The Press.
London, England, 1855-10-06 00:00:00

THE WAR IN ASIA.

The safety of Kars, one of the principal bulwarks
of the Turkish empire in Asia, has been seriously
compromised throughout the long siege of the town
by the neglect of the Turkish authorities to afford it
relief, and at this moment there is room for serious
apprehension that it has fallen into the power of the
enemy. The latest despatches received this week,
extending to September 27th, state that the Turkish
garrison were reduced to the last extremity, and that
they must inevitably surrender unless relieved in
a few days. The Russian army concentrated in the
neighbourhood, though it had not attempted any
further assault, closely blockaded the town, and had
devastated the surrounding country. Kars only
possessed a month's provisions on the most reduced
scale at the date of August 15, yet it was only on the
10th of September—after ten weeks' waste of time
journeying constantly to and fro from Kamiesch to
Constantinople—that Omer Pacha landed in Asia.
His troops will require another fortnight to collect,
and before they can be well got together it is more
than probable that Kars will be lost. A correspon-
dent of the Daily News, writing from Erzeroum,
under date of Sept- 13th, reports the arrival of Omer
I'acha on the 10th :

Omer Pacha, after stopping two days at Platana
(distant about a league from Trebizond), where stress of
weather compelled him to put in, arrived in our roads on
the 10th. The generalissimo landed an hour after the
arrival of the Ottoman steamer, the Chepper, , which brought
him. and, accompanied by the Count de Metfray, his
aide-de-camp, repaired to the governor's palace, where he
received the visits of the Turkish authorities and the
consuls. The next morning he left, after returning the
visits of the consular body. According to the information
I have been able to procure, Omer Pacha's troops will have
collected at Batoum in ten or twelve days' time; we ven•
ture to hope they will arrive in time to save Kars.

A correspondent of the Morning Herald continues
the narrative of events, by reporting the arrival of
Omer Pacha at Batoum, and gives a deplorable
description of the condition of the Turkish force at
that place :

Omer Pacha arrived at Batonm on the 12th inst., and
was received with the greatest enthusiasm by the half-
starved garrison of that place. The same day the
generalissimo visited the camp in all its details, and tears
gushed from the eyes of the old warrior on observing the
neglect and privations to which the troops had been sub-
mitted. The numerical strength of the corps d'ormer,
which is represented as being 16,000 men of all arms, does
not exceed at present 4,000 sabres, and even it is doubted
if on a parade day more than half that number of men can
come forward. _

The hospitals at Ilatonm and Tchuruksoo are crammed
with sick, with no medical attendance whatever. On in-
quiring into this branch of the army, Omer Pacha was in-
formed that a short time ago the mushir in command sent
to Trebizond for doctors. The steamer returned with six
Armenian barbers, who, on landing, bled all the patients,
and more than 2t)o casualties took place the day after their
arrival. The barbers had subsequently fled, nobody knew
where. The commissariat was in a still worse condition.
Some days nothing hut a lump of butter was distributed to
each soldier; at others, a handful of rice. The poor
creatures who survived had been living on salad and water.
As for pay, it was true that an English ateame with
60,0001. in gold had arrived, but it was quietly and noise-
lessly picketed by a few privileged individuals.

947

The writer even doubts the possibility 'of Omer
Pacha commencing any active operations this year ,
thinking it probable that he will not be in a condi-
tion to march to Kars. From Kars itself the infor-
mation is scanty, but sufficient to show pretty clearly
the imminent peril of the town. The Daily News
correspondent, under date of Sept. 4, writes from
Erzeroum

Letters from Kars of the 24th and 25th of August give
us nothing of interest except the news of the continuation
of the blockade, and the thorough devastation of the bur-
rounding district by the Russian*. Yesterday we received
a letter from Kars. Our friend, while denying the possibi-
lity of a catastrophe, still makes some admissions which
are not pleasant. The provisions of the army of defence
could last no longer than the 15th of the present month.
If up to this date no reinforcements and supplies could be
obtained, the town would be obliged to surrender and
submit to the conditions imposed by General Mouravieff.
Such a catastrophe would have terrible consequences.
The army in Kars, kept together until now by the influence
and saroir faire of General Williams, when once compelled
to surrender, would crumble into atoms. Each soldier
would take the road to his own country. The Turkish
Government, thus deprived of a nucleus for recruiting,
would be obliged to go through all the difficulties of getting
together and equipping a new army. Still worse would be
the loss of the magnificent artillery which the Turks possess
in Kars.

The advices of the Morning Herald are to the
same effect :
We have news from Kars, Erzeroum, and Trebizond of
very recent dates. A letter, dated Oth ult., from the first
place, states that the Russians have not attempted any-
thing against the intrettched Turkish camp. Provisions
were, however, running shorter every day, and if succour
does not soon reach from Erzeroum the gallant and brave
garrison will be forced to surrender the place to the enemy.
We find it stated in letters from Constantinople
that a " conspiracy " among the garrison had occurred,
been discovered, and suppressed with energy by
General Williams. Its object was to lire the powder
magazines. During the explosion the Russians were
to make the assault. A number of Turks were com-
promised. The head of the conspiracy, Aly Bey, a
relative of ➢lushir Vasif Pacha, was bung in Kars on
the 27th of August.
An attempt had been made to organise a body of
Bashi-Bazouks, but with ill success. With the ex-
ception of four hundred they had all deserted and
plundered the neighbouring villages, Turkish or
Armenian. The calculation of their value, remarks
the Daily News correspondent, may be briefly
summed up :

Firstly, they put the country in deadly fear by their
habits of plunder; secondly, they generated the cholera
amongst themselves, and left it as an heritage to the town ;
and lastly, they have consummated their iniquity by their
desertion.

The death of Colonel Calendrilli, the officer of
engineers, was a severe loss to the garrison :
Colonel Calendrilli, a Roman, who distinguished him-
self in the revolution in his own country, and who is well
known for his talents, has just died of cholera. The forti-
fications here were erected under his direction. He was
buried in the Armenian church. The military authorities
gave orders that the corpse should be accompanied to the
grave by bodies of troops, and military music. The event
is peculiar, as nut only did European officers follow in pro-
cession, but a number of Turkish officials were present.
This is the first time that a Christian has received military
honours after death here, the first time that Turkish troops
have marched beside the banner of the cross.

Telegraphic despatches had been received at Con-
stantinople stating that a steamer had arrived at
Bnlaklava, from Trebizonde, with news that the
Russians attacked Kars with imposing forces, and
twice attempted to carry the place by storm. They
were repulsed with heavy loss.

CoLoNEr. BELL, C. 8., of the Royals, lately returned
from the Crimea, has been appointed inspecting
field officer at Liverpool, vice Colonel Derinzy, who
retires on half-pay, with the rank of major-general.
LIEUTENANT F. JUNI:MOTE, of the 41st, was one of
the first in the Redan. When on the parapet,
waving his sword, two Russians fired at him, one
hitting and breaking his sword, the other smashing
his hand, which was unhappily found necessary to
amputate. The young hero is a son of Colonel
Kingacate, of the Royal North Gloucestershire

•
Militia.
THE FOREIGN LEGION at Canterbury, Shorncliffe,
and Dover, have received orders to prepare battalions
of both German and Swiss Legions, in all 2,4(K men,
to proceed to Portsmouth for immediate embarkatiov.
Their destination in the first instance is understood
to be Malta.
THE DESERTIONS FROM HER MAJESTY'S FORCES.---
The returns for the past month show a marked in-
crease on those of that preceding, the total number
of deserters being 082.
TWO SOLDIERS OF THE 7TH DRAGOON Gnome
lately committed a most extensive robbery by entering
the apartments of Captain Middleton, of the same
regiment, and carrying off the whole of his ♦aluable
propert,b including the 6(421,y-embroidered uniforms,