The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-01 00:00:00

LATEST FOREIGN NEWS.

THE WAR.
COUNCIL OF WAR AT VARNA.

Advices from Constantinople of the 22d state
that in the military congress held at Varna, it was
decided that the allied troops should proceed to
Adrianople. It is understood to have been com-
posed of Riza Pacha, the Turkish War Minister,
Mehemet Kebresli acha the Minister of Marine.
Marshal St. Arnaud, Lord Raglan, Omer Pacha,
Admirals Dundas and Hamelin were invited to
attend, but it is not known whether they were
present.

THE SIEGE OF SILISTRIA.—BRAVERY
OF THE TURKS.
According to the last accounts Silistria still de-
fends itself bravely. The news of a disposition to
treat on the part of the Turks is false. The word
" capitulation" has never been uttered.
There are 90,000 Russians round Silistria.
On the 27th of May the operations from the
islands of the Danube were suspended in conse-
quence of the height of the river.
The bombardment has done some damage to the
fortress, but it has been repaired.
The Russians, at the demand of the Turks,
have promised not to fire on the hospitals in the
fortress.
The following semi-official announcement ap-
pears in the Moniteur :
" A communication from Belgrade, by telegraph,
dated May 29, states that the Russians have at-
tacked Silistria with all the disposable forces they
had upon that point. This attack, directed simul-
taneously from the Danube and by land, was re-
newed four times, and was four times repulsed by
the besieged. It is stated that Omer Pacha is pre-
paring to go to the assistance of the place. The
resistance of Silistria continued with success on the
26th of May.
The Lloyd of -Vienna, published yesterday the
following telegraphic despatch :
SCHITMLA, May 23.—The Russians stormed Silis-
tria four times, and were always repulsed with
great loss. Omer Pacha concentrated his troops
to relieve Silistria.
The subjoined, which appeared in the Presse of
Vienna, is three days later :
SCHUMLA, May 26.—Auxiliary troops are at
Basardschik ; vanguard at Mussabeg. Paskie-
witsch has countermanded reinforcements from
Bucharest and Ibraila, probably intending to raise
the siege of Silistria.
The following passage appears in the Paris cor-
respondence of the Times :—" Private letters from
Constantinople, dated the 20th, speak of dissatis-
faction existing among the Turkish population at
the allied troops not having as yet made a move
towards the theatre of war. This impatience is,
perhaps, excusable under the circumstances, seeing
that Silistria has undergone so long a siege, and more
than one assault, without succour. Omer Pacha, too,
whose impatience is said to be great, has repe ttedly
demanded notso much reinforcements for the field as
that the allied troops, even 1,500 or 2,000 of them,
should atleast showtlaemselves to his men and to the
enemy, to keep up the courage of the former under
severe duty, and to inspire them with new hope ;
and to convince the latter that the Ottomans are
not, as appears to be circulated in the Russian
camp, entirely abandoned by Christian Govern-
ments. This feeling of the Constantinople people,
or rather this ' ignorant impatience' of hostilities,
gives rise to various surmises, doubts, and rumours
not extraordinary among so suspicious a race ; and
many are convinced, or appear to be so, that the
i English and French generals—the Duke of Cam-
bridge and Prince Napoleon—have only come to
Constantinople to propose terms of peace to the
Sultan, and enforce them if necessary. Silistria
is often referred to. The loss of that important
position would no doubt be serious, even though
it had the effect of rousing Austria to action, but,
the loss to the Ottoman army of its brave com-
mander, Mussa Pacha, would be still more
serious. Mussa Pacha is, by common consent,
one of the most energetic, intelligent, as well as
courageous officers of the army ; and it is to him,
and not to Fethi Pacha, who has all the credit,
that the organisation of that arm of the service
is due."
The Debats says :—" If we may judge of the
present by the past, the fall of Silistria ought not
to be regarded as imminent. In 1828, after a
siege of more than 60 days, the Russians were
obliged to retire, and in 1829 they did not get rios-
session of it until forty-fourdays after the trenches
were opened. According to the last accounts the
regular works of approach had only just begun.
In the last war Silistria was only defended by a
fortified wall, whereas since that period four large
detached forts have been added to the defences of
the place ; in 1828 and 1829 the garrison of Silis-
tria was only composed of from 8,000 to 10,000
irregular soldiers, while now it has 20,000 regular
troops. All these reasons must tend to inspire the
belief that the place cannot be on the point of
being taken, but the fortune of arms and the
chances of war are so great that in such a ease,
more perhaps than in any other, reliance can alone
be placed on faits accomplis."
The Vienna Presse has a despatch from Sem-
lin, May 30, which states that the Ottomans
evacuated Turtukai, Nicopoli, and Sistowa, on the
26th ult. The Russians occupy both places. This
is not confirmed by news from other quarters.