The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-25 00:00:00

THE DOBRUDSCHA.

VIENNA, Monday Evening.—The Russians have
bombarded Silistria, which was on fire on the 14th,
at 4 o'clock.
The fortress was unharmed. It had not sur-
rendered up to the 19th.
The Wanderer gives a letter from Jassy, of the
7th, which intimates that the siege of Silistria had
begun ; and that in consequence of the entire de-
struction of the ne" forts, called (after his Highness
the Sultan) the Medjidie, the city lay entirely open
and exposed on that side ; that the Greek and
Turkish inhabitants had united in requiring the
garrison to march out, and tight the Russians out-
side the city, as they did not fancy a bombardment
similar to that of 1829. The Russians were also
said to have offered to spare the paella's private
property in and about the town, if he
would not protract the siege too long. The
Danubio had returned, on the 3d inst., to Galatz,
from her voyage of investigation and inquiry as to
the state of the Sulina mouth, which she reports
to be clear and open, and free from all obstacles,
and from every sort of blockade.
Letters from the seat of war, in the Ost Deutsche
Post journal, intimate the strong probability of
Russian attempts being made to pass the Danube
at the ford or shallow below Giurgevo, with the
view of assaulting Rutschuk. It is added that they
will also very likely renew their recent attempt at
Kalarasch, to force the passage to Rassova. For
this purpose they have collected at both these spots
four divisions of infantry, two of cavalry, and two
of artillery—the 3d and 4th corps, with eighteen
batteries, and two brigade parks. Field-Marshal
Prince Paskiewitsch arrived at Fokschan on the
15th.

The Journal de Constantinople confirms the
statement of the Russian occupation of the Trajan
Wall, from which the Turks had retired in order
before them.

Letters from Schumla state that Omer Pacha is
kept minutely informed as to everything .which'
goes on, or is even projected in the enemy's camp.
It is there generelly understood, that on the same
day on which the Russians will attempt the passage
of the Danube (that, namely, which we have just
mentioned), General Liiders will also attempt to
advance out of the Dobrudscha; and to carry the
healthy eminences and rising grounds of the Balkan.
Within the last fortnight Omer Pacha has re-
ceived reinforcements, to the extent of not less
than seventeen battalions. He cannot at this mo-
ment have less than 70,000 or 80,000 men at his
command. But whether he will answer the Russian
challenge on a fair and open field, or receive his
adversary in the entrenched fastness of Schumla,
remains still a profound secret to every one.
From Krajova, of the 10th, we learn that the
Russians are fortifying the road leading from Sla-
ting towards the Danube, and which runs between
the Badea and the Aluta at three several points.
The Turks bad 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
were landed at Varna on the 10th.