ADDITIONAL WAR NEWS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 360, 19 June 1877, Page 3

ADDITIONAL WAR NEWS.

The Auckland correspondent of th iMly Times supplies the following add tional item 3 of interest in connection wit the Turko-Russian war : Four Turkish monitors have appeare at Ismail. One returned to the mouth o the Danube, another went to Tultscha and the other two remained to watch th Russians. A Pera correspondent, writing on Ma; 4, declares that the evacuation of th Dubrudscha has been resolved upon. Th Turks are slowly working back upon tliei line of defence. Intelligence from Sulina says that, o] Jlay 10, the Russians attempted to cros: the Danube at Reni. They threw a bridgi over the river, but were met by tin Turkish infantry and artillery, assistef by three gunboats. The bridge waj broken, and a large number of Russian; were killed and captured. The Russian: were completely defeated. Two monitors will be stationed so as to harass the Russians when they attempt to cross the Danube. The Russians have constructed a very ingenious pontoon bridge at the mouth of the Sereth, which will be towed into the Danube, and anchored thare. It is almost ready for the immediate passage of troops.

A St. Petersburg despatch (official) contradicts the reported attempt of the Russians to cross the Danube at Reni on the 9th. There is no doubt, however, that a large reconnoitring expedition of 500 which attempted to make the passage in boats was driven back with heavy loss. Another Turkish squadron is to make a reconnaisance of Odessa and Sebastopol. The Cossacks crossed the Danube at Ibrail and burned the Turkish blockLouses. There are rumours in the Tultscha that in the event of that place having to be abandoned, orders are given that it should be destroyed by the retreating garrison. The following is a summary of operations at Galatz and Ibrail:—Fire was opened at 10 in the morning by Russian batteries near Ibrail, and three Turkish monitors began to bombard Ibrail, but sere compelled, towards noon, to withdraw berore the Russian lire. The Ruslian batteries and the town were uninjured. The Turkish gunboats attacked he Russian batteries at Tomrova, below Jalatz, destroyed portion of the battery, mil dismounted a gun. On 3lay Uth, two Turkish monitors, npported by shore batteries at Ibrail, irove back the Russians. Eight hundred Cossacks crossed the hmibe in boats from Galatz to Ghiaca, ml encountered a numerous body oi : t.vii-Dazonks. li;Ls i ii-Baz.juks crossed the Danube at and Roumanian peasants, with . i and arms drove them back, killing A ii\spateh from Jassy says the entire tiotilla appeared before Ibrail, a coming into position, began boniaitling. Tue tiro of the Turkish vessels us at once returned by Russian .jiiore itttries and artillery. The battle was ion tierce and deadly. At length two ltlia were fired from the Russian batiks. under direction of Commandant amoilla, at one of the monitors. The .ssei tired at was at a distance of two iles from the battery, yet both shells L'uck the monitor as tliey fell. The :ssel, in less than a minute after, sank, boat was despatched from the shore to i scene of the wreck, and though they eru unsuccessful in finding any of the leers and crew, they had tiie honour of pturing the flag of the sunken monitor. Ie ill-fated vessel had 200 men aboard the time she was destroyed. Out of is number but one was saved.

Cuncorning operations oil the centre d western lines of the Danube, it is nsidered certain that the Russians will idge the Danube below its junction with i Pruth, and also at T'arna, nearly posite ISicopohs. A. torpedo depot- has been established at ; mouth of the Pruth. Rie Russians bombarded Matchin, in sDobrudscha, for four hours, from baties on the opposite shore. file Russians are preparing to close lina mouth of the Danube to monitors. batteries. Tie '1 'urks crossed the Danube at Crochsh, stole 1200 sheep, and killed the pherds and some cattle. Russian troops passing Bucharest have hanged their ordinary colors for a flag ring the double cross, carried only en the war is a religious one. lay 15.—Cannonad'.ng is proceeding at ious points on the Danube. Tliroe inins of Russian soldiers are marching ards Giurgevo, Sinerditza, and Magu- | '8 (0, with the probable design of sijg the Danube at these points. ! object is to break Turkish separate >s at Widin from the main Turkish ■trices from Giurgevo say the moveits of the Russians show that their i point of operations will be the Upper 'txbe. It is not likely that the passage lie Danube will be attempted until all corps are in position. The Russians to have crossed between Reni and u, and are now waiting the develop- £ of the centre and rignt wing on the of the river. The Turks are concen:ng large masses of troops at Turtukai Ristoria. 'gut thousand Russians belonging to visions will inarch towards Ivrajova. r will be succeeded by 33 divisions, il indications denote that the Russians ttaking a serious movement on Western •iria. •e Servians are making defensive previous at Saithar and along the river They have ordered t;ie fortihea°f Alexinatz and Avor. The Turks

have sent a strong corps of observation to Adlo to guard against a sudden movement from Servia. It is reported in Vienna that the Servians are to operate in the direction of Bosnia and against iusch, and that Prince Milan went westward to join the other Roumanian troops, who, according to an official statement, are to he all concentrated in Little Wallachia, to maintain the defensive. Prince Milan is in command of an army corps. The Turkish island fort of Odda Kallah, rear Gasvo, an important position to hinder navigation, has been armed with eight cannons and 400 men. The Times' Bucharest despatch says the I Russian corps are gradually but surely getting into their assigned positions, and infantry and waggons of the Twelfth Corps are still passing Bucharest. Forty-seven Russian battalions, three batteries of ar- [ tillery, and some cavalry have just arrived at the opposite side of the river at Oltenitza. The Russians are crossing in boats from Ibrail to Ghiaca, and burned the latter place. The Roumanians have taken military possession of Kalafat. The occupying force numbers 9000, with 24 Krupps. The murder of a number of Roumanians by Turkish irregulars greatly strengthened the hands of the war party in the Roumanian Chamber. A resolution was passed by a vote of 50 to 29, declaring that Turkey had severed all bonds between herself and Roumania.

The Porte is angry with America for supplying arms to Russia and harbouring the Russian fleet. The Turkish journals advocate the massing of Christians. The passes of the Balkan are being fortified. Prince Milan, through his Minister, lias formally assured Count Andrassy that Servia will not disturb peace. ' The exportation of corned beef from Servia has been prohibited, and it is said that Servia is ready to take field with 30,000 men, on condition that Russia pays expenses. It is stated in the highest circles that the Servian Government has received proof that a convention exists between Austria and Russia, by which they agree to act in the most complete harmony, and Russian troops, therefore, for the present, will not invade its territory. The Turkish Ministers have resolved t( draw no pay during the war. The New York 'JrUmne says it ha; reason to believe the Russian fleet is now keeping watch along the coast for the purpose of interrupting vessels having munitions of war on board for Turkey. It is stated that the Russian Commander has been informed that a steamer would soon leave the vicinity of .New Haven with a large cargo for Turkey.