The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-16 00:00:00

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LONDON, WEDNESDAT, NOVEMBER 16.

THE intimation by electric telegraph,—rise Vienna
of course,—that the Turks on the Danube had
in some place and at some time (neither the when,
nor the where, being specified) experienced a check,
was not confirmed yesterday. The report appears
likely to disperse into thin air before it can assume a
definite ghapc. At least the argument is plausible
that, inasmuch as the shortest read by which news
can reach us from the theatre of war is open to the
Russians, they would, had they gained a victory,
have taken good care to "express" the news. Every
intermission in the despatch of explicit bulletins
from Wallachia may be fairly construed to mean that
success continues to rest on the Turkish arms.
Such of oar readers as have taken the trouble to
follow the accounts we have from time to time given
of the nature of the country in which warlike opera-
tions are being carried on, and of the relative positions
of the hostile armies, can have little difficulty in
forming a clear conception of how they stood to era
other at the time of the latest detailed despatches.
From where the Danube first touches the frontier et'
Wallachia it will be remembered the course of the
river is to the south till a little past Widdin, thence
east to the vicinity of Kassowa, and thence north to a
short distance from Galati. Tho length of this great
bow is about four hundred miles (the windings of
the river excluded), a straight line joining its extre-
mities, and representing the string of the bow, some-
where about two hundred and eighty miles. The
Russian troops in Wallachia are placed between the
bow and the string; the Turkish along the bow, and
consequently enclosing their enemies on three sides.
The Turks have forced the passage of the river in
ecnsiderable numbers, in front of Widdin, and in
front of Turtukan, threatening Krajowa by the one
body and Bucharest by the other. Minor detach-
ments of the Turkish army have crossed the river at
various intermediate stations, and between Turtukan
and Kassowa. The main body of the Russians was
stationed between Bucharest and the Turkish force
that has crossed from Turtukan, bur, a line of posts
had been occupied from Bucharest westward, extend-
ing beyond Krajowa. At all the points where the
Turks had crossed the river (except Oltenitza, oppo-
site lurtukan) the.Rassians had retreated without
offering any opposition, or after a very trifling show of
opposition. At Oltenitza the Turks had made good
their footing on the north side of the river after
desperate attempts on the part of the Russians to
dislodge them. It is to this quarter, if the brief and
inexplicit reports received may be credited, that we
are to look for the next news of serious fighting.
Prince GORTSCHAKOFF, it is said, has advanced from
before Bucharest to drive the assailing force back
across the river. The rorps ttarmi,e, with which be
seeks to effect this, is reported 24,000 strong, and the
Turks who have crossed the river are said to be now
at least equal to them in number. Meanwhile rein-
forcements from Sophia are pouring in upon the Turks
who have crossed at W uldi u, and all along the road from
Krajowa to Bucharest the Russians appear to be in
full retreat. They have indeed little choice left them ;
if they remain in position, the Turkish detachments
swarming across the Danube at so many points may
cut off their posts one after another; while on the
retreat they necessarily present their flank to their
assailants. These disadvantages of the Russian po-
sition will be complete if the news be true that a
Turkish force is preparing to cross above Galata.
The uuly route alocg which the Russians can retreat
out of Wallachia must lie between the bend of the
Danube above Galatz and the termination of the
Transylvanian hills—a distance of some eighty
miles as the crow flies. Occupying a country whose
resources they must by this time have nearly ex-
hausted, assailed by sickness which is likely to
increase now that the rains have set in, pressed by
growing bodies of Turkish troops in front and in
flank, with another in their rear, the situation of the
invaders would indeed be desperate. It is reported
from St. Petersburg that the CZAR intends to proceed
to the army in Wallachia according to present
appearances, he had need to make haste if he wishes
to arrive while he has an army there.
In Asia, as well as in Europe, the two hostile
powers appear to be closing in serious conflict ; foe
the collision in front of Baton was a mere affair of
outposts. According to the latest accounts, the
Turkish army stationed near Erzrum having received
a reinforcement of 12,000 regular troops from

Diarbekir and Kurdistan, Altl/I PACIIA had held
himself warranted to march towards Kan at the
head of 10,000 regulars, 13,000 redifs being already
encamped near that city. Erarum is situated near
the sources of the Tigris, about the highest eleva-
tion of the great table-land on which that river
rises. The Tigris flows by Diarbekir and Bagdad
southward to the Persian Gulf. Some two
days' journey east of Erzrum are the mourns
of the Armes, which flows eastward to the
Caspian. And a little to the north of
Ersrum are the sources of the Charuk-su,
a much less considerable river, which flows north-
ward to Baton. Kars is situated about 120 miles
(in a direct line) to the Gartb•eest of Erzrum, and
only some thirty miles from the Russian frontier
fort of Alexandropol. Akhaltzic, another Russian fort
near the Georgian frontier, is fifty or sixty miles north
of Alexandropol. It is said that 30,000 Russian troops
are assembled near Aiezandropol, and 13,000 near
Akhaltzic. It was apprehended that an attack would
be made upon Batun (garrisoned only by 2,000 regular
and 6,000 irregular troops), in combination with a Rus-
sian squadron, which was to bombard the place from
:he see. The country between Akhaltzic and Baton,
however, was occupied by 30,000 Turkish irregulars,
and troops and war steamers were being despatched
from Constantinople to Baton. 1 f the reports of
nine Russian fortresses along the frontier having I
been taken by the Kurds and the troops from
Diarbekir, and of the threatening movements of the
whole mountain populations yet unsubdued by
Russia, may be credited, the Russian army in the
Caucasian Peninsula will have enough to do without
seeking to retrieve the laurels lost in front of Bata*
And the intelligence from St. Petersburg that Prime
WtecoNzow, commander of the army of the Candi-
ells, is urgent in his applications for relief, corrobo-
rates this view of their condition.
Turkey is playing its part bravely, and is entitled
to look for prompt action on the part of its allies,
France and England. As tar, indeed, as any con.
jecture can yet be formed of the ultimate fortunes of
so uncertain a game as war, the ':'urka will be able
to clear their European territory of their Russian
invaders in a short time, and, with the aid of the
independent mountaineers, to clip the wings of
Russia in Asia. But security for the fature—hoth
for Turkey and Europe—ix wanted, and towards the
attainment of that France and England arc pledged
to contribute their aid. All the insidious treaties by