The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-15 00:00:00

THE SIEGE OF SILISTRIA.

In Vienna yesterday the reported death of Mussa
Pacha was contradicted.
The Russians attacked Silistria on the 24th and
25th of May without success. On the 29th of May
a renewed attack was made with 60,000 men. They
were repulsed with a loss of 1,800 men.
We read in the Patric :—" The most recent
accounts from the Danubian provinces state that
after the last attacks, in which the Russians were
rejected, the garrison of Silistria was able to receive
provisions, ammunition, and a reinforcement of
fresh troops which had been demanded by Musha
Pasha. A part of these troops relieved the garri-
son of the Fort Abd-ul-Medjid who were exhausted
with the long siege. These circumstances have
much improved the situation of the place, and had
increased its elements of resistance."

A BATTLE ON THE BANKS OF THE
DANUBE IMMINENT.

A European staff officer writes from. Schumla :
" The enemy we have to meet is both numerous
and courageous, and strong on land and sea. It
appears by the statements contained in German
and Transylvanian papers that the Gth corps d'armec
has arrived at the Pruth, and has crossed it. This
is in all probability true. Thus the Russian army
has again received a reinforcement of from 45,000
to 50,000 men. Unfortunately, instead of forestal-
ling the arrival of these troops, we allowed the
Russians to anticipate us. Thus the enemy will,
in all probability, be stronger on the field, on which
in a very few weeks, two formidable armies will be
arrayed against each other. A numerical supe-
riory of even a third will not, however, decide
the question, when the superiority of thel men,
and the strategic tactics of of the commanding
general are put into the scale. Independent
of greater numbers, the Russians will, however,
also have unity and homogeneousness. On our
side there will be greater mobility and supe-
rior intelligence. At all events, the shock will
be terrible, and we may expect a battle like Fried-
land, or Eylau. Where will the scene lie ? Ap-
parently in the triangle of Silistria, Schumla, and
Varna. If the Russians obtain possession of Silis-
tria before then, will they not advance on Pravadi,
in order to lay difficulties in the way of a junction
between the allied Anglo-French and the Turkish
armies ? Do not expect anything very decisive
before the arrival of the British and French. The
weather is splendid now. Why not take advantage
of spring, and give battle ? A month hence the
men will die on the road from heat, fatigue, and
exhaustion.

DISPOSITION OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY ON
THE BANKS OF THE PRUTH.

A letter from Jassy of the 2d, in the Press of
Vienna, says :—" Troops have arrived here within
the last few days, but iu small numbers. Travellers
state that there are 4,000 Rus lions at Roman, 4,000
at Bakan, 800 at Folticzeny, 500 at Tirgu-Frumos,
and 4,500 at Botuschan. Small detachments of
Cossacks have been placed in localities on the fron-
tiers of Bukowine and Transylvania. We learn from
an authentic source that the 2d division of the 2d
corps of infantry of Paniutin has arrived at the
frontier of Moldavia. It is to enter that province
by Lipkani, where a permanent bridge has been
established over the Pruth.- The 3d and 4th divi-
sions of this corps are to remain in Russia. There
are at present 2,000 wounded in the hospitals of
Jassy. These poor wretches are brought in the
night, and are sent off, also in the night, to Rus-
sia. ' Those, however, who are seriously wounded
remain in the hospitals of the Fockshan, Berlad,
and other places in Moldavia. Russian engineers
began four days ago making plans in the environs
of Liccaui. It is said that they mean to throw up
entrenchments. The Austrian kreutzers have been
ordered to be withdrawn from circulation, and
have now only the value of the copper they contain.
This measure has been adopted in consequence of
the pieces having been extensively changed for
gold and silver."

RUSSIAN PERSECUTION IN MOLDAVIA

A letter from Jassy, of the Ist June, states that
the general commanding in Moldavia had just de-
clared that all the horses of the province were to
be laid under requisition for the service of the
Russian army. Every landowner was under an
obligation of stating, in three days, the number of
horses which he possessed, and to place them at
the orders of the military authority. He was also
to make known the quantity of horned cattle be-
longing to his farmers or to himself, and to hold
them at the disposal of the Russian commissariat.
These supplies are to be paid for by means of the
paper money recently created for the service of the
Danubian provinces. Every Moldavian inhabitant
not submitting to these prescriptions is to be
.con-
demned by a military court to a year's imprison-
ment, and to confiscation of his property for the
profit of the Russian army. Such are the rigorous
measures which precede the arrival of Prince
Paskiewitsch in Moldavia.