The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-22 00:00:00

ST. PETERSBURG.

Letters from the frontiers of Russia say that the
Russian Government, having hitherto affected to
consider the neutrality of Austria and Prussia as
an ascertained fact, is now obliged to let its doubts
and fears become visible. A new levy of 11 men
upon every 1,000 of population is spoken of, to
correspond with the mobilisation by Austria of its
Hungarian contingent, in order to facilitate the
formation of an army on the Gallician frontier.
It was known at St: Petersburg that reliancs
could no longer be placed upon the neutrality of
Germany, and the Cabinet was quite conscious of
the serious position of affairs.
The news from Finland continues to be very
melancholy. The whole country is already nearly
ruined, and starvation stares the peasantry in the
face. Their corn has been seized for the army ;
not even seed-corn has been left tlfem ; and they
have been paid in worthless assignats. Their horses
and cattle are emple.v ed for military transports,
and themselves fear every illegality. The cruelties
practised on the unfortunate Alanders show what
they have to expect. Prices are rising every day ;
no raw material exists for the handicraftsmen and
manufacturers. Last year the harvest was very
poor ; this year their barns are plundered, and
their homes filled with Cossacks. The precious
Metals have been removed from the Finnish Bank in
Helsingfors, and have been deposited "for safety" in
St. Petersburg, the whole country being thus plun-
dered and made bankrupt at one blow. The in-
habitants are flying from that town as quickly. as
possible, fearing a bombardment. The University
library is transported into the interior, and the
archives aro similarly secured. But the most ter-
rible news is behind. Runeberg, the greatest
living poet in Christendom—Runeberg, the idol of
all the northern nations, the scald of his country
and of freedom, as far as the Russian censorship
permitted—has disappeared. He has been sent to
Siberia, or transferred to the interior of Russia.
His family is inconsolable.

The Cologne Gazette, under date of St. Peters-
burg, 9th says :—" The Emperor has just decided
on the manner of estimating the rate of prize
money to be paid for the capture of the enemy's
vessels. Ships of the line, frigates, and steam cor-
vettes, are to be estimated at double their ordi-
nary value, and steamers smaller than corvettes,
at their ordinary value. Steam vessels burnt or
sunk will be estimated according to the number of
guns which shall be taken."

THE DANUBE.
A letter from Orsowa states that the Turks have
completed a third rampart before Kalafat, so that
the Russians if they wished to attack that place,
would be obliged to take three lines of well-de-
fended works before they could reach the fortifica-
tions of Kalafat itself.
The Dresden Gazette, under date of Bucharest,
Bth, says :_c, Orders have been given to raise for-
tifications at this place, principally on the- north
side, with a view, as it would appear, to secure the
town against a surprise from the enemy. The 3,000

purchasel some time since fur p(intons, are to
be converted into paliSades for these works."

THE DOBRUDSCELA..
The following is Omer Pacha's official report o
the passage of the Danube by the Russians :

TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE SERASKIEE.
(Translation )
A Russian corps (Parolee, supported by all the available
forces in the vicinity of Galatz, effected successfully, on the
30th Rebrulachir, the passage of the Danube, notwithstand-
ing the valiant resistance of our small force, and is now*
stationed on the right bank. Our strength haiing been,
owing to the force of circumstances, divided on several
points, and that of the enemy overwhelming, I deemed it
expedient to transmit without delay orders to Mustapha
Pacha to concentrate the troops at Nazalkais, intirsova,
Tassactchi, and others, and fall back in good order, as
might best be done, in the direction of Karasou. I waS
apprised, moreover, the 6th corps of the army of Bessa-
rabia was also advancing with two divisions of infantry and
one of cavalry from the Principalities in suppoit of the
enemy'samovement. Under these circumstances, convinced
of the impossibility of resisting such a powerful force with
any chance of success, I considered it indispensable to direct
all my attention to our head-quarters at Schumla, and there
muster the available strength of our extended lines. All
idea, therefore, of advancing to attack the enemy at gars-
sou with forces unequal to the occasion, and whereby
Schumla would have been necessarily left without suffi-
cient defences, has been abandoned. Accordingly, I have
forwarded orders to Miistapha Pacha, to relinquish that
position and join me with the troops under his command.
Si milar instructions have also been transmitted to other
points of our lines, so as to concentrate here as much sa;
possible our available strength, and meet the enemy ere
long in a pitched battle.
Redjeb, 2d, Schumla.

(Signed) OKEIt•
A different version of Omer Pacha's ;report i*
given by the Moniteur :
"The Russians, supported by considerable forces which
they have on the banks of the river, and disposing of a great
'number of boats, advanced with a numerous body of troops
on three points at onco—Pot-Bachi, which is lower than
Slatschin; Tchatal Bournou above Tultscha, and at another
point below that town. Our troops fought, and displayed
the most extraordinary courage; so much so that a Russian
regiment, which first attacked the battery of Tchatal, Wee
completely annihilated, not a single man remaining. Tyr*
other battalions sent to its support experienced nearly a
similar fate, but the battery being soon afterwards Ai'
tacked by 15 battalions at the same time, was taken. The
Russian troops dir cted, on Pot-Bachi were three times
driven back at the point of the bayonet, and lost more
than 1,000 men. Six pieces of cannon which had been
brought by them from this side of the river could not be
taken by our troops, and remained on the ground until
the evening, being unapproachable in consequence of the
cross fire of our batteries, of the enemy's artillery, and of,
their gun-boats. Our batteries having been placed by the •
fire of heavy ordnance in such a state that they were nO'
longer tenable by our troops, the firing ceased on both sides,
After a combat which lasted more than4B hours without ces-
sation, that is to say, after our troops had supported for two
days and two nights, not only the fire of the enemy's gun'
boats, but also that of 25 pieces of artillery, and, two mortals,
placed on the island, and in the batteries on the bank of
the river. Some hours afterwards, and during the night,
our troops retired with their artillery. The IDussians have
been, as above stated, defeated in three places, and bar
had an extraordinary number of men killed. ; but their
forces were very considerable on the river and ion land, and
on the other hand our corps were too far from each other
to give mutual support, and It is for that reason that our
troops returned to Karasou agreeably to instrutltions which
had been given to them."
We are in almost daily receipt of intelligence frons
the Danube, says a Constantinople letter of the 10th
inst., and all our letters bear testimony to the
astonishing bravery of two Turkish battaliions, which
resisted at the point of the bayonet the passage c£.
the stream by an overwhelming Russian force. The
.onslaught of this devoted little baud was e .o obstinate
and terrific that the enemy's gunboats were core'
palled, as a last resource to exterminate,it, indiscri-
minately and brutally, with a large body of their
own troops by a storm of grape and mum ketry. The
loss of the Russians in effecting the passage of the
Danube, including drowned, killed am 1 wounded,
amounts, it is said, to nearly eight thou isand 'meth,
That of the Turks has also, it is und.ere stood, been
very severe, and of the two battalions above men"
mentioned in the foremost ranks three'poor fellows
are all that remain to tell the tale. 'Jibe. Russians
are now encamped on the northern points of the
Dobrudscha territory. Those plains are 'now, it i 4
said, a scene- of ruin and desolation : the
inhabitants fled, the villages deserted, the eittt4
novalia and labours of industry all at th .e mercy of
those barbarous hordes. Their planS of.furt4cf
operations will necessarily combine to reach
all possible haste the foot of the Balkan ; bub
whether this may be effected or not with out a deer
sive action and the utter destruction of Or vier Paolo:*
army is, of course, a difficult matter to determine'
You will perceive by the brief and evidently
complete report of the Commander-in- Chief ths''
he is awaiting the enemy with all hii; availahl*
strength at Slaumla. Should the force of Europeslt
tactics, but above all- the skill of a xperiener,
officers, prevail in this last struggle over the wed'
known valour of the Turkish troops, it is impow"
sible to calculate the deplorable results of such
catastrophe. Meantime,, the Anglo-Pi each fore*
is lingering on the way, and the comma riders hai 0*
this quetting and speech-making in every locality,
this most critical conjuncture. It is really depl-cr;
able, inexplicable, and a fatality seems to hard
favoured the aggressor ,in every phase of this Ull.
just quarrel.
Other letters give a very gloomy account of O.
state of things in the Dobrudscha.
The following is from a French naval officer'
dated Varna,, April 2 : •
" The squadron continues at Kavarna, but :several of Of
have been staying in this place for the last Xve days.
am sorry to say the Turks have been most '; dreadfolu
beaten ; their loss must be considerable. Thee day befor.
yesterday 70 waggons with the wounded were brought Di
here, and we expect as many more to-morrow, The Ito!,
pitals are so crowded that the unfortunate fellows sgr
lodged in private houses. •
" Yesterday it was reported here, but I knew .v not
what truth, that the Turks had been again ben.; ten near 0
the Balkan.
" Should the Russians make a push on Varna, notbiq
can prevent them from getting possession of it. It
badly fortified, and has only a garrison of about 2,000:' We"'
whereas to defend it for any length of time, it
would '•
quire at least 2000.
" I am informed that 11 battalions have left .;clilv3l4l.s to support Selim Pacha, and that Ismail Pacha
is a ,clartanow'
for the same phrpose with 8 battalions.
" The Cacique, Magellan, and two English steam lora
cruising at the mouths of the Danube, with orderi
to 'T4",!
or burn all the Russian ships and boats they can e aptare•
A Constantinople letter of April 10 says ::
" The news we have received leaves no longer as my doelbor
that we have been beaten, and that to the adonis: hmoUt,,
everbody Omer Pacha has taken no measures to. stop ~,
triumphal march of the Russians. It is true the ,l; he is '""
constant communication with the ministers, but'. his IE4O
and despatches are kept a profound secret. Had itlhey ba"
favourable, be assured they would -be made pub] c. _s
only salvation is in the allied troops, they and t hey oaf_
can prevent the Russians from crossing the Balkan i..
alas, where are these promised friends ? Not at ( ;onstel,
tinople nor in the Dardanelles, for surely the few h nuAre'
of men at Gallipoli cannot be called effective pro tectili
We are told that the allied army will be at least 50,,0vi,
strong ; the Turks will believe it' when they see 'it.
cannot, however, be denied that there must be or
neglect somewhere, and great responsibility will h, are ""
be borne by those who have so grossly deceived the „
by first pushing them into a war and then giving thesil -
sort of negative assistance. ,
" Omer Pacha has withdrawn his troops from Selitnal P/".;
„
and abandoned Matchin, which place the Russians Gee
",
pied, and got possession of several pieces of cannon and -
considerable quantity of ammunition and provisions.
" The provinces have not suffered half so much °-
the Russians as they have from the Bachi.bazouks (4
Turkish irregular troops), who have burnt and pilla.x „
several towns and cities, after murdering their Christian I
habitants. Omer Pacha has done, and continues to d
everything he can to get rid of these vagabonds ; but
to be feared that, driven from the army, they would . v
over to the Rusians.
" The Turkish army in Natolu is in a state of compre
demoralisation. The typhus is committing great ravage 0"
and the want of money to pay them has caused the men I
openly revolt, and many to desert."

A French officer says :
"This time you will receive bad news, and should og 0
army delay much longer its arrival, it is all up with al 0)
.Turks. lam informed, almost ofacially, theyhave latet
lost 3,000 men."

The passage of the Russians across the Danube 0
Tultsha, says the Transylvanian Messenger, was
follows:—"On the 23d ult., at five in the morZ
ing, the Turkish strand battery near' Csatal
attacked by a heavy cannonade from two Russia ;d
steamers and 16 gun-boats, and then by the Ru
sian battery opposite. The fire was a very hot 01 to
on both sides till ten o'clock, when it began ' 0
slacken. About noon the Russians began to cro
in boats below the Turkish battery, landed 900 i °();
fantry on the Turkish bank in the Gerla, unci
,0
the fire of the Turkish guns, and when the passai 3
was thus covered, a bridge was promptly throw is
across, over which passed the whole Ussakoff , 70
sion, about 16,000 strong, including two regimel '
of cavalry. The Turks had regular infantry?
number of Buzuk Basi, and also Tartars with cavai "do,
and a few guns. The Russians were at once i
ceived with a violent musketry fire that lasted 1
late in the night. The Turks, hoping to receir .
reinforcement from Isaktsha, so as not to lose t
10,
battery, fought with such fury that the Russial
,t 0
who were crowded in the Gerla, and fired on frc
be
the battery, from four cavalry guns, and from .
Turkish sharpshooters, all at once, could not d 0
ploy. The Russians did'not succeed till midnigli. I:-
and then only by making a heavy sacrifice, in 1".9" r
ing the battery by storm. At the storming t, , f
made 90 of the defenders prisoners, Col. Ali .
being one of theta, and sent 'them off to Isn 11;
Sadik Pacha, commanding the volunteers,
was formerly known by the name of Czaikov
being found to be among the prisoners, .17:0
put to death in cold blood by the Russ-LI;
on the spot. The Turkish regulars fought IvLd
uncommon gallantry, but the Buzuk Basi
the Tartars soon took to their heels, with 1517
Pacha and Khan Murza Bey. The loss on I)(7is 5
sides was very great. The retreat of the Tur4,
from the town was effected with, cool precision
spite of the dangers that threatened from so ID
quarters. A number of thieves got in along Nv_i. ee
the Rdssians, and when the Russian troops c
hP",
out agar from the town in order to go into t

cam/
sprez
The

ther(

seize
at th

searsa
theb
of
Turk
• they
'and t
their
the 111

afugi
tvidant
Was
kid
touch
They I
benople
fah
lhe
liee,
pa
*mem(
of the
't6. II(
eoroe
- legged
ci
ietered
6 grea
Peire

~~~

As fa,
mOl

Tgk

, ktt
' Wit

I '.

is, are to

•eport o

3:

available
lly, on the
withstand-
id is now
ving, been,
on several
deemed it
Mustapha
, llirsova,
order, as
mi. I was
y of Besse-
fantry and
poi t of the
convinced
force with
le to direct
, and there
lines. Alf
y at Kare-
-1 whereby
thout sufil-
;ly, I have
(pleb that
command.
d to other
is much 'aS
enemy Ore

OirEs.

;report is

nes which
of a great
ly of troops
lower than
at another
displayed
t a Russian
3hatal, was
ning. Ty.*
ad nearly a
arwards at-
taken. The
three time*
I lost more
i had been
mild not be
round until
pace of the
PIT, and of
!ced the •
ey were 0'
both sides,
vithout as-
rtecl for two
,nemy's gun'
two mortar*
be bank of
the night,
widens have
3, and have
; but their
land, and

each Other
on that our
;dons which

gence frons
of the 10th
up to the
ions, which
passage Of
force. Tho
o obstinate
were con?'
it, indiscr?'-
dy of their
ketry. The
sage of the
1 wounded,
Lsand 'men•
Mood, been
,hove men'
loor felloWf
Russians
lints of the
'now, it 14
ion : tl:4

the cit/t4
e mercyof
of,further
o reach is
llcan ; buS
out a deci"
ner Pachio
determine
*dently in'
Chief 013
ti available
Europe
xperienovh
Pr the wed'
is irokor
of such
ench faro.
nders ball:
locality, 9'll
ally deplor'
ns to hale
of this ilzr

'ant of th•

officer,

several of tif
lave days. s'
1'; dreatifill/
t day befol4
brought
The liar
:fellows 110

r 1 sr not
71:. ten near w

na, &Ohio% ,
' it. It
2,000 e OW'
it would re'

•
ft F.;ch-ulO
1t!...,
~v a Elvantloy

esn ier3,3r.
itrn 3 to WV
n c apture•

8
:111 iy doubo'r
nia hment
to, stop tF.,,"
heti, he is I",
t` Ilia letter
klney blO
Lb] 'ie. Ouri,
I t bey VW
leant_ E;O4
It (;oust 4,.511'
h utnclfro"
pro teal
east 50,4 Uri
see 'it. )"
. 1
cr
ill 12, we,
the '-rui
ng ther.

L Sehunst
sians OCR 'lO
non and
lions.
much ..fr
zouks (% ra
d pillas. ,
tristian 11
es to d
; but it
~„;°
would . V

c,omph to
t rants'
men I

[lonia of r
with th
live later