The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-27 00:00:00

Li NT EST FO R E IGN NE WS,

THE WAR.

CONSTANTINOPLE.

A letter from Constantinople of July 15, says :
The following news has been received by express
from Omer Pacha :—" The despatches of Hassan
Haki Pacha, commanding the body of troops at
Rutschuk, announce that after the victory gained
at Kama by the Ottoman troops over the Russians,
the latter retreated the night after the battle of
Slaposia and Giurgevo. Ali Pacha, brigadier-
general, was sent with a sufficient force to take
possession of those towns. The Turks hoisted the
Imperial banner immediately on entering, firing a
salute of 21 guns to celebrate the event. The
general immediately gave the inhabitants of the
towns every assurance of his protection, and ordered
fortifications to be thrown up forthwith."
The following brief note has been received from
a military officer at Silistria

" SILISTRIA, July 4.—Nothing new of import-
ance. lam busy sketching out a plan. The
Turks are drawing together. The great camp
at Kalarasch is hourly diminishing. General
Ludcrs still occupies it with two divisions."
July 5. The Russians who were encamped in front
of us have for the most part disappeared. There
(ally remain there now from 12,000 to 15,000 men.
Where are they gone to ? Instead of proceeding
to the Pruth, I rather suspect they are going
against Austria. Here all is very quiet."
Lieutenant Burke, R.E., Captain Meynell, and
another English gentleman whose name is not
ascertained, were killed in the action near Ruts-
chuk.

The subject which at present most interests all
persons taking an interest in politics—and who does
not do so now, and especially at Constantinople?—
is the position assumed by Austria towards Russia.
According to accounts brought here yesterday from
Vienna by the Ottoman Secretary of Legation, M.
Stella, it would appear that the Emperor Nicholas
has given the bearers of the Austrian ultimatum
for the evacuation of the principalities an answer
well in keeping with his reputation for haughty
daring. On receiving them he is stated to have
told them, that if their Emperor wanted war he
should have it, but that neither he or their young
master would, in all probability, see the end of it.
In the meanwhile the success of the Turkish arms
has thrown a shadow over the exploits of the Rus-,
sian generals, which will not be easily wiped out.
Their prestige is done for.
It will be remembered that some weeks since the
disappearance of an English soldier at 6cutari
created a great sensation here. Two Montenegrins
have been arrested at Uukiar-Skelessi by the Turk-
ish police. In the. house in which they were con-
cealed the complete uniform of a British soldier
was found, and there seems to be no doubt that
the unfortunate man was murdered by them.
These men are in prison, but have as yet obsti-
nately denied the charge. The matter has been
referred to Lord Raglan.

The late Captain Parker's ship Firebrand is still
here, but will return to the Black Sea to-morrow.

EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS AT ODESSA.

A despatch from Maita says the exchange of
180 officers and sailors lately forming the crew of
the Tiger had to ken place at Odessa, but unfortu-
nately the number of Russians to be exchanged fell
short of the English by 30, and accordingly so
many of the crew of the Tiger remained in cap-
tivity.
_ _

Aavices from Odessa report that after the ex-
change of the crew three steamers of the fleet
opened a fire on the wreck of the Tiger and on the
forces of the enemy near it—the Russians being
busily engaged in recovering from the wreck
various munitions of war.