TURKEY and RUSSIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 164, 25 February 1854, Page 8

TURKEY and RUSSIA.

Immediately after the declaration of war by the Turkish Council, the Turkish commander, Omer Pacha, was authorized to inform the Russian general (Prince Gortschakoff) the result o us decision, and to demand the evacuation of the Danubian provinces by the Russian forces within 15 days from the date of his despatch. A reply to this communication from the Russian prince, refusing to withdraw his troops, was naturally considered by the Turkish Government as a declaration of war and it would appear that Omer Pacha waited but the completion of the time specified to commence operations.

On the 23rd of October, however, the 14th (lay from the date of Omer Pacha's letter, a Russian flotilla, as we learn from the Home News of consisting of two steamers with pr'inboats in tow, were perceived ascending the Danube, probably with the object of endeavour-

in«* to establish a communication between the Bk.ckSea and their army of occupation in Wallachia. Before this time, the lurks who possess a strong line of fortresses on the Bulgarian bank of the river, had taken possession ol some islands in the centre of the Danube, where they were prepared with pontoons, and all other necessary means for crossing' over into Wallachia whenever it might be determined to do so. There h no reason whatever for supposing that the Russian flotilla entertained the remotest intention of crossing the stream. The policy of the invaders is rather to remain on the defensive than to court hostilities at this season of the yeal1, especially in the enemy's country. But their appearance with the evident object of forcing a passage up the river was very properly held to be no less an act of aggression than if they had attempted to land in Bulgaria, and the Turks consequently opened a fin; upon them from the fort of Isaktcha, which swept their decks so severely that no less than 4 officers and 12 sailors were killed and 50 eailors wounded. This unfortunate collision, if it could not be regarded as the actual commencement of war, had the almost equally injurious effect of awakening- the fanaticism of the Turks to such a height that it was no longer possible to restrain their ai*dour. From the Sydney Morning Herald. HOSTILITIES ON THE DANUBE. Vienna, Jan. 20.—The following is an official communication from Bucharest:—"2ooo Turks appeared at Guirgevo and fired into the town. In a conflict near Dam, many Russians and Turks were killed. The Turks retreated up the river, and the Russians followed them. At Kalafat there are daily skirmishes. The Turks respect foreign property under the Austrian flag." LATEST TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE. Constantinople, October 25.—Hostilities have commenced in Asia. It is said that on the 20th October, Massa Bey sent a reconnoitring party in the direction of Cirock-dere. The Russians surprised and attacked this detachment on its march. Selim Pacha, attracted by the noise of the skirmish, advanced with reinforcements, and encountered a corps of 15,000 Russians from the Redout Kale and other points. An engagement took place; the Russian forces were routed, and Selim Pasha established his head quarters at Oielly, at the distance of six leagues from Cirock-dere. The following is from the correspondent of the Morning Chronicle :■— " Constantinople, October 25.—Yesterday, the Esseri Djedid arrived here direct from Batum, bringing news of an engagement in which the Turks had been victorious, It appears that Selim Pasha, hearing that the Russians were erecting fortifications at the othprside of the Tchurnksuju, sent a detachment of troops to reconnoitre. The Russians, on this, attacked the Turks, and a skirmish ensued, Selim Pasha then advanced with a portion of the army of Batnm, forcing his passage across the Tchuruksuju (a border river), attacking the Russians, and driving them back successfully. Selim Pasha is stated to have pushed on in the direstion of Sukjedi on one side, an:l Oreli on the other. This move leads to the belief that he purposes joining the great army, which stands under the orders of Abdi Pasha, and is stationed near Kars."

From the Supplement of xheMalta Mail, No. 584, dated Nov. 12th, 1853 :—" The reports of the attack on the fortress of the Itzaotcha, are confirmed. The action lasted five hours, and the Russians lost their commander, thirty men, and two gun boats. Tlie Turks were driven' from their intrench merits, and retired to the heights. This was the result of an accident, the explosion of a powder magazine, by the bursting- of a shell from the Russian boats ; the town also took (ire, and the inhabitants fled in the greatest consternation. This event, however, is trifling compared to those which have succeeded."

The action at Batouro, (hough not generally credited, lias also been confirmed; it seems however not to have been more than a skirmish yet a Russian General and six soldiers, have reached Constantinople, as prisoners. Ismail Pasha has crossed the Danube with an army of 25,000 men. He crossed near Calafat. A sharp conflict ensued ; the Russians were worsted, and fell back on the main body having lost six guns, and a great many in killed and wounded. The Pasha is engaged in fortiiying, and waits Freinforceineuts to push on

This news has surprised everyone, and it was generally thought that Omar Pasha's sumy would have anted on the defensive, not liav« risked the attacking of the enemy, in tlicir stronghold. [A private despatch from Vienna, of the 3rd instant, we liud in another column of the Empire, " announces the defeat" of tins portion of the Turkish army. But these despatches seem very little to be depended on.]

Prayers are ordered to lie read in all (he Russian clmrt-lies for the destruction of the infidels, and enjoining all those of the orthodox faith to shod every drop of their blood with this object. . . Another engagement has taken place at Batoum, news of which reached us to-day. A Turkish regiment of Imperial Guards made an attack on the Russians, and defeated them with o-rent loss at the point of the bayonet. & The .Russians left 1000 men on the field of battle, 2000 muskets, and 10 guns. Among- the prisoners is a Russian prince, who has been sent to the Capital. The Turks have also taken a small fort in the neighbourhood. The Constantinople papers contain a tender for provisioning the French fleet at Trebisond, Samsoun, or' Odessa; they thus calculate on the occupation of Odessa bj' the allied squadrons. Martial law has been proclaimed in the Principalities by the General Gortschakoff. Prince Sterby was preparing to quit. DKTERMINA.TIOX OF THE SULTAN TO TAKE THE FIELD IN PERSON. On Monday, 31st October, H.M. the Sultan, accompanied by his secretaries and chamberlains, proceeded to the Porte, where bis ministers, dignitaries, superior officers, civil and military, and Alemas were assembled. A grand Council was held, at which H. E. Rescind Pasha, Minister of Foreign Affairs, read an Imperial TTat announcing to the nation that the Sultan, at the beginning of the spring, would himself be able to take the field, to share the fatigues of his enthusiastic avrry. It is impossible to express the feeling which the reading of the H&t called forth. The presence of the Sultan could not restrain bis subjects from the wildest manifestations of unlimited joyThe following is a translation from the French of the " Imperial Hut" My worthy Vesir! I cannot sufficiently praise the zeal and enthusiasm of my troops; the devotion and fidelity of my functionaries ; feelings, which my subjects generally have not ceased (on the occasion of the preparations that have taken place) to exhibit, since the day when the probability of coming to blows to terminate the misunderstanding between my Imperial Government and Russia had acquired a degree of seriousness. At present, war being1 a certain fact, I nothing doubt but that every fone for the future will give his aid without "hesitation, and "fulfil his duties. The true cause of this war consisting1 in the laudable resolution to preserve the sacred rights and the independence of my empire, supported, by the Almighty Creator of all things, and invoking the Holy Spirit of our Prophet, I have decided, with the help of God, on being present at the accomplishment of such a duty in the eailiest days of the spring. It is therefore necessary that from this moment the preparations which my retinue will require shall be commenced ; and as the first head-quarters of my guard will be fixed at Adrianople, it is important that everything1 necessary for the troops under my command shall be prepared in anticipation. Thou, therefore, in accord, with all my ministers, shouldst make every necessary preparation. May the Most High, in his love for his Prophet, render, under every circumstances, my empire, triumphant and victorious : and may those who contribute to the success oi this task obtain happiness in this world and the next." On the Ist November the following letter was sent to each legation by Rescind Pasha :-— We have the honour to send you a copy of the Hat Sherif, an imperial autograph from"the Sublime Porte, announcing- the high decision come to by our most glorious Sovereign, to proceed to Adrianople, by the help of God, at the beginning of spring, on account of the war prevailing1. We seize, &c, &c. (Signed) Reschid.

§ Translation from an Italian " Extra. 1' I Tiiitest intelligence received at Alexandria, lii|) to 18th November, and transmitted by Mr. m West, British Consul at Suez :— j| 25,000 men, under the Egyptian General, jjSeHm Pasha, with cavalry and artillery, crossed' B the Danube from Widdin, and took possession 3 of the town of Kalafat, driving out the Russians J who occupied it. m Omer Pasha, with 30,000 men, was following sf close, and had also successfully crossed the 1 The Turks had attacked the Russian gun % boats, and taken several convoys of grain. Vix || batteries had also been taken ; and by the latest l| reports the success of the Turkish army is styled y§ a victory ; but to what extent it deserves the p name, we are still unable to judge. gj From the Sydney Empire. | Referring to the accounts contained in our | foreign intelligence, it is not difficult to dcciI pher the tactics of the Turkish general from the § intelligence received. With the main body of 1 lnVanny, at Shuinla, he holds in check the'linI perial force concentrated at Bucharest; while, I with a reserve amounting to 50,000 men, forI merly occupying the western key of his position 1 at Sophia, he has made a flank movement, thus 1 menacing the Russian position on two sides. I The news which has reached us of the bom|flmdment of Giurgeoo by the Turks elucidates 1 this plan of operations. Prince Gortschakoff § cannot safely detach any large body of troops I from Bucharest to meet Omer Pacha's advance

1 from Kulafat, since an attack might be made i on the head quarters by the main body of the I enemy, crossing the Danube at Rusfchuk. It I* will be readily seen, that as the Turkish force now on the north of the Danube marches eastward, on a parallel with the army operating on the southern bank, it will be enabled to release all the garrisons from the places covered by its advance; while the communications thus kept open between the two divisions render the obstruction of the river comparatively unimportant. In a strategical point of view, therefore, X the step taken by the Ottoman commander is * not only defensible, but, if his object were to :§ bring the matter to an issue, it was the only Jfeoiirse which he could safely adopt. By tin's ;| skilful move, he has compelled the Russians to I abandon that attitude of passive aggression *- which they had so prudently sought to preserve; , and-they are now in a position in which success i would be unavailing, while defeat would be I fatal. | A Vienna letter of the Ist instant, in the * Nurenbcrg Gorrespondenz, states that Baron I Meyendorff has formally declared that the Czar I will not accept any arrangement, and that the I proposals his Majesty lately submitted to the I European powers are the only words of peace | which will ever issue from his lips. I October 28.—A small division of the Asiatic I army, composed of irregular troops and a batI tali on of the Imperial Guard, attacked the RusI sian Fort of Chewketil. The resistance was | obstinate during the attack ; a Russian force I attempted to afford succour to the fortress, but I were prevented, the irregular troops rushing I even upon the bayonet. The loss of the RusI sians in killed, and wounded, and prisoners, I was 1000^ men. The Turks captured 2000 I muskets, four guns, and several standards. I The English and French, fleets were before I Constantinople. The capital was quiet, and | the most perfect harmony prevailed between the I Christian and Mahomeclan population. I The whole of the Russian subjects had quitI ted Constantinople for Odessa, in an Austrian [ steamer.

From the Home Neivs. —About the period that ; the Russian steamers forced the passage of the ; Danube at Isaklcha, some confusion appeared \\ concerning a " manifesto" communicated by the j Emperor of Russia, proposing that his differen- : ces with the Porte should be summarily settled :by negotiation in the camp of Prince Gortscha- ; koff, whither a Turkish plenipotentiary should [be sent; and about an armistice having- been \ Proclaimed. The subsequent crossing- of the I -Oiinube by Omar Pasha at Widdin is, however, I suid to be explained by intelligence that the I »ew proposition of the Emperor of Russia did 1 "ot reach Omer Pacha in time ; hence the real I commencement of hostilities. Turkey is wilI «»gto accept any propositions that would enaI l>le her honourably to escape the necessity of | war, but there appears no signs on the part of I -vussia to afford any such oppottunity. Nicho-

las affects an inclination to enter into negotiations with Turkey, but only with Turkey direct, tie still maintains that the question lies between him and Turkey, and that the Western 1 owers have nothing to do with it, but Turkey knows that her only chance of safely is to make common cause witli the European Powers. She resists all attempts to induce her to enter into separate negotiations, and refuses to treat excepting in common with her allies.

A staff officer writing from Shumla on the 3rd ult., says that " Omer Pacha is a most frank, disinterested, and loyal man—a zealous friend to the laud of which he has become a subject, and to the army which he commands, and which he has brought to a state of great perfection. His personal appearance is handsome, and he possesses great personal courage. " His age may be about sf>. To this you must add great military instruction and experience, and a natural instinct for military affairs." The Colonge Gazette has the following from Constantinople, 20th Oct.:—■

" There are more than 400,000 Turks under arms. On the 17th, 17,000 men left for Trebizond. The Russians have sent considerable bodies of troops into the Caucasus from Odessa and Sebastopol. The check which the Russians lately received in the Caucasus is coniirmed. It is positively slated^that 3000 Circassians of different tribes attacked the Russians in the defiles of Zakartola, and put them to the rout. Schamyl has, it is said, promised to Abdi Pacha a reinforcement of 20,000 men. On the 9th, the following- bodies of troops were in the neighbourhood of Erzeroum : 3000 at Baj;izid, 10,000 at Karz, 6000 at Ardekschan, at Battoum and at Tzchuruksu, 4000 regular and 20,000 irregular troops, making a total of 42,000 men, in addition to 2000 at Erzeroum itself. Adding to this number the troops which have arrived from Syria, there will be an effective force of 65,000 men." . XAVAL INTELLIGENCE. Several English ships have been on shore— Furious, with Admiral Dundas on board, much damaged. The Admiral proceeded to Constantinople in the Tiger. Rodney was on shore six hours in a calm— got off without damage. Arethusa, going nine knots, has also gone ashore, but without damage. Retribution has also touched the ground. Albion has fouled a merchant vessel, and carried away her (merchantman's) mainmast.

Fury left for Constantinople on the 4th instant.

There Js a report, but not'fully confirmed, that Admiral Slade, of the Turkish frigate squadron, has captured a Russian liner, on shore, and a 40-gun boat.