The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-27 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

We learn byelectric telegraph dated Brussels, yes-
,erday, that a skirmish on the Danube is reported
from Vienna. Turkey prohibits corn export. Greece
allows free import.
19.—N0 fleet at Constantinople.
Omar Pasha's aide-de-camp, who was sent to
Giurgevo to notify the declaration of war, has re-
turned to Rustchuk, after a stay of eight days, to
the Russian head-quarters.
The Turkish fortresses on the Danube are in
excellent condition.
A letter from St. Petersburg, of the 17th, an-
nounces that in consequence of the declaration of
war on the part of Russia, prayers were ordered to
be offered up in all the Greek churches, to call
down the protection of Heaven on the arms of the
Czar. It is on this plan that the Emperor has
acted since the outset, in order to produce an effect
on the mind of the Greek populations.
More than one German paper, it appears, con-
tains the following paragraph, as a despatch from
Vienna of the 22d :
" The army of Omar Pasha, which could be kept back
no longer, has passed the Danube, and beaten the Rus-
sians near Oltenitza. The Russian vessels on the Da-
nube have fallen into the hands of the Turks."
It is, possible, nay probable, that some skirmish-
ing may have taken place, but even of this there
is no positive or trustworthy intelligence.
Accounts from Constantinople of Oct. 13. state
that the all engrossing topic of the hour is the ex-
pected arrival of the squadrons from Besika Bay.'
Although this event has not yet occurred, there is
no doubt that [the British and French flags will
soon be in sight of the Golden Horn. In the treaty
with Russia, which excludes the ships of war of
foreign nations from passing the Dardanelles,
there occurs the clause, "as long as the Porte is
at peace." As soon therefore as hostilities com-
mence the squadrons can enter the Bosphorus
without any violation of the treaty, and we believe
that it is the intention of the Ambassadors to re-
frain from calling them up until the occurrence of
war, a delay but of a few days.
The Russians have very recently formed an army
of reserve at Redout Kaleh, on the eastern coast of
the Black Sea. On Tchechen, anisland lately ceded
by the Persians, close to Astrabad, on the Caspian,
they have landed 20,000 men, and at Tiflis they
have a large corps d'armee under General Arkou-
dinski Dolgorouki. From Tiflis there is a military
road leading through the country of the Chetchi,
and intersecting Circassia and Daghestan. This
military road is a most important strategic point,
and is the only way through the mountains of Cir-
cassia. In case of war a Turkish army will march
from Karas upon Tiflis, while the Circassians from
the west and the Daghestanlis from the east, will
endeavour to keep in check the Russian armies of
Redout Kaleh and the island of Tchechen, and at
the same. time to cut off communication by the
military road of Tiflis, and to raise the tribes
of the ill-subjected country of the Chetchi. On
the north of the Circassian range there are two
Russian corps d'armee commanded by General Bari-
atouski and General Bagration, under the supreme
command of Prince Woronzoff. It is supposed that
the Turks will be able to blockade the ports of
Redout Kaleh and Sutchem Kaleh, on the eastern
coast of the Black Sea, and that the Russians will
not attempt to meet them there. It is true that
the north winds at this time of the year render the
navigation of that port excessively dangerous, and
that the harbours of refuge are few and unsafe, ex-
cepting the port of Batoum, lying close to the
Russian frontier, and which can always serve as a
place of refuge to the Turkish fleet. We may ob-
serve, by the way, that Batoum is likely to play
an important part in the war, and that Lord Mal-
mesbury's policy in discontinuing our Vice-Con-
sulate there was rather untimely.
General Guyon, of Hungarian celebrity, has been
sent to the Asiatic frontier as Lieutenant-General,
and Sefer Bey, the celebrated Circassian Chief (so
long kept in confinement in Adrianople at the in-
stigation of Russia), has been already set at liberty,
and sent to his native mountains to lead his warlike
clans against their old enemy.
We hear from Persia that the army at Sultanieh
is already disbanded, the Persians having declared
that it was assembled merely to be exercised in mi-
litary evolutions, and that nothing hostile against
Turkey is intended. Little reliance can, however,
be placed on the professions of Persia, since the
disputes between these two Powers concerning the
frontier question are always of sufficient gravity to
keep up a constant irritation.
An active propagandism has begun in Greece and
Thessaly, with the view of establishing a Greek
State on the ruins of the Ottoman Empire. Emis-
saries are working in all parts to raise sub-
scriptions with this view, and we have it on good
authority that 30,0001. have already been raised by
the Philhellenists within the Ottoman Empire.
The state of Constantinople continues as usual.
A thousand rumours of various kinds find ready
credence, and it is often extremely difficult to get
at the real truth—perfect tranquility is, however,
preserved, although all kinds of military prepara-
tions are being pushed on with vigour, and the
greatest enthusiasm is shown by all classes of the
Mussulman population.
We hear from the Lower Danube that the Rus-