WAR NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 144, 20 June 1877, Page 4

WAR NEWS.

The Russians have a Dumber of ironJ clad; boats, drawing only a few feefc of 1 water, at the mouth of the phiesterj near Aker man, which they^hope to; Bafely ; eoriVey to the Kilrer, month 0^ the Danube, and over the bar (0 the town of Kilia. : ' ! -' \ The Russian heavy bntteries atlbrailj throw shells into the Turkish' defence's! 'atMatchin. : J Eight Turkish soldiers captured near! Ibraii were armed with American 1 Rifles, throwing thirty-six cartridges | I Reloading. ( | . L Reports are confirmed that the Russians sank a. large Turkish monitor in the Danube! A shell penelrated, the boiler of the monitor, resulting, in an! explosion, 'which fired 'foe" magazine, j The monitor sank, and the entire crew | and'2oo soldiers perished.' '•" i " i \[ I ; The 1 Russian army is in fine condition and good spirits. The Turks are in strong force, and severe inu^keJry firipgf ia heard on the other side' of 'lhe ;3Daqube. The outposts are exchanging leaden compliments, and the rattle ia fearful. From a distance the cannonade pours heavier, and at this rate ft will not take long to destroy Rutgchuk. The town has been fired by Iho Russian guns' in Olnifaa. ' * : Mfttchin was set on fire by the Rusbian artillery. I- Continued concentration of troops in the direction of Simnitza is observable. - ■- ;■; ■ ■■ ;-_; v. c .The barracks and custom-house at |£alafat were destroyed and the church injured. Widin was set on fire. An Englishman reports that the Turkish troops in Widin and its vicinity number about 50,000. They expect an increase of 25,000 from Sophia. , A Roumanian Vessel full of Russian soldiers has been sunk by the Turks. The Turkieh gunboat which passed Kalafat under cover of Turkish; fire from Widin was captured by a Roqmsß- ; fan battery lower down the river. According to sews received from Constantinople, sixteen Bulgarian villages were pillaged and burned by 4be . T-ur&uVV - . .■,. ■:.■:■ lln 'the Turkish village of Turtukai there is; quite a Christian element, ihough inaabordioate in number to the Turks. On the nigbt of the 16th instant, the latter made a general attack.upon the Christian males, who put to the sword. Many elderly women shared the flame fate, and the younger ones were cruelly, outraged. The cries of the victims were distinctly, heard by the outposts of the Roumanian army. .. The account is fully; corr robdrated by the reports of two- j3uU ; geiriana who escaped the slaughter. A force, reaembliog the German Landwehr will shortly be called out for the defence of the shores of the Baltic and the Black Seas, and it ia intended to organise rifle companies in every Russian town. ■A.long the entire coast from Cape Adlar to Ptchentichyn, Turkish men-of-war are bombarding settlements. The Sultan has proclaimed a holy war, and has signed a decree deposing the King of Roumania. The Persian envoy has arrived at St Petersburg, to conclude negotiations enabling Russia to march troops through Persian territory. The first collision between the Greek Insurgents and Turkish troops occurred near Arm; X js, in Thessally. The P ©aa of -Athens unanimously demand war. Admiral Hassan bombarded the fortifications of Sukhum Kaleh on May 15, and landed troops. A 6ght ensued* ' and the . Russians were driven out. The town was soon in flames, and the inhabitants joined the Turks, who drove the Muscovite garrison and road guards all over the district, chasing them to Gangrey, which was also destroyed. Hassen Pacha landed a supply of rifles and cartridges to equip the City, caesiane, and a formidable force . was organised to march upon the railway line to Tiflis, aiming at the destruction of tCutais. On the 20th May it was officially fe?f ported that the Turkish forces wer| ' operating near Snkhum Kaleb, and were attacked by 5700 Russians. TheTurks were completely annihilated by 8 company of Cossacks. They took five prisoners besides some arms, and the provisions of the fleet were destroyed at Bourgdjardjare. :- The Turks shelled Buckell, nnd the Baahi-Bazouks plundered the neighboring villages. They also bombarded 1 Fort Nicholas on 29th April. On May 9 the Russians attempted to surround Seghaule, and concentrated their forces to attack the Turkish position at Karbidz and Yenkikari, The Russian force at Bayazid advanced in the direction of Khamouni and Anlob leaving Karakiliva and Alashkirt on their right. A detachment of Cossacks advanced on Baefcdag, but were driven buck to Kaghisman, The Russians attempted to stop the telegraph wires, but were discovered. The Globe publishes the following, dated Pera: — The Russians gained ao important victory between Kara and Erzerum. The Turks retreated upon Erzerum. There are rumors that 14,000 Turks were captured, aud this is confirmed. The Temps, which baa occasional communication from a Russian ageudy, says: — " Our private information confirms the fact that a note has been communicated to the St. Petersburg Cabinet by the English Ambuesy, on questions connected with Constantinople and the Suez Canal now and hereafter. This document is couched in concilia-'

tory terms. We are assured that an understanding has already been arrived at between Russia and England, both in substance and form as regards the Suez Canal, aud in substance as regards Constantinople. ]