The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-21 00:00:00

LATEST FOREIGN NEWS.

--4

THE WAR.

RAISING THE SIEGE OF
SILISTRIA.
Advices from Silistria of the 16th state that the
siege had been raised.
A great part of the Russians had: recrossed the
Danue.
The relieving troops from Shumla had effected a
junrktion.
The following is from a Russian source :
" In the action on the 13th General Schilders re-
ceived a wound which rendered the amputation of
his left leg necessary, and Prince Gortschakoff re-
ceived a contusion.
" A Turkish brigade from Schumla succeeded in
entering the fortress on the 13th.
" General Grotenhjelm's division is said to have
defeated two Turkish brigades, with 6,000 cavalry
mut 40 guns."
Another despatch received via Vienna says that
on the 15th a sortie was made on all sides from
Silistria, and an expedition undertaken to the
Danubian island opposite the fortress, where the
Russian batteries and works were destroyed.
The Turks are constructing strand batteries on
the north side of the fortress, and the siege is
raised.
The Russians are retiring to the left bank of the
river, and their bridges are being broken up.
According to letters from Czernowitz, Marshal
Paskiewitch, much exhausted, reached Jassy on
the 16th.
Advices from Widdin, of the 18th of June, in
Lloyd, state that it is rumoured that the Turks
have taken Giurgevo, and that the Russians lost
400 men and nine guns.
Five Russian Generals are reported (according
to the Presse) killed or wounded in the affair of
the 13th before Silistria.
The same journal says that the garrison and
troops from Schumla, under Mehemed. Pacha, con-
pletely defeated the Russians.
General Liprandi has evacuated Slatina, and is
retiring with his division in the direction of
Piteschti.
The following has boon roooivod from 13,orlin
It is said that much disunion exists among the
Russian Generals at head-quarters, probably in-
duced by the ill success of the late operations.
The Turks have driven the Russians out of Tun.-
'tukai, which they have occupied with a strong
garrison, and have also strengthened the garrison
of Rustchuk.
The operations against S ilistria are said to have
been suspended.
General finders has been wounded, and General
Gortschakoff also, but both are said to be going on
well. The life of General Schilders is in danger.
Prince Paskiewitsch, who was on his road to
Jassy, is said to have been ordered to return and
take Silistria at any cost.
Another communication announces the arrival
of the Prince at Jassy. •
Advices from Orsova, of the 19th, state that
General Liprandi's division is returning from Sla-
tina and the Aluta, line to Slobodzie, for concen-
tration in Moldavia. This either menaces the
Transylvanian frontier, or covers the probable re-
treat from Silistria.
lIEItMANDSTADT, June 18.—The amputation of
General Schilders' leg has been successfully per-
formed.
KALARASCH.—Prince Gortschakoff is severely
wounded.
Operations against Silistria have been suspended
for the present.
The Russian troops are greatly disheartened.
The recovery of Count Orloff, junior, is hopeless.
The death of Mussa Pasha is confirmed.
The communications between Silistria and
Schumla are open on the eastern side.
The vanguard of the relieving forces co-operated
with the garrison in the affair of the 13th.
Two French staff-officers have been taken pri-
soners by the Russians.
The Wanderer of Vienna has the following from
Bucharest, 9th :—" Travellers who arrived yester-
day from Kalarasch, announce that a white flag
was flying on the walls of Silistria, and it was con-
cluded that the place had capitulated. The fact
was, however, soon explained. The late combats,
and particularly the explosion of the great mine
which the Russians had formed round the fortress,'
had caused so many deaths that the putrefaction of
the bodies was equally dangerous for Russians and
Turks. There had been, therefore, a momentary
truce for burying the dead. It was for this reason
that the white flag was displayed."
The following is another account of the attack on
the 29th of May
Seriumra, June 4.—The defence of Silistria con-
tinues most successfully. The defenders are covering
themselves with honour and glory. The attack of the
29th of May was most formidable. 30,000 men, divided
into three bodies of 10,000 each, advanced successively
on the felts of Jellani and Arab-Tabia, at one o'clock in
the morning of the 29th. This attack was very near
proving successful, and the Russians had already pene-
trated into one of the forts by the aid of scaling ladders.
The Turks, however, had in the meantime received
reinforcements, and they beat off the Russians, 150
of them being killed within the precincts of the fort.
" On the 31st, at break of day, a fresh attack which
the Russians made on the same forts was again re-
pulsed with the same gOod success. The Russians then
hoisted a flag of truce, demanding permission to remove
their dead. Country people were sent for this purpose
to the vicinity of the forts, and they say that the number
of dead exceeded 2,000. The Turks lost, in the attacks
of the 29th and 31st, 188 men, between killed and
wounded.
" A letter from Mr. Grack, the Prussian officer who
is in Silistria, announces the death of Mussa, Pacha, the
governor of Silistria, which occurred on the 2d of June,
at five o'clock (Turkish time). He was wounded by a
piece of grenade shell, which entered his left side, and
he died twelve minutes afterwards. This is a great loss
for everybody. Mehemed Pacha, 'Vizier, and Hussein
Pacha, replace him. The latter was wounded at the
battle of Oltenitza.
" On the evening the 2d of June the Russians exploded
a mine beneath one of the batteries of the Arab-Tabia
forts. The Turks, had however, discovered what they
were about, and had taken their measures accordingly.
The mine was badly primed, and instead of causing harm
to the defenders, it reacted, and killed 300 or 400 Rus-
sians,
forming part of one of the attacking column which
were in readineA to give the assault by the breach
which it was expected would be made by the springing
of the mine. The Turks then made a sortie, and lost
eight men. The Russians have been most unfortunate
in these attacks. According to Mr. Grack, 2,000 Rus-
sian dead bodies were taken from the ground surround.
ing the forts, and on the whole their loss is estimated
at 5,000 killed and wounded. Captains Nasmyth and
Butler aro still in Silistria, and render great service ;
they have much distinguished themselves."