The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-23 00:00:00

RUSSIA AND TURKEY.

By electric telegraph, dated Vienna 22d, we
learn that the Turks have erected a camp near
Utzitza (probably Wrbitza), on the Servian fron-
tier. They have commenced throwing a bridge
across the Drina (probably Zrna), and have sent
out pickets.
The Servians, greatly excited, have risen as one
man to defend the frontier. Cannon have been
sent there from Kragujewatz.
A conflict is expected.
From Jassy, under date of the 11th inst., it is
stated that the 3d and sth Russian corps are on
their march, but up to the present time no fresh
troops have arrived at Jassy. The arrival of
General Budberg is expected. He is to preside
over the administration of Moldavia. Each of the
two Principalities is to have a separate Govern-
ment. The Consuls of France and Great Britain
are still at Jassy, although their official communi-
cations with the local Government have been in-
terrupted for some time past.
It is generally supposed in Vienna that an Aus-
trian corps of observation is concentrating at Te-
mesvar, on the Servian frontier. Two regiments
of infantry of the garrison of Vienna, and three
battalions of Jagers have been ordered to hold
themselves in readiness to march. Two batteries
have already left Vienna for the Servian frontier.
Letters from Krajova, of the 10th inst. state that
the Russians have concentrated a large force in and
around that town. Their outposts are close to
Kalafat, where frequent skirmishes took place.
Ismail Pasha's head-quarters were at Kalafat,
which Omer Pacha has been instructed to hold if
possible, while at the same time he has been or-
dered to abstain from further operations during
the winter.
In the Council held at the Sublime Porte on
the sth, at which Fuad-Effendi was appointed to
act as Commissary-General with the army of the
Danube, two Generals, Sivri and Sadoullah, were
also appointed to replace in case of need Selim
Pacha and Abdi Pacha, who now command the
two corps d'armee of Asia. The Council also ap-
pointed Zeinel Pacha as Caimacan or Vice-Governor
of the Province of Broussa, in the room of the
Governor-General Hail Pacha, who has resigned.
The Presse of Vienna, under date of Constanti-
nople, 7th, says :—" A conference took place be-
tween the French, English, and Turkish admirals,
the subject of conversation being the entrance of
the fleets into the Black Sea. This expedition will
take place in the course of the week. A part of
the Turkish fleet will proceed to Batoum, and two
French and two English steamers will cruize on the
Russian coast. It is rumoured that there is a schism
in the Turkish ministry; several of the ministers
would see with pleasure the termination of the dif-
ferences by a pacific arrangement. Accounts from
Asia state that the Turks were making preparations
to advance and give assistance to the Circassians.
Their forces amount to 70,000 men, all regular
troops ; 24,000 are near Batoum under the com-
mand of Selim Pacha, and 46,000 on the frontier
of Grusinia under Abdi Pacha."
The National Gazette of Berlin, under date of
Jassy 11th, states that M. Tastu, the French Con-
sul in Moldavia, having received orders from his
Government to quit the country, the Prussian Con-
sul is charged to take the French subjects under
his protection.
The Cologne Gazette states from Constantinople,
7th, that an association, called the Teutonic So-
ciety, had, in the sole interest of truth, published
a declaration numerously signed, and addressed to
all the. German papers, stating that all the reports
published in the Augsburg Gazette relative to per-
secutions against the Christians in Turkey are false
and unfounded.
" Although," says a letter from Constantinople
of the 7th, "the troops and the employes are always
regularly pail, the scarcity of money is extreme ;
there is a total absence of small coin for the most
ordinary wants of life, the exchange on the pound
sterling has risen to 133 piastres (33fr. 25c.), and
it is feared that it will rise still further."
A Dresden journal states that two Alistrian regi-
ments and three battalions of chasseurs at Vienna
have received orders to hold themselves in readiness
to proceed to Temeswar, to form part of an army
of observation, and that two batteries of artillery
have already set out for that destination.
The Journal des Debats says, and a singular
statement it is—
" One of the Russian prisoners captured by the Turks
in the fort on the frontier of Asia Minor was taken the
other day before the Seraskier, and there he underwent,
in presence of several persons, a short interrogatory.
This is what one of the witnesses of the scene has re-
lated :—After having addressed to the prisoner several
questions on the corps to which he belonged, and on the
military regime of Russia, the perspective was opened
to him of passing some days at Constantinople, and then
of being sent to Prince Gortschakoff, on condition that
he would everywhere say what he had seen, and
that he would tell his comrades that the Turks do
not eat the Christians. The soldier refused, saying that
he did not know what awaited him on his return ;
the best that could happen to him would no doubt
be to be sent back to his regiment, but that he had
had enough of it. ' But,' it was said to him, you
can see your family again !" My family !' replied
the soldier, it is now eighteen years that I have been
separated from it, and since the day that I was
taken off from my village, I have had no news of my
father, my mother, or any of my relatives ! They are
perhaps all dead, or they have forgotten me ! Leave
me here until the peace, there will always be time
enough to give me up !' This declaration produced a
very strong impression on the auditory, and it was
naturally related everywhere. Some of the loaves pre-
pared for the Russian soldiers were taken in the same
affair, and they were so disgusting, black, sour, and de
testable, that the captors placed them on board the
steam-frigate charged to bring here the trophies of the
combat. They have been exhibited, and do not produce
less effect than they did on the frontiers of Asia Minor."
An extraordinary supplement of the Journal de
St. Petersburg of the Ist (13th inst.), publishes
the following bulletin :
"General Prince Worontsoff, Commandant-in-Chief of
the Caucasus, has addressed to the Emperor the follow.
ing report, dated the 19th October (Ist Nov.) I have
received from Ozourghet a report from the military go-
vernor of Koutais of the 16th October, which announces
that the Turks commenced hostilities against us in the
night of the 15th by the attack and capture of the post
of St. Nicolas. The attack was made at midnight by
numerous bands, part of whom came in boats along the
coast. The post of St. Nicolas was not considered as a
fortification, and still less as capable of supporting $ se-
rious attack, and had never been armed with artillery ;
but as from its local position it contained a large depot
of provisions, it was judged necessary to maintain it as
long as possible in order to be able to remove the provi-
sions. There was no time for so doing, and the detach.
ment left there having been suddenly attacked, could nei-
ther resist nor retreat, and fell with honour. Of the troops
which were in this post only about 30 soldiers and 3 offi-
cers succeeded in cutting a passage through the enemy's
ranks, and arrived at Ozourghet. The two pieces of ar-
tillery fell into the hands of the Turks, and all the stores
found in the place were burnt by them. General Prince
Gagarine, who is at Ozourghet in expectation of aggres-
sions on other points of the frontier, has adopted mea-
sures, which, he hopes, will check the ulterior success of
the Turks. It is painful for me to commence my re-
port of our hostilities with the Turks by this event so
unfortunate for us, but it remains for us to hope in the
future, and to say, as in 1812, God will punish the ag-
gressor.' Immediately after sending off this report,
General Prince Worontsoffieceived through the military
Governor of Koutais, a reports from Colonel Korganoff,
commanding the troops in the Gouriel, who states that
agreeably to orders received he was advancing on the
post of St. Nicolas, when he received information that
the place had been attacked, and carried by the Turks.
This account induced him to hasten his march. Having
surmounted considerable obstacles, particularly the
passage of two rivers, he discovered within two
versts from the post a large force of the enemy en-
trenched in a thick forest behind trees which they
had cut down. Notwithstanding his small force,
only 5,000 men, he determined to attack them,
which he did, and, after pouring in on them a sharp dis-
charge of musketry, his troops advanced on the enemy
with the bayonet, and dislodged them from their posi-
tion after an obstinate resistane, and drove them
back on the post of St. Nicolas, and would have
followed them into the place had not the bridge been
removed which prevented the passage of the artillery.
At nightfall the Turks, who had received considerable
reinforcements, attacked our position three different
times, but were each time driven back with great loss
and after leaving 300 dead on the field. Colonel Kor

ganoff, in reporting these facts, testifies to the exemplary
bravery of the officers and soldiers under his command.

Our losses in all these affairs amount to one officer and
62 soldiers killed, and 4 ocersandl27soldiers wounded.

The military governor of Koutais adds to the report of

Colonel Koriatioff that, in addition to the losses sus•
tained by the enemy in his attack on them, the Turks
lost more than 1,000 men killed and wounded in the
attack on the post of St. Nicolas. General Prince Wo-
rontsoff, in concluding his despatch, adds that up to the
20th October no account of any fresh hostilities on other
points of the frontier had reached Tiflis."
Prince Ghika, Hospodar of Moldavia, addressed
the following communication to the Council Extra-
ordinary of Administration on giving up to it the
direction of the government :
" Alexander Ghika, Hospodar of MoldaTia, to the
Council Extraordinary of Administration.—Our position
having become incompatible with the present state of
things, brought about by serious events, we consider it
a duty to give up the reins of government into the
hands of the Council Extraordinary. We call on it to
4ccoraplizl4 both collectively and individually the task