ENGLISH MAIL NEWS.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 229, 20 June 1877, Page 2

ENGLISH MAIL NEWS.

[PER ZEALAXDIA.]

The Russian attacking force which captured Ai-dahan numbered 8,000, besides several thousands in front of the town. During the Turkish flight the Russian cavalry inflicted a loss of 700 on the enemy. A force of 15,000 Bashi Bazouks and Kurds have moved northward from Lake Van to join the Turkish forces at Korakalisa.

Russian advance in Asia is delayed by the difficulty of procuring provisions in Armenia.

In the attack on Batoum, where the Turks defeated tbe Russians with a loss of 4,000 men, the Turks were entrenched on the heights defending the town, with their fleet outside. As the Russians advanced to the attack tiro Turks mowed them down in hundreds by a well directed fire of cannon and musketry. A sortie by the Turks, under cover of a thick forest, outflanked the Russians arid inflicted a serious defeat. The courage of the Bashi Bazouks was highly extolled. The Russians did not withdraw till midnight, and lost several cannon. A Russian war steamer which had run the gauntlet from Sebastopol endeavoured to place a torpedo under a Turkish frigate off Batoum. The torpedo failed to explode, and the vessel was driven off.

Admiral Hassan Pasha, with six ironclads, bombarded Sukhum Kaleh and landed a body of troops ;' the natives of Alrisia fraternised with them and drove the

Russians out. i O,OOO of the population of Alvisia united with the Turks. The defeat of the Russians below Eeni was a reconnoiteriug force in boats. The Turks waited till they came within easy range, and then opened a most destructive fire.

The Russians sank lorpcdos opposite Matauhin and Galatz to harass the Turkish gunboats, and constructed a battery of heavy guns at Ghiatic at the mouth of tho Danube.

The Turks massed a large body of cavaby opposite Galatz.