The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-13 00:00:00

THE WAR.

OPERATIONS IN THE DOBRUDSCHA.
A Vienna journal, the Ost Deutsche Post, gives
the following as the last intelligence from the
theatre of war
" The news from Dobrudscha inform us that the
Russians are still advancing. General Luders is
marching at the head of three columns on Trajan's
Wall. On the 31st ult. he was with his right wing
before Tscheruawoda, and with his left before
Kavasu. At the same time, the part of the corps
ofOstenSacken, which had entered the Dobrudscha,
commenced its movement towards Kustendjee. As
the port can receive only small vessels, that town
cannot reckon on the aid of the fleets. Mustapha
Paella has taken up a position between Rassova
and Karajue. The Russians have, it is said,
attacked him on his crossing Trajan's Wall ; but
this news, which is of April 4, merits confirma-
tion."

A letter from Widdin of the 2nd, in a Vienna
journal, says :—" No one here considers the opera-
tion of Prince Gortpchakoff against the Dobrudscha
as purely defensive. The attack of the wall of
Trajan is the sine qua non, condition of the siege
of Silistria and the surrounding forts. The tete de
pont of Tschernawoda was cannonaded on the 30th
ult. by gun-boats, and the Russians are said to
have taken possession of a small redoubt on the
road leading to Hirsova. This position, therefore,
which was not tenable, will be in the power of
General Luders, for a report is current thdt the
Russians had crossed the wall of Trajan, and were
in march towards Rassova. On the same day,
several French and English vessels were cruising
off Mangalia, and the Rear-Admiral in command
of them had put himself in communication with the
gun-boats of Kustendje."
It appears by a letter from Bucharest, in the
Wanderer of Vienna, that the defence of the
Turks at Tultscha was a very determined one.
The attack was made bw the Russians on the 23d
ult., and the fighting continued till the 27th. On
the 23d, the Russians having succeeded with a
loss of 1,500 men in getting possession of a battery,
the Turks, who were only 2,000 strong, took re-
fuge in the citadel, where they sustained a siege
until one o'clock 'in the afternoon of the 27th.
There were different accounts at Bucharest re-
specting the fate of this brave garrison. According
to some, the Turks, reduced one-fourth in number,
and having no longer the means of resistance, ca-
pitulated ; others state that the Russians blew up
the fortress, and that the garrison perished in the
flames. The affair of Simnitza appears to have
been disastrous for the Russians. Not less than
800 soldiers wounded in it had arrived at Bucharest.
The Turkish corps at the command of Mustapha
Pacha, who at the last dates stood at Karassa, con-
sisted of 45,000 or 50,000 men.
According to the best authorities the Russian
invading force was on the 23d ult. 36,000 strong,
and has since been considerably reinforced, not,
however, from the Principalities, so as to weaken
the army there but from Bessarabia. The reports
from this last district represent it as swarming with
troops, and, making allowance for the illusion pro-
duced on non-military observers by the aspect of
large bodies of men in motion, it may be admitted
that by this time the Czar has in Bessarabia a very
considerable force as far as mere numbers are con-
cerned with which to repair his first losses. A di-
rect communication between the Dobrudscha, below
Hirsova, and Wallachia has been secured by means
of a pontoon brid,-,e across the Danube. Six
Turkish transport ships, which were stationed in
the St. George's Canal, and managect to escape
from the Russians, have reached Kustendjee. From
Kalarasch it is stated that 40,000 men and 130
guns are preparing; to attack Silistria. General
Sehilder was on the spot directing the operations.
The heavy siege guns and the rocket batteries had
arrived. The garrison of Silistria is stated. to be
10,000, including two Egyptian regiments.
The Invalide Busse of St. Petersburg of the 2d,
says :

" The Emperor yesterday evening received from
General Prince Gortschakoff an account of a new Only
acquired by his Majesty's arms. On the 23d ult., our
troops rendered themselves masters in a most brilliant
manner on the right bank cf the Danube. They effected
the passage of the river on three points ; from Galatz
under the command of Gi,neral de Luders, commanding
the sth corps of infantry ; from Thrall under the com-
mand of Prince Gortschakoff in person, and from Cape
Tehetala under the command of Lieut.-General Oucscha-
koff, chief of the 7th division of infantry. On the last-
named point the combat was very obstinate, hut, not -
withstanding the desperate resistance of the enemy, our
brave regiments carried several strong redoubts by assault
and took 9 pieces of artillery and made 150 prisoners.
On the other points, the Turks astonished at our hold
attempt, took to flight, and did not even dare to defend
themselves either at Toultcha or at Matchin, places
which, surrounded by strong fortification-. and contain-
ing garrisons of 15,000 men, might have cost us con-
siderable sacrifices. Thee two fortresses were aban-
doned by the enemy and taken possession of by our
troops without firing a shot. General Prince Gortscha-
koff renders his testimony to the exemplary prudence,of
the measures and of the brilliant valour of Generals de
Luders, de Schilder, de Kotzebue, and Ouschakoff, as
well as to the bravery of General-Major Doubensky, who
had been attached to General de Schilder and of Colonel
de Mirbach, aide-de-camp of the Emperor, who accom-
panied the troops of the advanced guards. Prince
Gortschakoff concludes his report to the Emperor in
the following terms The troops of your Imperial
Majesty, from the General down to the private, are wor-
thy of the highest praise. They burn with ardour, and
are ready to die for your glory. "
The St. Petersburg journals officially announce
the appointment of Prince Paskiewitsch as com-
mander-in-chief of the armies of the Danube. The
ukase orders that Prince Gortschakoff shall act un-
der him as chief of the staff, except when he is not
present, and then Prince Gortschakoff is to exercise
the command-in-chief.