The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-05-22 00:00:00

_MORE FIGHTEIO,

Some more fighting is WiTn.rte.if from the Caucasus,
mostly in consequence of the bold attempts of the
Ru.sians to reconnoitre in the direction of the Turkish
positions, and with the view of attacking Kars, for
which they ore making great preparations. On one
occasion the Turkish tnofel made a sortie from Kars,
and a sharp engagement took place. On another a
considerable force of Russians was attacked try the
Turks, and a battle resulted. Most of the reports
from this district are furnished from Russian sources.
It is stated that the troops in their advance are
distributing grain to the inhabitants, to whom, it is
again saisl, they have to pay exorbitant prices for
provisions. The approach of the Russian's to the
Austrian frontier is causing much excitement in
Hungary, particularly as no official explanation has
been given as to the crossing of the Alto boundary
beyond an assurance by the Grand Duke that the
departure from the agreement should not Ire unduly
extended. Suggestions are already offered by the
Hungarian press that this should be treated as a carms

itKinfl rROWEIM
The Sultan of Turkey has had the title of
" Victorious" bestowed upon him by the Shiek-ul.
Islam, in consequence of the capture of Soukoinn
Kale. No doubt, up to the present moment. the
Turks have been more successful than the Russians,
but it may yet turn out that many of the reported
triumphs are of a mythical character. Ac artillerists
the Turks have proved themselves superior to their
opponents, and fighting as they do on the defensive,
there is about them a dash and vigour which must tell
with considerable effect upon the stately columns of
the Czar.
A heavy fall of rain has caused the water' of the
Danube to rise to such an extent as to render it
improbable that the Russians will attempt to crone for
some time. and the first week of June it now named
as the earliest practical period at which the movement
can safely be made.
The telegraph is still open between Constantinople
and Kam, but as large masses of Russian troops are
in the neighbourhood, that town will probably be
invested in the course of a few days. Already the
Turks have found the Russians busily engaged so claw
to their outer works an to induce them to make a sortie
lin force. The result of the movement was in their
favour, and they fell back upon the place without
sustaining any serious loss.
An engagement on a large scale is imminent, even if
It has not already been commenced, near Batoum, and
as an effort will doubtless be made by the Russians to
redeem the failure of last week, serious losses may be
sustained on both sides.,
From Tiflis we learn that the Russian commander in
the f'aucaaes executed a reconnaissance before Kars
on Thursday with four battalions of infantry, two
batteries, and three sotnias of irregular cavaly and
militia. The two latter, while marching in advance
on the left wing, were vigorously attacked by a
Turkish force, consisting of a thousand dragoons, eight
infantry battalions, and a battery of artillery. Six
sotniam of Dagestan cavalry were sent to the assistance
of the left wing, and a stubbonily.conteeted, hand-to.
hand engagement ensued. The Turks had 61 dead
besides wounded, and 2 prisoners. They also lost many
horses and a quantity of arms. The lorries on the
Russian side were one officer and twenty horsemen
killed, and five officers and fifty-four horsemen
wounded. Such is the Russian account of the affair.
An official telegram, received at St. Petersburg on
Friday, announces that "the Russians have taken
two outworks at Ardahan, capturing nine guns.
Major Manaiaff, three officers, and fourteen men
were wounded, besides fourteen killed. Judging
by the number of dead left on the field, the Turkish
loss must have been very considerable." It is evident
that we must wait some time before impartial state-
ments can be looked for, and as, under the most
favourable circumstances, they can only be expected
from newspaper correspondents, who, like the opposing
forces, are very human, it may come to pass that the
war will terminate before the facts in all their stern
reality are known.
As a matter of course both beligerente find
it difficult to raise money on easy terms. The
credit of Turkey was forfeited' long ago, and "an
the Rothschild's have refused all requests of Russia
for an advance," it would seem that the Czar's
Position is not regarded with confidence in a
monetary point of view. A syndicate of eminent
financiers, however, has been formed, the different
members of which have agreed to lend various large
sums to Russia. So stands the history of the war at
present. On the one hand life and property are being
destroyed in a reckless and wilful manner; on the
other efforts are being made to borrow money and
raise supplies in order that carnage and rapine may be
carried on.
8AT01.31, FRIDAY AFTERNOON. —Shocking atrocities
have been committed by the Russians in this part of
Asia Minor. Their troops in the vicinity of Tchuruk.
sou have sacked and burnt all the villages, and
massacred women, old men, and children—repeating
here, in fact, their exploits in Poland.— Telegram.