The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-26 00:00:00

TURKEY.

-
A letter from Varna, in the German Journal of
'Frankfort, says :—" It now appears positive that
French corps will land here about the end of July.
Preparations for their reception are being made
both here and at Baltchick, and a camp is being
marked out on the surrounding heights. The
French hospital has been also considerably en-
larged. We have here only about 2,000 men ; the
remainder of our garrison, about 6,000 men in
number, have left for the Dobrudscha via Silistria,
the heat not allowing any other road to be taken.
Our town presents a very animated appearance ;
numerous Armenians, French, Italians, and Ger-
mans have arrived, in order to open shops near
the camp."
A letter from Vienna of the LSth,rin the Dresden
Gazette, says :
"The project of cutting a navigable canal for vessels of
smsiderable size between Rassova and Kustendje, in or
der to render the navigation of the lower Danube quite
independent of all foreign influence, is being actively pur-
sued, especially through the influence of England, who,
acting in concert with France and Austria, will apply
to the Porte for permission to construct this canal. The
work is to be conceded to a company, which will never-
theless act under the direction of the three powers. A
minimum of interest is to be secured to the company.
The persons stated to be entrusted with powers for the
purpose are—for France, Count de Morny ; for Eng-
land, Mr. Wilson ; and for Austria, Count Breda. It
is believed that the Porte will grant a belt of land of
the breadth of a league to the company on each side of
the canal, for the purposes of colonisation. Two f-trong
forts are to be built at Kustendje to protect the canal."

THE WAR IN ASIA.
We find in the Indepenclance Beige the following
letter from Vienna, dated the 20th inst.
Whilst the Allies are tiscussing the expediency of a
diversion on the Lower Danube, the Russians are exe-
cuting one in Asia, which appears to be much more
serious and more menacing in its consequences. The
last accounts from Constantinople confirm my previous
statement that Kars and Erzeroum were in the greatest
danger, and that the Russiah troops were gaining ground
in the Ottoman provinces of Asia Minor. General
Mouravieff, at the head of 36,000 men, is blockading
Kars,, whilst other detached corps are marching upon
Erzeroum and lla,san Kai& The Turkish army,
which should have retra,ted on Erzeroum, was driven
into the fortress of Kars, now invested by General Nirod.
Should Kars fall, into the hands of the Russians, the
army of Anatolia will either lay down its arms or be an-
nihilated. The garrison of Erzerouni does not exceed
2,000 men. The Russian forces in Asia, although not
imposing, since they barely amount to 50,000 men, are,
evertheless, sufficient to inspire serious uneasines.,,
when the inefficient state of the Ottoman army in the
country is considered. Neither the solicitu le of the new
Minister of -War, nor the strenuous exertions of Gent r +1
Williams, could succeed in placing it on a respectab e
‘ooting. A successful campaign of the Russians in Asia
"Minor would be sadly prejudicial to the Crimean expedi-
-ion, since it would ()bilge the allies to send to the relief
..f Erzeroum the reinforcements indispensable to the
army besieging Sebastripol. Now, everybody knows
~hat the allies themselves have demanded fresh troops
to undertake, with some chanc, of success, an enterprise
which would compensate for the failure of their attack
on the 18th of June. But the Russians, on their side, are
not idle, and from what has transpired of their new order
of battle, they have not less tban 19 divisions of infan-
try echeloned from north to south. The Ist and 3.1
divisions are in Poland, and the 24 in Courland.
Nine divisions, the 6th, Bth, 9tb, 10th, 11th, 12th,
14th, 16th, and 17th, are in the Crimea, where they will
shortly be joined by the 4th, sth, and 7th. Bessarabia
is defended at this moment by the 15th division.
The 13th and 18th are operating in Asia, and the 19th,
20th, and 21st, which no longer belong to the active
army, are likewise stationed in Asia, and constitute the
special corps of the Caucasus. Every division of infan-
try is provided with cavalry and artillery. In addition
to these are the Guards, who have hitherto preserved a
passive attitude. The first division of the corps of Gre-
nadiers is employed in Finland, and the 2d and 3d are
now marchint, to the Crimea. If to the above be added
the reserves of the corps of Grenadiers and of the Guard,
as well as those of the active army and the militia, it will
be found, that Russia can oppose on every point a respec-
table force to her enemies."