The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-04 00:00:00

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THE WAR IN THE EAST.-

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(Prom the Morning aronielc.) i '\,
The last accounts from the Danube;ie,emot
L
tory ; but a general concurrence of 'iipinfOn prevails as
to the strategic purpose of the movements which have
taken place. It was necessary, for the protection of the
Russian frontier, to prevent the Turkish army from in-
terposing itself, in the form of a wedge, within the
northern bend of the river between Wallachia and Bes-
sarabia. It is evident that a strong body of troops col-
lected between Matschin and Isaktscha might have en-
tirely separated detachments posted respectively at
Braila and Ismail; and there was also 'an obvious ad-
vantage in occupying the forts on both banks, before a
French or English flotilla could force the ascent of the
Danube. No blame can attach to the Ottoman com-
mander-in-chief for his inability to meet the enemy with
equal numbers on the extreme right of his line ; fur the
Russian army at Ismail is close to its reserves, while the
Turks are compelled to watch all the passes of the
Balkan. The only unexpected success on the part of
the invader consists in the immediate reduction of three,
if not four, strong places. Matschin and Isaktscha have
repeatedly inflicted damage on the enemy, and it might
have been anticipated that Hirsova. and Babadagh would
have been in a condition to resist a sudden attack. The
transport of siege artillery through the Danubian marshes
can scarcely be an easy or rapid operation, and it is dif-
ficult to understand the use of fortifications which cannot
be maintained against a hasty assault.
It must not, however, be forgotten that the accounts
which we have hitherto received of the movements in
question have arrived front Vienna, probably in the
shape in which they were framed at Bucharest. Some,
at least, of the rumoured successes may prove to be apo-
cryphal, especially as the Turkish division under Mus-
tapha Pacha is nowhere mentioned in the despatches.
According, to our correspondence, a counter-operation of
great importance was effected by the Turks in the pas-
sage of the river at Sistowa, between Nicopoli anti Rats-
chuk ; and the Ottoman force, when last heard of, was
maintaining its ground on the bank of the river. The
position which it seems to have occupied was alike
adapted to cut off the retreat of the Russians in Lesser
wig, and to threaten their head-quarters at Bu-
charest ; and it is possible that a diversion in the centre
of the enemy's line may be the most effective method
of checking General Luders' advance on the left. No
further account has been received of the bloody struggle
which was represented as having recently taken place at
Turtukai, and until these various movements are con-
firmed and explained in detail, it is impossible not to
suspect the existence of some misapprehension. It is
strange that the Russians should cross the river
in force, not only at Galatz and Ismail, ' but
also immediately opposite Bucharest itself, while
the Ottoman army, instead of concentrating itself
to resist the attack, simultaneously assumed the
offensive at Sistowa, and, according to one report, at
Kalafat. So many unexpected events have, however,
occurred since the commencement of the war, that it
would be premature to assert that any portion of the
news lately received is erroneous.
There can, at all events, be nothing to fear for Varna.
The Russian generals will assuredly not venture on an
advance which would imply utter indifference to the
presence of the combined fleets in the Black Sea. Ad-
miral Dundas will probably understand the declaration
of war, although he found an insuperable difficulty in
interpreting Lord de Redcliffe's unacceptable orders.
Even if the improbable report of a scarcity of coals at
Beycos had been well founded, it must be remembered
that a great part of the allied force, both French and
English, is independent of the aid of steam ; but it will
be seen, from Sir James Graham's answer last night to
Captain Scobell, not only that the alleged cause of the
inaction of the Admirals does not exist, but—as we
stated in our second edition of yesterday—that they
have re-entered the Euxine, and are cruising in the
neighl,ourhood of Varna. As soon :I.s the news of the
passage of the Danube reached Constantinople, the naval
commanders must, however unwillingly, have been
convinced that the peace was at an end. The Russian
army probably gained a start of some days, in conse-
quence of the ill-timed announcement, by an English
journal, of the despatch of the ultimatum from London
and Paris ; but a few hours brought the fleets from the
comfortable moorings which they have so long occupied
into the immediate vicinity of the seat of war.
The only fact which can yet be assumed as certain
with respect to recent operations on the Danube, is that
the Russians have crossed the river ; but the movement
possesses a peculiar political importance from the possi-
ble influence which it may produce on the determination
of Austria. From the moment at which the war com-
menced, the distinction between the right and the left
bank of the river ceased to exist for any moral or legal
purpose ; and there was no reason why the invader
should not seize Bulgaria in right of the same title by
which ho already held Moldavia and Wallachia. Rus-
sia, however, for her own purposes, affected to remain
I on the defensive in the trans-Danubian provinces ; and
the Western Powers, in pursuance of their policy of
extreme moderation, accepted a limited encroachment as
a concession. The Court of Vienna has repeatedly de-
clared that its own neutrality would depend on the
question whether the Russian army crossed the Danube
because, while the Principalities were professedly held
by the Czar merely as a guarantee, the more central
dominions of the Porte could only be claimed as a con-
quest. It is possible that Austria hoped to postpone the
necessity of forming a decision by referring to a
contingency which may have been thought impro-
bable ; but the step which was so thoroughly de-
precated has now been definitively taken. The Em-
peror Nicholas, in the undoubted exercise of his
belligerent rights, has abandoned the delusive attempt
to circumscribe the war within conventional limits ; and
his generals, in the discharge of their duty, attack their
enemy wherever he is most exposed to damage. It re-
mains to be seen whether others comprehend as distinctly
the present necessities of the case.
From the language used on Friday last by Lord Cla-
rendon and Lord John Russell, it was evident that the
Government regarded with anxiety, but not without
hope, the ambiguous position of Austria. After months
of deference and conciliatory language on the part of the
Western Powers, no positive assurances of support have
been received ; and yet it is probable that the result will
justify the anticipations which Lord Clarendon has so
often and so eagerly expressed. lZp to the present time,
the effect of a conciliatory and pacific policy has been
perseveringly watched ; but it will now be seen whether
vigorous action will not convey to the mind of the Aus-
trian Government the only conviction which is likely to
influence its conduct. That uniform leaning to the
Russian demands which was combined at Vienna with
a tconsistent reprobation of the Russian proceedings,
was evidently dictated by a belief that, while the
wrong-doer was in earnest, England and France
would be contented with idle remonstrances and pro-
tocols. But the approach of the allied armies to the
scene of action, Sir Charles Napier's presence in
the Baltic, and Admiral Dundas's entrance into the
Black Sea, will satisfy Austria that peace has become
impossible until it is reconquered. The same dread of
war which prompted so many useless attempts at media-
tion, will now, in perfect consistency, lead to an inter-
ference which may render resistance on the part of
Russia hopeless. If the army now collected in Transyl-
vania and Hungary were to advance against the invader,
Prince Gortschakoff would at once abandon the Princi-
palities, and General Luders would speedily recross the
Danube. As there can be no doubt that the Court of
Vienna anxiously desires such a result, it will not be
surprising if it adopts the means which may at once
insure it.
Even if the rumoured successes of the enemy should
be fully confirmed, they ought to excite no alarm in
England. The feeble efforts which have been made by
the invading army in Wallachia show that Russia still
finds it difficult to carry on offensive war. When
20,000 men could easily have taken Kalafat, they were
b not forthcoming ; nor has it been found practicable even
yet to assail the Turkish lines with a superior force. In
the Dohrutscha the aggressor is acting close to his own
frontier, with Russian fortresses to shelter his stores and
to cover his retreat, It must not be supposed that the
, violation of the Ottoman territory implies the power of
marching on Constantinople. The first detachment of
the allied forces have by this time landed on the Turkish
shores ; and it is not in the defence of the capital that
they will find employment for their courage and their
energy.

AUnWALS OF GOLD.—The Brilliant and Northumber-
land, reported on Friday from Port Philip, bring toge-
ther about 50,000 ozs. of gold, valued at 200,0001. A
further sum of 60,0001. is also announced from New
York by the Asia.
A FUGITIVE BANKRUPT.—On Saturday intelligence of
the following case was received at the Chief Court of
Bankruptcy, London : On the 7th of Feb. last, Joseph
Grave, carrying on an extensive trade as a warehouse-
man in Moseley-street, Manchester, was adjudicated a
bankrupt in consequence of certain hregularities which
bad attracted the attention of some of his creditors.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that a day or
two previously, he had drawn checks to the amount
of 2,0001. upon the branch of the Bank of Eng-
land, in the names of different persons, and sent
his own clerks to receive the money. Upon the mes-
senger of the Manchester Bankruptcy Court taking pos-
session, he found that the bankrupt had absconded. The
premises had been closed, but none of the furniture, &c.,
removed. The number of the notes paid in excnange
for the checks having been ascertained, immediate com-
munication was opened with the governors of th e Bank
of England, and the services of Webb, all efficient mem-
ber of the detective police, were put in requisition.
The notes were of course stopped, and after Webb had
remained in ambush for several days, a gentleman came
to the Bank for the purpose of changing a 1001. note,
which had been paid to one of Grave's clerks at Man-
chester. The person presenting the note holding a re-
spectable position in the City, it became necessary to
act with great caution. Webb, by dint of inquiry, suc-
ceededngoutthatty,ondn,
note,o With others, had
been
and that a friend
of his had purchased Mexican bonds of the value of
1,9001. These bonds, with five others not yet recovered,
transmitted in
d by Grave to
it has been ascertained were purchased with the pro-
ceeds of the checks obtained by Grave on the eve of his
flight from Manchester, and Webb succeeded, by a
clever manoeuvre of " stagging," in getting possession.
of them from Mr. —____
They have since been handed
over to Mr. Harding, the messenger, who holds a war-
rant for the apprehension of the bankrupt. The pre.
wailing opinion is that Grave is concealed in some ob-
scure part of the metropolis. His debts and liabilities
are stated to be enormous, and on Tuesday he was pro,
claimed an outlaw in the District Court of Bankruptcy,
Manchester.