THE RUSSO-TURKISH WAR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 193, 16 August 1877, Page 4

THE RUSSO-TURKISH WAR.

(DATES VIA SAN FJBANCISO TO JULY 18.) (From the o^n correspondent of the N. Z. 2Ymej.) San Fkancisco, July 18. A Russian official despatch giving kn account of the orossing of the Bal&aa6, and dated from Tirnova, Bays:-— General Goarka, with an advance guard of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, crossed the Balkans, and on July 14 surprised and defeated the Turkish battalion which guarded the outlet of the pas- near the village of Khankbi. General Goorka is now marching opon Kesanllk, ia the rear of his enemy, who oocupy the fortiaed Shipka Defile. The Oosaacks have arrived at Yeni Saghra and cue the telegraph line between that place aad Constantinople. On Sunday an engagement was fought near the village of Ckzazarare between the Coeeack force and some BashiBazouka and Circassians, supported by Turkish iafaotry. The enemy held their ground until the arrival of dragoons and a battey of artillery, which Were rent by General Goarka, ajad then they fled. The flag, several ataudard-baarers, aad a quantity of artua were captured. AS EEOABDS THE BUSSIAN SUPPLIES. During their advance they apparently left nothing to chance. Bucharest is the great centre of their base and their principal depot. It contains stores of maat, to which the supplies of rice for the relief of the Bengal famine were a mere bagatelle. Siatova will be the intermediate and Tirnova an advance depot. AS THE BUSSIANS ADVANCED i&lo the districts of Bulgaria quitted by the Turkish troops they found the country desolate and waste, the corn crops not ready to be gathered, and all tha grain storehouses deserted. Every bead of cattle had been seized and run oft by the retreating Turks. So complete and widespread was the devastation in Bulgaria that every Russian train sent to the front had to convey stores or biscuits and other supplies not only for the army, but also for the starving population. The advanoe guard of another Russian corps arrived at Ployesti. It was reported that a camp foe 80,000 was prepared at PloyGBti. Many Mussulmans, with their wives and children, who were fleeiag before the Russians, had been killed in the defile between Tirnava and Kesaalik. The Turkish troops which were Co have garrisoned the Greek frontier wera ordered to join the army ia Bulgaria. An Adrianople special reported that the Russians from Tirnova had advanced to Gabrova, their force being aatimated at 90,000. In the meantime all sorts of rumors were plentiful as to THB CONDITION OF THE TUBES. Letters from Constantinople give alarming picture of the distress prevailing there. Government had wrung from the people their last piastre, and waa still penniless. The streets were full of respectable people beggiug tor food. Thousands were subsisting on scant supplies of dry bread, and absolute starvation stared multitudes of Christians in the face, as well as the families of Turkish conscripts gone to the war. Unless speedy relief comes from some quarter, pestilence such as the world has seldom witnessed mi<»ht be expected to add its horrors to the existing situation, A decree it was said had been issued ordering the creation of a national guard at Constantinople, six battalions of which were to be formed immediately. Baciway communication on Jhe Adrianople line was suspended for everything except the passage of troops. Count Von Mohke was quoted as an authority for the statement that the Balkan mountains may be passed without serious difficulty by an iuvadiug force whosa cavalry ah e&tiy holds lirnova, frena which lead three of six roads available to an army, The only serious obstacle ie the entrenched camp of tibumia, lying in front of the Balkans, which, it is thought, niuat be either taken or masked before any force can safely puse tbe mountains. The Coaaacka were seen witbin a few hours' ride of Rus(chuk. A Pera despatch sail that Biela was evacuated by order of Abdul Kerim Pashu. A despatch (torn Varna fennouQcad thai the towa was declared in a siute of seige. The Rusaiaus at Metiige have cut the Kusienge. A datacuweat of fresh Russian corps, to reinforce tbe Danube army, passed through Bucharest, and Priuce Tcber Kaasi was aeut ia all haste to Tirnova, probably to establish a proviaiouni go-

verument. All, in faot, seemed to argue a speedy and complete triumph for the Russians when suddenly THE WHOLE POSITION CHANGED, and the vanquished of yesterday became the victors of to-day. It waa made plain that the Turks had been playing a deep game, and had permitted the Russians to overspread a portion of Bulgaria with ease, confident that with the unmasked fortreses behind them and the troops ready to fall upon them at the proper moment, when scattered and divided, the consequence must be A REPULSE OP THE INVADERS. A telegram date July 17, the day before the mail steamer left, reported a Turkish victory over the Russian forces south of the Balkans. The New York Kerala, s cable correspondent at Yeni Saghra reported that oa Monday afternoon tbe Turks, under the command of Sulieman Bey, had an engagement with the Russians, defeating them and driving them back Into the Balkans, with heavy loss, the battle-ground was at Febitch, twelve miles from Yeni Saghra. At first the Russians seemed to be successful; but the determined fighting of the Turks afterwards appeared to promise a Turkish victory. The Susr sian forces consisted of infantry and cavalry, outnumbering the Turks, whose first attack waa repulsed t and a flanking column of a force of dismounted dragoons greatly imperilled the Turkish position. The Turkish artillery waa splendidly handled, raking the columns ot the Russians, and thinning them at every discharge. Perceiving the terrible havoc caused by the Turkish fire, General Gourka ordered the Russians to charge. A fearful hand-to-hand conflict ensued. The Turks formed a hollow square. After losing several guns, the Russians attacked the Turks desperately, and fearful carnage followed. The Russian flanking movement and its desperate onslaught threatened to exterminate the Turks, when suddenly brisk firing oa the left announced the arrival of Turkish reinforcements under the command of Raouf Pasha. The Russians} had no artillery, and the rapid advance of the Turkish reinforcements compelled them to face a new enemy, thus affording their opponents an opportunity to abandon their hollow square, throw forward the flanks, aad renew their attack vigorously. The Russian line, thus held between two rows of bayonets, was completely overwhelmed. The Cossacks made a splendid resistance, fighting with the utmost but unavailing bravery. The Turkish charge was made over heaps of dead bodies, driving the Russians back into tbe mountains. Their flight was precipitated. The Turks pursued the flying Russians until the mountain pass was recovered. The Russian advance column consisted of Circassians and Cossacks, commanded by Colonel Judomin. The main body was commanded by General (Jourka. They were in light flying order, without waggon transport or artillery. It is impossible to estimate their loss. The Russian main body intend to cross the Balkans at this point, the Eighth Corps leading. It is not known what effect the repylee of Gourka's flying column willhave on the main advance.

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