The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-05 00:00:00

THE WAR IN THE EAST.

Trustworthy accounts from St. Petersburg state
that the war is very unpopular amongst the mer-
cantile classes, and that, in consequence of this
feeling, an order had been issued forbidding the
assembling in the streets of groups consisting of
more than two persons. _ _

According to reliable information from Berlin,
the Czar's message to the King of Prussia contains
no tangible concession to Europe. It is chiefly a
justification of Russia, and concludes with an in-
timation that the Western Powers may obtain
for him from Turkey redress of the wrongs of
which he complains, if they wish him to make
a peace.
Letters from Warsaw of the 24th ult. state that
a very depressed state of feeling prevails there,
notwithstanding the carnival with its attendant
pleasures has been ushered in as usual. All trade
is at a stand still ; Prussia's conduct excites amaze-
ment. The old Russian party views this power
with great mistrust, and it seems in their eyes as
something perfectly astounding that Prussia should
remain even neutral—that she should not instantly
join the Emperor.

OCCUPATION OF THE DOBRUDJA BY THE

RUSSIANS.

From Vienna the telegraph announces that Omer
,Pacha had anticipated the Russian advance into
the Dobrudja ; and that the Ottoman force there
was falling back, according to orders, upon Trajan's
wall, which is well fortified, and where the Russians
will have to encounter about 60,000 Turks.
The Independance Beige says :—" It is now posi-
tively certain that while the Russians were cross-

ins the Danube, five Russian steamers from Sebas-
topol, after having touched at Odessa, succeeded
in disembarking 4,000 soldiers on the island of
Dunavetz, on the Dobrudja, at the entrance of the
St. George's mouth of the Danube. Having ac-

complished this service the five Russian steamers
regained the port of Odessa."
Dunavetz is within two days' march of Babadagh,
so that the Russians, by the aid of their ships,
which it was understood Admiral Dundas had been
commissioned to blockade, have been able to ad-
vance upon that important position without so
much as the trouble of crossing the Danube.
The Soldier's Friend, au Austrian journal, pub-
lishes the following on the passage of the Danube
by the Russians :
"On the 10th ult., Prince Gortschakoff received from
St. Petersburg the order not to confine himself to the
defensive, but to take the offensive, in order to cause
the Russian army to occupy on the right bank of the
Danube the strategic points which may serve as a
pivot when the army shal advance further into the
territory of the enemy. To this category belongs in-
contestably the position between Matchin, Isatcha, and
Babadagh, because, being on the heights which unite
those three places, it is perfectly calculated to defend
the flanks of Wallachia, but it is clear that it sup-
poses the possession of the tetes de pont of Braila and
Galatz, strategic points of greatimportance, which on that
account have been put in a state of redoubtable defence
by the Russians. In the Turco-Russian wars of the pre-
ceding century, the Turkish generals always occupied
the Dobrudja, with their principal forces, and on the
heights of Babadagh they were almost invincible. Omer
Paella has acted differently. He has thrown himself
with the main body of his troops into Widdin and Kala-
fat. He has not thought of occupying the Dobrudja,
with large forces, although that important position is on
the line of retreat of the Russian army which is in Wal-
lachia, and although General Luders has concentrated a
good many troops at Braila and Galatz. The Turkish
general-in-chief has confided to Mustapha Pacha the
defence of this spot, which is so important for the
army of operations on the Danube, but' he has only
given him ten battalions of Nizam, eight battalions of
Redifs, 2,600 baschibozuks, and 4,000 cavalry, with
forty-eight guns. These forces are evidently insuffi-
cient for the defence of such an important posi-
tion. It is true that Mustapha Pacha has partially re-
paired the fortifications which the Russians formerly de-
molished, because they had seen the importance of them,
but he insisted on reinforcements of troops and cannon
being sent to him. Omer Pacha was obliged to send him
three months ago 6009 men, who arrived at their desti-
nation. The officers of the general English and French
staff, who are making at Schumla preparations for the
plans of operation of the auxiliary troops, have more
correctly recognised the importance of this position,
and assuredly the French troops would have com-
menced their operations, by possessing themselves of the
Dobrudja, if the Russians had not prevented them.
With the few troops of wGich he disposes, Mustapha
Pasha will find it difficult to prevent the Russians from
occupying that peninsula. In the morning of the 23d,
protected by 21 pieces of 12, and 6 of 18, the latter
threw over a bridge near Braila, an operation in which
they were but little disquieted by the Dirks. At 1 o'clock
• in the afternoon, the Russian columns placed themselves
in movement, and marched until a late hour in the night,
when they bivouacked between Gedschid and Matcilin.
This passage of the river was executed with great pre-
cision, under the personal command of PrinccGortschakolf.
At the same time, General Luders, after having thrown a
• second bridge near Galatz, also passed the river, amidst
discharges of artillery, with the 29th and 30th light in-
: fantry regiments, the infantry regiments Modlin and
Bragasch, the artillery, and cavalry. Mustapha Pacha
l is trying to concentrate his troops at Babadagh ; but as
; this position is 12 German miles distant from Trajan's
rampart, it is probable that the Russians will have ar-
, rived before him. Turkish battalions have been sent in
, , all haste from Silistria and Basardschik to Karassou,
to defend the said rampart."
On this article the Constitationnel remarks
We have no need to say that we do not accept for
our part the strategic reasons of the Soldier's Friend.
The future will show if Omer Pacha had not his reasons
for not causing the positions opposite the Russians on the
Lower Danube to be more strongly occupied."
The combined fleets have entered the Black Sea.