the Russian efforts were foiled. The town of Ru3ehtfk has 40,000 inhabitants, and is situated at the confluence of the Lorn with the Danube. List summer the Turks commenced: constructing a polygon fort on the road to Schumla, armed the Western front with two large Kruop guns, and erected other defences* Totrokau is the next point of passage, at a point where the Danube is separated by an island two miles. The place is only practicable forapontoon bridge in summer. The place is too much commanded by heights to be capable of offering a prolonged resistance, but the Turks are reconstructing a battery to command the left flank. The next fortress is Silistria, which is a strongly fortified Turkish town. Tbe riyer is here nearly a quarter of a mile wide. The population is between 20,000 and 30,000. It is a convenient point. The walls of Silistria are of solid masonry, surrounded by a ditch, and many detached works. It has been rendered almost impregnable. On the outbreak of the Crimean war the Russians besieged it witk an, army of 60,000 or 80,000 men, while the Turkish garrison was only 15,000. After a vigorous and well-sustained attack, the Russians retreated; witn a loss of 12,000 men, Ras-* sooa is about thirty miles further down the river, from which a fortified barrier constructed by the Emperor Trajan, extends to Kustendji, on the coast of the Black Sea, a distance of thirty-seven miles.