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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5096, 24 July 1877, Page 2

'WE publiah'important telegrams from the seat of war! to-day. A despatch from the AgentGeneral was received yesterday, but it was 'merely confirmatory of what,we published in (the morning.' The telegrams received last night however' give further information. The Turks intend to die hard, that is if they should not succeed in living. It is stated that the Russians have not crossed the Balkans in force, and a similar fate to that they experienced in Asia may yet await them. It may be remembered that their investment of Kars and thenprogress towards Ezerum was for a time triumphant, and, as is now the case in Bulgaria, they seemed to be carrying all before them. Their unsuccessful commanders were court-martialed or shot pour V encourager les , autres, and Mukhtar Pasha speedily worked a change. They have now sent their military failures in Europe to the right about, and intend, it is evident, to offer pitched battle to the advancing Russians. Should the Tsar’s forces meet with a decisive check, they would be in a most awkward position—a victorious enemy in front and strong fortifications of that enemy in rear. The old complication as to a Russian occupation of Constantinople is to the fore, and the Turks evidently intend to use it to their advantage.