TREMENDOUS SLAUGHTER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 141, 16 June 1877, Page 2

TREMENDOUS SLAUGHTER.

1 lie Russian attacking force which captured Ardahan numbered 8000, besides several thousands in front of the town. During the Turkish flight ihe Russian cavalry inflicted a loss of 700 on the enemy. A force of 15,000 Bashi Bazouks and Kurds has moved northwards from Lake Van to join the Turkish forces at Koraha. The Russian advance in Asia has been delayed by the difficulty iu procuring provisions. An attack was made on Batouca, when the I urks defeated the Russians with the loss of 4000 men. The Turks were entrenched on the heights defending the town, with the fleet outside, and as the Russians advanced to the attack, the Turks mowed them down by hundreds by a well-directed fire of cannon and musketry.- A sortie was made by the Turks under cover of the thick forest, when they outflanked the Russians, ancl inflicted a serious defeat. '

The courage of the [Bashi Bazouks is highly extolled. The Russians dtd not withdraw till midnight, having lost several cannou. A Russian steamer which had run the Gauntlet from Sebastapool endeavored to place a torpedo under a Turkish frigate off BatoUm,.but the torpedo failed to explode aud the vessel was driven off. Admiral Hassen Pasha with ironclads bombarded Sukhum Kaleh and lauded a body of troops, natives of Adrasia, to act in union with the Turks. .The Russians who were defeated below Rem were a reconnoitreing force in boats. The Turks waited till they came within easy rangte and then opened a destructive fire. The Russians have sunk torpedoes opposite Galatz to harass the Turkish gunboats, and have constructed a battery of heavy guns at Gluated (?) at the mouth of the Danube. The Turks have massed a large body of cavalry opposite Galatz. General Kokeloff's Circassian Cossacks, who are intended to lead the advance of the invading army on the Danube, have passed Bucharest. The Turks have made three attempts to crOss the Danube and construct a battery at Isiatz; but were repulsed by the Roumanians. J.he Porte has notified the European Powers that it has blockaded all the ports of the Black Sea. - The Servians are making offensive preparations: , „ , I .It is said that the Servian Government .have received proof that a convention exists between Russia and Austria. .Kossuth has written urging an alliance between Hungary and Turkey to protect their independence, from the common enemy Russia. All the Hungarian papers urge action by Ausfeeo-Hungary. A large troop-ship is ready in Portsmouth, and 1000 barrels of gunpowder have been ..sent to Malta, It is rumored that Turkey will cede the sovereignty of Egypt to England for the payment of the capitalised amount of tribute. - All Mussulmen in Herzegovina and Bosnia between the ages of fifty and sixty are ordered tp. join the army. Russia reports that an English steamer, in endeavoring to enter Kertch without taking the necessary precautions, was totally des- . troyed by a torpedo. -The centre of the Russian army, forty thousand strong, under Melikokoff attacked Mukhtar Pasha five miles outside Kars. The Turks fought desperately. The Russians were supported by powerful [artillery, which dislodged the enemy. Mukhtar called out his reserves, and attempted on the 30th to recover the lost ground with 30,001) men, but was defeated, and driven back under the guns of Kars. The Russian losses were considerable, and the Turkish enormous. The Northumberland colliers are on strike. Great forest fires have occurred in Vermont, Maine, and Newfoundland. Several frontier towns have been destroyed, aud ; many lives iost in the revolt in Pt_raguay. President Bontesa and his brother have been assassinated. The Bulgarian refugees in Roumania are i being armed. .On. the, bombardment by the Turkish monitors the inhabitants of Reni, AbraiLand Alenitza fled. Lieut-General Sir John Simmons will bo Commander-in-Chief of the English army if sent to the seat of war. Tbe Turkish force sent to Sukhum Kaleh to aid the Circassians numbered 10,000. The Russian, forces in Roumania are estimated at 240,000 men. The Turkish forces north of the Balkans number 250,000. Tbe Turkish needle gun is said to have caused the strengthening of the Russian army by 25,000 men. J J France has informed the Porte that she will not send an ambassador to Constantinople. The shipbuilders' lock-out at Glasgow affects 25,000 men. There have been 50,000 deaths from cholera in India.