EUROPEAN NEWS.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 70, 20 June 1877, Page 3

EUROPEAN NEWS.

The Russian heavy batteries at Ibrail throw shells into the Turkish defences at Matchin. Eight Turkish soldiers captured near Ibrail were armed with. American rifles firing 'thirty-six cartridges without reloading; , Eeports are, confirmed that' the Russians sank a large Turkish monitor m the Danube. A shell penetrated the boiler of the monitor, --resulting m an explosion, which fired- the magazine. The monitor sank, and the entire crew and 200 soldiers perished. The " World's " Giurgevo despatch says a great battle' is impending, and already heavy cannonading is m progress. The Russian army -is m fine condition and good spirits. The Turks are m strong force, and severe musketry firing is heard on the other side' of the Danube. The outposts are exchanging leaden compliments and the rattle is fearful. Prom a distance the cannonade pours heavier, and at this rate it will not take long to destroy Rutschuk. The town has been fired by the Russian guns m Olnitza Matchin was set on fire by the Russian artillery. .According to news received from Constantinople, , sixteen Bulgarian villages^ were pillaged and burnt by Turks. . • In the" Turkish village of- Turtukai there is quite a Christain element, though subordinate m number to Turks. On the night of the 16th inst. the latter made a general attack upon the Christ--ian males, who were put to the sword. Many elderly women shared the same fate, and the younger ones were cruelly outraged. ' The cries of the victors were distinctly heard by the outposts of the Roumanian army. The account is further corroborated by the reports of two -Bulgarians who escaped the slaughter. • Despatches from Constantinople authorize the Turkish Legation to declare that the news of the persecutions of Christians m villages on the right bank of the Danube is without foundation. A force resembling the German Landwehr will shortly be called out for the defence of the shores of the Baltic and ' the Black seas,, and it is intended to organise rifle companies m every Russian town. Along the entire coast, from Cape Adlar.to Ptchentichyn, Turkish men-of-i war are bombarding settlements. A panic reigns not only at Odessa but all along the Black Sea. The Sultan has proclaimed a holy war, ■ and has signed' a decree deposing the Prince of Roumania. Restrictions on the Danube paralyse Hungarian trade. At Vienua, on May 21, it was rumored there were negotiations for an alliance between Germany, Austria, and England. Some papers demand that the approach of the Russians to the Austrain frontier be regarded a casus belli. During Whit Monday amusements at Hull a baloon about to ascend was blow* against a gas jet and exploded. Eightysix spectators were six_ seriously. J Thomas Carlyle writes to " The Times " ' that Disraeli evidently intends to involve , England m war against -Russia. The' army clothing factories are. #*ke'd without iritermissionj' and. ar-

rangements have been made for the embarkation of 25,000 men m six days if necessary, and 25,000 more within a fortnight after. English statesmen think Russia will not venture on the occupation of Constantinople, fearing as a consequence a general European war. The Government has stopped the armament of vessels being built for Turkey leaving the Victoria Docks. The French Ambassadors proceeded to Berlin to reassure Germany. The Italian papers are hostile to England on account of the presence of an English fleet at Crete, and an Italian war steamer took soundings off Drazzo(P). A Turkish war ship, remonstrated. Both ships loaded their guns, but the Turkish authorities avoided a collision. The Basque provinces have been\ ordered to provide twenty thousand conscripts. i Queen Isabella has urged the Pope to dissuade King Alphons.o from marrying a princess not of the Catholic faith. There are large investments m Russian bonds. On May 1 the Turks occupied the village of Tchikate, west of ELars. A few days later the Russians attempted to carry Ears by a coup de main. They attacked the outer line with a furious but ill-directed cannonade from siege artillery. Powerful Turkish batteries replied with better effect, and the duel was kept up until the Russians brought up their infantry as close as they dared, as if they intended to take the fortifications by storm. The Turkish com-,, niander drew together large bodies of troops behind the ramparts, and made'a tremendous sortie upon the. Russian flank and rear, under the shock of which* ' the Russians were obliged to retreat; into a disadvantageous position. A bloody engagement then followed, and the Russians retired, leaving three hundred dead and .many 'wounded on' the field. The Russians tlien commenced' to bombard Kars, and invested the city with 50,000 men.