The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-05 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

The latest intelligence from the seat of war, so far
from confirming the allegation made in some jour-
nals on Thursday of a repulse of the Turks in Wal-
lachia, fails to mention a conflict in that direction.
The Russian commander appears to have abstained
from any military operation more important than the
movements necessary for defending the capital of
Little Wallachia. The departure of Prince
Gortachakoff from Bucharest for Krajowa,
which has been published as a circumstance
creating a profound sensation, and as indicating a
battle in that direction, took place five days before
Omer Pacha crossed the Danube. It is plain that
time enough has since elapsed for the Russians to
have attacked the Turkish general had he been so
minded ; but we hear of no such occurrence. It has
been hastily assumed that Omer Pacha must needs
have intended to fall upon the Russian camp when
he crossed the Danube, but, considering that
he must have received the message from Con-
stantinople before effecting the transit, it is at least
conceivable, in the present state of our information,
that he may have entered Wallachia to assert the
right of his master to that territory by his presence,
and to give Turkey a more respectable position dur-
ing the conclusion of negotiations. It cannot be
pretended without the grossest perversion of words
that Omer Pacha committed a hostile act when he
crossed the river which divided one portion of his
master's acknowledged territory from another. The
Czar does not pretend to have conquered or
annexed Moldo-Wallachia, and therefore even
from his inadmissible point of view the utmost
that the act requires is defensive precaution
against a decided and unequivocal movement on the
I part of Turkey. Such precaution Prince Gortschts-
koff appears to have taken by concentrating a force
lat the capital of Lesser Wallachia, the assumed des-
tioation of Omer Pacha's march. The supercession
of the native prince, and the institution of martial
' law, with all its injustice and oppression, have for
some time been expected. The Hospodai, although
, betide the occupation a ready instrument of Russian
intrigue, has received no consideration at the hands
I of his barbarous guests, and has for months past been
a helpless witness of hie own dishonour.
Letters from Vienna state that Austria and Russia
are variously counselling the ruler of Montenegro as
to his conduct in the event of a serious conflict be-
' tween Russia and Turkey. Austria, which considers
herself entitled to advise those whom she saved from
subjection, recommends neutrality ; while the Czar
has lately expressed his confidence that his pen-
sioner, th.e Vladika, will not fail to make him a due
return when occasion offers.

A letter from Kalafat of the 21st states that the
batteries erected by the Turks on the island opposite
KaWet completely command the point at which the
landing was effected. Important works are in
course of construction there. Besides the army at
Erzeronm, the Turks have the following :—fhe
troops in cantonments on the frontiers of the tins-
sian possessions on the east coast of the Black Sea—
viz., 3,000 at Bayazid, 10,000 at Kan, 6,000 at
Ardakshan, 4,000 regulars and 20,000 irregulars at
Batoum and Tchurouk-Sou. The recent attacks of
the Caucasian tribes were directed in the west against
the fortresses and redoubts which are posted along the
coast of the Black Sea, from Soudjouk Kaleh to the
fort of Navaghiuskoi, and in the east against the de-
tached posts and the military cordons which occupy
the banks of the Terek and several positions in
Daghestan. Fora time Prince Woronzoff was com-
pletely surrounded by the Circassians, and could not
disengage himself until the troops on the Turkish
frontier were sent to his assistance. The 20,000 or
23,000 men forwarded in such haste from Sebastopol
are now on the frontiers of Armenia.