The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-07 00:00:00

THE WAR IN ASIA.

A letter from Trebisoude says An aide-de-
camp of Selim Pacha, who commands at Tchourouk-
Sou, arrived here on the 11th May with the news
that the Russians had abandoned Ozourgueti and
taken the direction of Notais. The Georgians of
Ozourgueti immediately informed Selim Pacha of
the fact, and the town was at once occupied by the
Ottoman troops, under whose protection more than
15,000 inhabitants of the neighbourhood came and
placed themselves. Selim Pacha appointed one of
the primates of the Countre Kaimacan, and at his
request the Governor of Trebisonde has sent pre-
sents to the Georgians to the -value of 40,000 piastres.
It is generally thought here that the intention of
the Russians in abandoning the fortresses they pos-
sessed on the coast or in the interior, and which
they could not hope to defend, is to concentrate
their forces on Tiflis, so as to be able to resist the
incursions of Shamyl, who, it is said, is within 18
to 20 hours' distance of that town."

The subjoined extracts from leders from Kars
will give an idea of the state of things in Asiatic
Turkey :

" KARS, April 30.—0 n the 25th inst. a staff-officer
returned from an expedition to the outposts with the
startling intelligence that the advanced guard of the
Russians had crossed the Arpa-tschai, and was in full
march on Kars. The inhabitants of a town threatened
with an assault are not expected to be over cheerful, but
the good people of Kars took no pains to conceal their
terror, which was ludicrous in the extreme. A council
of war was instantly held by the high military authori-
ties, and several energetic measures proposed by the
European generals who are here. They were, however,
overruled by the native pachas ; and instead of despatch-
ing a force to watch the enemy, and to attack him should
he advance too far, the council determined on merely
sending forward two reconnoissances. Of these, one
under the command of Asian Pacha (General Bystro-
nowski) pushed past Soobattan, towards the frontier ;
and the other, under Ismael Paella, (General Kmeti),
advanced in the direction of Anni, and scoured the
neighbouring villages. Both these generals returned
within two days, and the following report will describe
the information they collected with regard to the ad-
vance of the enemy, his heroic and sage operations, and
his final retreat. On the 24th of April a Russian
column, composed of four battalions of infantry, a
thousand Cossacks, and a field battery, concentrated
at Usumkilis4, were under cover of the revolted vil-
lages. On the 25th they advanced, but owing to the
difficulties experienced in crossing the plain, it was eight
in the morning before they arrived at Ergin4. Here 75
Turkish bashi-bazouks were stationed, at Mokus an
equal number, and at Geschit there were about 1,110,
under the command of Hassan Yanegi, their chief. The
Russians cut off the road from Ergine to Mokus, and
took the latter station by surprise. Their infantry was
posted in the neighbourhood, whilst the cavalry sur-
rounded the villages. Those of the 75 bashi-bazouks
who could not escape took refuge in the houses, and
answered a summons to surrender with their muskets
and pistols. The cavalry then dismounted, and after
an obstinate resistance, forced the houses. Ten Turks
were killed, 15 taken prisoners, and the remainder
escaped. The musket reports brought on the ground
several detachments of bashi-bazouks, stationed in the
neighbouring villages, and who, to the number of 200,
fell on the Russian cavalry. The Russian battalions
then advanced, whilst their artillery opened a tremen-
dous fire on the bashi-bazouks, who retreated with a
trifling loss. This glorious action finished, the Russians,
instead of marching forwards, wheeled obliquely on
Kisillchacchack, and from thence to Mokus, where they
reposed. The same night they recrossed the Arpa-
tschai and withdrew to Gumri, taking with them all the
inhabitants of the revolted villages. In render-
ing justice to the success of the Russians,
in surprising the Turkish advance posts, I enlist
observe that the revolted villages offered a favour-
able screen, and facilitated the concentration of their
troops. The movement, however, was marked With
timidity, and displayed the weakness of the Russians,
for after having surprised the first stations, they should
have advanced at least to the borders of the snow, and
have destroyed all the bashi-bazouk stations. This ex-
pedition of the Russians appears ridiculous in the ex-
treme, when we reflect upon the imposing force brow ght
to bear against a handful of irregulars. A few hundred
Cossacks would have sufficed to surprise the other sta-
tions, if any advantage is to be gained by so doing ; but
the idea of assembling 5,000 men of the three arms, •and
retreating after having dispersed for a moment the
irregular garrison of a little village is inexplicable. The
height of the absurdity lies in the employment of infantry,
and especially of artillery, against 300 badly-armed 'Ash i
bazouks in the presence of 1,000 mounted Cossacks. As
a strategic movement it was badly planned, for greater
attention will now be observed in the outposts; whilst
the expectation of an attack from the whole .Ruesiaq force,
of which this division was presumed to be the advanced
guard, has developed the greatest activity at head-
quarters. So tar from having had a terrifying cfleot on
on the minds of the population, this expeditiiin has
hei.cOltened the 'illinntion of vi!, ex,,eptit V.- inb.,l)itlrt3
of wliu dread, 'expect, 'oeiu,g pil.'4ged by the
slams, and by their own countrymen, should the latter
sustain a defeat. The quiet retreat of the enemy has
been ascribed by the villagers to the inTkicible bravery

I of the baShi-bazouks, and that ragged body has accepted
this homage with pleasing modesty. I should not have
alluded at such length to this unimportant skirmish had
I not feared you might one morning, have read of a bril-
liant victory recorded in the Abeille du Nord, or some
other veracious St-Petersburg journal."
"SAT, 2, The apprehension of an attack from the
RuFsian forces concentrated at Gumri has had a most
wholesome effect on the spirits here, and has roused the
activity of the Turks. The fortifications on the Kara-
dagh, and on the other eminences domineering the
town and plain, have been pursued with remarkable
vigour, and a few days will witness their completion.
On the Karadagh two regiments have been con-
stantly at work, and the labour they have per-
formed is really wonderful. Twelve heavy pieces
already mount the works, and fresh ones are daily
being dragged up the steep height. Kars is now
safe from any assault on the part of the enemy,
and, whilst a fortnight ago an attack would have
met with probable success, at the present moment it
would result in certain failure. The out-door work to
which the soldiers have lately been subjected has had a
most beneficial effect on their health and spirits. The
latter have, moreover, been heightend by the arrival
of remittances from Constantinople, so that the long
arrears of pay owing to the men will be somewhat re-
duced. I cannot too often repeat my admiration of the
patience and goodwill of which this army has given
proof, during the long period of misery and neglect to
which it has shamefully been abandoned. Within six
months it has suffered every evil to which an army can
be subjected ; typhus and famine have smote down 4,000
victims, and yet the spirit of the remainder is undaunted,
But with the buoyant spirits peculiar to the Turk and
Arab, all past sufferings have passed into oblivion, and
the prospect of receiving a few months' pay has spread
cheerfulness and satisfaction over all. The amount re-
ceived in silver and in paper money is 17,000 purses, or
about 85,0001. This will be the first trial to introduce
a paper currency in this part of the empire, and no dcubt
its circulation will meet at first with considerable diffi-
culty. The last week has witnessed our deliverance from
the snow, and by the heat of the sun, and a few slight
showers, the plain' has been metamorphosed into one
vast mass of mud. All military operations have conse-
quently been rendered out of the question. We trust,
however, in a fortnight to be clear of this obstacle, which
a May sun will soon subdue. The troops will go into
camp in a very short time, and active operations will
soon commence."

" MAY 3.—Some important intelligence has this
moment been brought in by Turkish spies. The garrison
of Gumri has been called to Tiflis, where it <appears
Schamyl is creating peat alarm. The troops are en-
gaged in digging a deep fosse around Tiflis, and strength.
ening that town as far as its open position will permit.
Prince Woronzoff has been recalled from the leave of
absence granted to him, and is daily expected there. It
would appear from' these grave precautions that some
decisive step is meditated by Schamyl, but it is doubted if
the season will permit of his appearing at the head of any
considerable force, for the brave mountaineers whom he
commands will be actively engaged in t►lling their land
and sowing. A month later, and every man in Circassia
will follow him ; and then woe to the Muscovite ! A
regiment of regular cavalry has been despatched from
hence to strengthen the outposts. The troops have been
paid this morning, and are animated with a capital
spirit." -

" MAY 9.—The army will be unable to move from
here until provisions become more abundant, for it is
still livingc, from day to day, and in the most irregular
manner. For two days the troops have received no
bread—merely a little flour, which they have to prepare
as best they can. This is shameful, and such improvi-
dence on the part of the Turkish authorities threatens to
fill the hospitals once more. Typhus, which ravaged
the army for several months, has nearly disappeared ;
but affections of the chest are prevalent, whilst scurvy
has taken a most dangerous turn. The number of
medical men has been greatly reduced by deaths from
typhus, and they are now quite inadequate to the num-
ber of patients. Proper medicaments are wanting, as
well as practitioners. The poor inhabitants are now
occupied in driving out into the country those of their
flocks and herds that have not perished from want during
the winter famine. The roads are strewn with dead bodies
of cattle that have not had strength to walk a few hun-
dred yards, and have thus fallen from exhaustion. The
grass has not grown from want of rain, so th.tt even in
sending out the cattle they obtain but little nourish-
ment."

" May 10.—My letter of yesterday will keep you au
courant of what is going on here ; but, hoping to be in
time for the post, I send you this postcript. At Gumri
(Alexandropol), there are at this moment 25,000 Rus-
sians, viz., 20,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry, with a
park of artillery; of about 60 pieces. A division, 5,000
or 6,000 strong, had left in the direction of Batoum,
probably to reinforce the army opposed to Selim Pacha.
The army h6re will go into camp in a few days, and
every preparation is being made to expedite its depar-
ture. The probable site of the camp will be in the
neighbourhood of Soubattan, but nothing decisive is
known."