The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-12 00:00:00

LATEST FOREIGN NEWS.

-

THE WAR.
THE SIEGE OF SILISTIZIA.

VIENNA, June 9.—An official bulletin, dated
from Kalarsch, acknowledges that the efforts of
the Russians against Silistria have not been suc-
cessful, but states that the siege of the detached
fort of Abd-ul-Medjid has commenced, and that
the operations are proceeding rapidly.
We read in the Wanderer of Vienna :

" The Russians, immediately after their checks of the
29th and 30th ult., commenced the regular siege of Si-
listria, which appears to be carried on with energy.
Preparations are already made in several places for bat-
tering the walls of the fortress in breach. Prince Paskie-
witsch is at Kalarasch. Fresh troops are constantly
crossing the Danube to occupy the road between Boujouk
and Karatschack-Korotza, and Mop the Turkish troops
who may advance to give succour to Silistria. The
departure of the Russians from Wallachia appears to
have commenced. General Baumgartner has evacuated
his position at Tornu, and destroyed the entrenchments.
He has marched down the river. At the time of the
repulse of the assault on Silistria, on the 28th, Mussa
Pacha called for a certain number of volunteers to pur-
sue the Russians ; scarcely was the demand made known
whe❑ all the garrison offered themselves, and, to avoid
disorder, Mussa Pacha was himself obliged to fix on two
battalions. A Russian bulletin, which has been published
at Kalarasch, announces that the Russians had been at-
tacked while they were pursuing the flying enemy, and
that they had in consequence retired, but on the follow-
ing day had carried a redoubt by assault. Preparations
are being made at Bucharest for removing the head-
quarters now established in that place either to Jassy or
on the Danube. General Dannenberg, with his staff, are
to move to the Danube. A letter from Widdin of the 3d
states that the assault made on a redoubt of Silistria,
in the night of the 29th, was much more sanguinary
than the combat of the 28th, The Russians not being
able to silence the fire of the Turks, attacked them with
the bayonet and experienced severe loss. The Russian
troops who were beaten on the 27th at Tornu belonged
to the Bth division of the 3d corps. The affair was very
sanguinary. The battalions of chasseurs Alexopolski
and Krernoust-Schuk were nearly destroyed and the
rest only escaped by a rapid flight. The Russians had
quitted Tornu on the 25th, aria were quietly marching
down the Danube. Selim Pacha, the commandant of
Nicopoli, had assembled 3,000 men, 1,000 of whom he
posted on the road from Wagoza. Salim rapidly crossed
the Danube at the moment fixed on and attacked the
Russian advanced guard, while the 1,000 men posted as
above attacked the Russians in flank and rear. The
Russians fought with courage, but were driven back on
the Aluta with very severe loss."
A letter from. Schumla, 3d, in the Press of Vienna,
gives a version rather different from the commence-
ment of the above article. It says—
"A kind of armistice has since the Ist followed the
violent combats which have recently taken place at Silis-
tria. The Russians have established a second bridge of
boats at Kalveja, between Silistria and Rassowa, and
have constructed a tete-de-pont there. The Russian troops
who are on the Bulgarian territory below Silistria are
concentrating themselves at Kalveja, and appear to be
preparing for a retrograde movement on the right bank
of the Danube."

The Ost Deutsche Post of Vienna has the follow-
ing from Bucharest, dated the 3d :—"According to
the Russian accounts, their loss at the assault of
Silistria amounted to 186 killed, and 379 wounded.
The only son of Count Orloff received a ball in his eye,
and is in danger of death; hehas been brought to Bu-
charest. Young Kotzebue, who happened to be on
the bridge destroyed by the Russian fire before
Silistria, and who afterwards perished in the
Danube, was not, as at first thought, the son of
General Kotzebue, but of the Councillor of State of
that name,. who accompanies Prince Paskiewitsch
as diplomatic agent. The Russians have abandoned
the detached forts of Silistria, on the road to Al.
mandis, after having destroyed them. The wounded
are being taken to Slobosia. Since yesterday the
fortress is completely invested. 30,000 Russians
are on the road to Basardschick, where the Russian
regiment of Uhlans of the Archduke Albert, and a
regiment of infantry have arrived."