The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-27 00:00:00

THE DANUBE.

The last accounts from the banks of the Danube
describe the Russian army in the Dobrudscha as
suffering considerably from sickness. Entire com-
panies were daily carried off by dysentery, and the
mortality was so great in several newly arrived
regiments that they were ordered to recross the
Danube.

The Moniteur says :---
"We have received fresh intelligence relative to the
passage of the Danube by the Russian troops. It con-
firms fully the details given by Omer Pacha in his report
to the Ottoman Government. The flotilla and numerous
transports, of which the Russians could dispose, enabled
them to cross the river in three places, at Port-Bachi,
below Matchin, at Schatal-Bournou, above Taulcha, and
on a third point below that town. The Russians attacked
with vigour the fortifications raised on the first points.
One of their regiments sent in the first instance
against the position of Tchatal-Bournou disappeared to
the last man. Two battalions, afterwards sent for-
ward, were nearly destroyed in totality, and it was
found necessary to send 15 battalions to carry the
entrenchments. The Russian troops, charged to seize
on Pot-Bachi, were three times repulsed at the point of
the bayonet, and left 1,000 men on the ground. The
Turkish battery dismounted three guns brought by the
Russians. The heavy fire of the opposite bank did not
allow the Turks to carry them off, and the pieces re-
mained until the evening on the field of battle. The
Turks held their positions for 48 hours, fighting without
any cessation, exposed to the fire of the gun-boats, of
25 guns of large calibre, and of two mortars, placed on
the island and on the opposite bank. The Turks eva-
cuated the place after having fired their last cartridge,
carrying off their cannons and falling back on Karassu.
This movement was in conformity with the formal or-
ders of the general-in-chief ; but before quitting their
positions in obedience to these orders, it is evident that
the Turks gave the enemy new and brilliant proofs of
their bravery."
A letter from Bucharest, of the 15th, in the Post
Anspt Gazette of Frankfort, says :—" It is stated
that a slight skirmish has taken place between
some Cossacks and some English marines, who had
landed to give assistance to some wounded Turks.
The Belgian Consul, who for some time past has
been charged with the protection of French and
Belgian subjects, has received orders from the
Belgian Envoy at Constantinople to suspend his
functions and strike his flag. The Russians have,
it is said, commenced the siege of Silistria. M.
Anrey, Director of the General Consulate of France,
left Wallachia on the 9th, and proceeded to Cron-
stadt, in Transylvania. He will wait at Herr-
maustadt for orders from his ambassador. Mr.
Grant, the director of the English consulate, and
M. Johannides, the vice-consul at Giurgevo, left
on the 10th. The order for, expelling the French
and English was withdrawn on hearing that the
Emperor of the French and Queen Victoria had
permitted Russian subjects to remain in their re-
spective countries. General Deprandi is waiting
for orders from St. Petersburg to cross the Danube
near Kalafat."

From Krajova, of the 10th, we learn that the
Russians are fortifying the road leading from Sla-
tina towards the Danube, and which runs between
the Badea and the Aluta at three several points.
The Turks had collected an immense quantity of
sailing vessels, barques, and gunboats at the ford
or passage of Columenda, near Nicopoli ; and had
also constructed two batteries there of guns of the
heaviest calibre. The Russians had fortified the
opposite side of this ford or shallow in an equally
imposing manner. Cannonades were taking place
daily from both sides. A field hospital for 2,000
patients had been formed at Plojeschti. News of
the 14th from the seat of war (says the Lloyd) men-
tions that the Turks are still very actively engaged
with their fortifications on the island near Nico-
poli ; whence people infer that they are seriously
meditating a passage of the Danube at that point.
Everything shows great activity at Kalafat. It is
also stated as a fact that English and French troops
ware landed at Varna on the 10th.