The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-03 00:00:00

MOVEMENTS ON THE BESSARABIAN

FRONTIER.

The movements of the Turkish and Russian forces on
the Bessarabian frontier deserve more attention than is
being paid to them at present in the west of Europe.
According to the most recent ]esters from Odessa and
St. Petersburg, the Russian Government are apprehen-
sive that as soon as the Crimea has been occupied, a si-
multaneous advance will be made by the allies into Bes-
sarabia and the Government of Kherson. No great pre-
parations appear to be making for the defence of Odessa
—perhaps reliance is placod upon the difficulty which
any invading force would find, even after capturing that
town, in. advancing across the steppes behind it into the
interior. But considerable efforts appear to be made to
resist any attack from the side of Bessarabia. The
souihern boundary of Bessarabia—about 100 English
miles in length—is formed by the main stream of the
Danube from Reni to some miles above Tultscha
(about 40 English miles, and thence to the sea by the
St. George Branch of that river. The western boun-
dary of the province —at least of that part of it
with which we have at present to deal —is formed
by the Pruth. Galatz, in Wallachia, is situated on
the left bank of the Danube some ten or twelve
miles above Rent—at the elbow where the river, ceasing
to flow from south to north, turns its coast to the east.
Ibraila, in Moldavia—also on the left bank of the
Danube—is about a score of miles to the south of
Galatz. On the Turkish bank of the Danube are
Tultscha, nearly opposite the apex of the Delta, and
Isaktchi, some 20 or 30 English miles further up—both
close to the river. About 40 English miles below Reni
and 60 from the sea, the Kilia branch of the Danube
separates from that which a little lower down divides
into the Sulina and St. George branches, and flows for
some 20 miles directly to the noith. It then pursues
an eastern course to the sea. Nearly at the bend is
Ismail, and in its immediate neighbourhood Tutschkow.
Reni is in Bessarabia, and occupies the angle formed
by the meeting of the Pruth and Danube. It is about
30 English miles west of Ismail in a direct line. Be-
tween Reni and Ismail are two large marshy lakes
communicating with the Danube ; a third of the same
character is a short way to the east of thi_se places. It
will be fresh in the recollection of our readers that
the Western Powers have wrung from Austria a re-
luctant consent to allow the Turks and their allies
to occupy Ibraila and Galatz, and to advance from
those places, if they see fit, against the Russian fron-
tier. Availing themselves of this liberty, Turkish troops
have occupied both places, and the advance guard of
their army has been pushed on to the right bank of
the Pruth opposite Reni. Batteries are being thrown.
up there by the Turks, and the defences of Galatz and
Ibraila are being strengthened. Great exertions are
likewise made to strengthen the works of Isaktchi and
Tultscha, both of which places are being strongly gar-
risoned. A reserve of 30,000 men, stationed at Hirsova,
about 30 0r440 English miles below the point at which
the Roman wall abuts on the Danube, are held as re-
serve in readiness to support these advanced posts. It
is also stated that a body of troops has been drawn to-
gether at Babadag, in the Dobrudscha, south of Tult-
scha, on the western shore of lake Razin. Within this
short time additional Turkish troops have been inces-
santly marched into the Dobrudscha. The Turkish
corps d'armi (which had been marched into Wallachia
has recrossed the Danube at Giurgevo and Rustchuk ;
it has there met with troops which have descended the
Danube from Widdin and the intermediate towns, or
crossed Rou'nelia from the Greek frontier. These forces
are being directed in two streams —one upon Varna
to be embarked for the Crime.►, the other into the
Dobrudscha. With regard to the immediate destina-
tion of the Turkish troops in the Dobrudscha, at
Ibraila and Galatz, and on the Lowe: Pruth, we
know nothing more than is to be gleaned from the
electric telegraph despatch from llermannstadt wh:cli
we published last week, intimating that Omer
Pacha's army was in full march to the Bessara-
bian frontier, and that the Pacha, himself was to
take the field on Thursday last. The Russians on
their side of the frostier have some 6,000 men in Reni ;
the rest of the army withdrawn fromithe Principalities
and the troops previously in Bessarabia, with the excep-
tion of some that have been despatched to reinforce the
garrison of Odessa, are said to be concentrated behind
Ismail and Tutschkow. A Turkish reconnaissance
which crossed the Danube on the 19th ult., and was
pushed up to the very walls of Tutschkow, met with no
Russian soldiers in advance of that town. The Russian
flotilla of the Danube has been withdrawn into the har-
bour of Ismail, and the fortifications of that place are
being strengthened. General Luders has for the pre-
sent established his head-quarters at Tutschkow ;
Lieutenant-General Lochner, an experienced engineer,
has been appointed Governor of Ismail. Prince Gorts-
chakoff divides his attention between the army concen-
trated round Ismail and Odessa ; at the latter place
General Osten-Sacken continues to hold command. It
is symptomatic of the state of feeling among the Rus-
sian commanders on the Bessarabian lines, that the
utmost efforts are being made to strengthen the fortifi-
cations of Kiew in their rear. This looks like a pre-
paration to fall back on the line of the Dnieper, leaving
Odessa, Nicholaiev, Ismail, and the immediate adjoin-
ing country and towns to be occupied by the allies.—
Daily News.