The Press.
London, England, 1854-07-15 00:00:00

THE WAR ON THE DANUBE.

The retrograde movement of the Russians in the
principalities was not only stopped since the super-
cession of Prince Paskiewitsch as their commander-
in-chief, but attempts have been made to reoccupy
some of their abandoned positions. A despatch
of the 12th from Vienna announced that Prince
Gortschakoff was advancing with 30,000 men towards
Giurgevo, where, according to subsequent advices,
his army was encountered by Omer Pacha, and de-
feated with a loss of 900 men.
The details of this encounter are thus reported :
" 30,000 Ottomans and 12,000 auxiliaries, under
Omer Pacha, encircled General Saimonoff, near
Giurgevo. He cut his way through, and retired
upon Bucharest. The contest lasted eleven hours.
Nine hundred Russians were killed and wounded.
General Chruleff lost an arm. Large Russian rein-

foreements are arriving from the iouth." Prince
Gortschakoff subsequently fell back upon Bucharest,
and was preparing for the defence of that place, in
itself undefendable, by forming an entrenched camp
four miles in advance of the town walls. It is said,
however, that the whole force amounted to only
30.000 men.

The Ost Deutsche Post of the 11th says :—" After
several days' fighting, the Turks have defeated the
Russians on Wallachian ground. They have taken
"Woken, Radovan, and Giurgevo. The Turks still
advance."
Omer Pacha was at Silistria on the 4th, distri
busing rewards to the troops and having the fortifi-
cations repaired.
The Russians have destroyed Matschin and
Isakieha by fire.
From the Aluta downwards the left bank of the.
river is still occupied by the Russians, who are busy

SATURDAY,

erecting batteries on the Transylvanian frontier at
Tekutch Piatra, and Okna, in Moldavia.
Letters from Cronstadt (Transylvania) state that
a battery of twenty-four pieces of artillery, of heavy
calibre, has been erected on the Wallachian soil,
directed against the Temesher Pass. The Dobrud-
scha not yet evacuated.
"On leaving Silistria," says the Pattie," the Russians
destroyed everything on their road, leaving behind them
only desolation and ruin. Traces of their passage were
met with at every step. The most lowly cottages were
burnt, as well as all the crops, arid even the trees. The
accounts from the Dobrudecha are of a similar character,
and the conduct of the Russians shows that in our age of
progress and intelligence the most odious barbarism
struggles against civilisation and justice.
" Colonel Beatson, of the Hon. East India Company's
service, has arrived iu Turkey to take the command of a
regiment of Bashi Bazouks, and try and drill them into
order. General Yusuf has a similar command in the
French army, though his is of course of a more extensive
character. The French general is confident of forming
them into a most serviceable irregular cavalry."
THE ARMY IN ASIA.
The Journal de Constantinople announces that the
Bashi-Bazouks of Asia have been surprised a second
time near to Urzuguette, by the Russian General
Andronikoff, having 22,000 men under his command.
The irregulars, not being able to resist such superior
forces, lost 3,000 of their men. Salim Pacha and
Achmet Pacha covered the retreat of the Bashi-
Bazouks with their regular troops. Unfortunately,
these two chiefs were wounded in the struggle.
The Turkish army of Kars is now in very good
order. Zariff Mustapha Pacha, the Commander-in.
Chief, has no knowledge of tactics, and is equally
deficient in strategy; but Kurachid Pache (General
Guyon), the second in command, is a man of great
military talents and experience, and possesses the
confidence of the troops. His efforts are, however,
much embarrassed by the opposition of several
Polish officers, who are intriguing to deprive him of
his authority over the troops.

THE REINFORCEMENTS.
The Ist battalion of the Rifle Brigade, under the
command of Lieutenant-Colonel Beckwith, numbering
upwards of 1,000 men and officers, embarked on
Thursday, on board the Orinoco steam-ship, at Ports-
mouth dockyard, for the seat of war.
The 46th Regiment, now quartered at Windsor, is
ready to march to the port of embarkation at an
hour's notice. It is known that they will sail from
Portsmouth.
The screw-steamer Himalaya has been fitted up
to take out 2,000 soldiers and 500 horses to the East.
She will take in soldiers and horses at Devonport.
A party of the Ambulance Corps will be taken out to
Turkey in the Himalaya. The Simla is to take out
a cavalry regiment from Devonport. She is to be
provided with a fiat boat to land the horses and
troops.
A negotiation is pending between the Government
and the General Screw Company for the purchase
on satisfactory terms of the new ship Prince, of
2,700 tons, belonging to that company, for the pur-
poses of a steam-transport. The Himalaya, belonging
to the Peninsular and Oriental Company, is also said
to have been sold to the Government.
Portsmouth garrison is about being manned by militia,
as its last regiment of regular troops will be embarked for
foreign service on Monday.
The extent of the weekly mail for the Baltic fleet has
astonished the weak nerves of the post-office authorities at
Dantzic : it is mentioned with astonishment, that in the
course of fourteen days 8,500 English letters passed
through their hands.

A proposition has been sent to the Admiralty by an
officer of the navy of high standing for the perfect sealing
up the entrance to Cronstadt, by doing which the Russian
fleet could be kept there for years, and if necessary for
ever. The plan is now cinder the consideration of the Ad-
miralty, and we (Morning Chronicle) are credibly informed
the gallant Anglo-French admirals are being consulted on
the practicability of the same. To give further explana-
tions at present would be most injudicious. if carried out,
it will release nine-tenths of our fleet from that part of the
Baltic ; after which, Sveaborg and Helsingfors may have
similar cards played at a coat of few shot or shell, and most
certainly without loss of lives, compared with Gamla Car-
leby.

Omer Pacha has received the following letter from
Abd-el-Kader, dated Broussa, the 18th of June :
" My very dear Brother,—The gates of Paradise opened
themselves for me, when I had a conversation with the
only prophet, in a dream, on the eve of the Ist Ramadan.
I heard all the great and holy souls who repose in Abra-
ham's bosom proclaim your name with shouts of joy, and
I saw a large rainbow extend across the striking ranks of
the holy souls when they called you by name. God is with
you, my brother. Wherever you go glory and victory will
attend you. I envy you. Carry off the camps of your
enemy by your troops. May my blessing accompany you.
The enemies will fly before you like jackals, and our chil-
dren's children will glorify your name. Do not draw back,
but march your troops forward. The Prophet wills it.
The day of expiation is arrived for the gisours of Moscow.
—Blessings on you, my brother.
" ilissomplissse

JULY 15, 1854.

It is a significant fact for the Czar that this country, in
four months, has cheerfully given the sum of 76,0001. for
the especial benefit of her soldiers' wives and families, and
this in the faze of a doubled income tax, an increasing rise
in the price of provisions, and the prospect of a lentrthened
struggle by sea and land with one of the most military
nations in the world.
The yachts Emerald and Gondola were taking a pleasure
trip, on the 27th ult., round the English steam squadron,
and, in order to reconnoitre a little, reached in within about
four English miles of the entrance of the harbour of Cron-
stadt. They were in a short time surprised by a Russian
steam•oorvette steaming out at full speed in chase of them
to try to cut off their escape. They, however, sheeted
sharply home, and after three tacks were safely under the
protection of our steam squadron. One of our steam-
corvettes, thinking it a good opportunity to take the measure
of the Russians, got up steam and proceeded towards her.
This was rather too much for her; the Russian corvette
very soon put down her helm, and ran at full steam power
for the harbour. At the time these yachts were reconnoitring
sounding, &c., there were five English captains of the fleet
on board of them, and also a Britah peer.