The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-04 00:00:00

BULGARIA.

The following is from a special correspondent of the
Times, who writes from Shumla, Feb. 2 :—" I have no
military events of any importance to announce on this
occasion, but there is no end to the dreadful note of pre-
paration and clink of hammer in every arsenal of the
district. The last news from Europe is the exclusive
topic of conversation in the military and political circles
congregated in these head-quarters, and it is now clear
that, unless the pressure of Germany compel the Em-
peror Nicholas to yield at the eleventh hour, the bloody
struggle will soon commence. I do not anticipate any-
thing very serious for a month ; the Danube is rising
from the melted snows, and will rise still higher in the
beginning of March. The middle of March is the
period said to be the earliest when it is possible to com-
mence the campaign ; but, with so many instances on
record of enterprising commanders taking time by the
forelock, I should not be in the least surprised if some-
thing were to occur earlier, If there is to be war, it is
clear that Russia will not wait until 30,000 or 40,000
French troops are landed at Varna, but will make a bold
anticipatory attempt to pass the Danube and raise the
population of Bulgaria. I maintain on the best autho-
rity that the Bulgarian population does not desire the
presence of Russia. But there is, nevertheless, a very
active propaganda at the three points of Kherson, Tur-
nova, and Sistova. There can be no doubt that the
Turkish rule does not suit the very small number of ac-
tive and enterprising spirits in the Bulgarian nation, but
these are numerically so utterly insignificant, and the
great mass are so thoroughly devoted to their agricultu-
ral, pastoral, and mercantile pursuits, that unless there
be a pressure from without, it may be said that the
Bulgarian cation has just as little of the will as of the
power to revolt. The utmost activity reigns in every
department so as to give a hot reooption to General
Gortschakoff ; and Omar Pasha, like every good
general, pays as much attention to the commissariat
and medical departments of his army as to the strategy.
Dr. Monjeri, the physician of the Grand Vizier, and
Dr. Fauvel, the physician of the French Embassy at
Constantinople, have arrived here to give assistance in
the organisation of the medical staff and provide hos-
pitals on an extended scale, so as to be commensurate
with the casualties of a struggle such as has been pro-
bably never seen before on the banks of the storied
Danube. For this Shumla is the proper place, being
not merely a fortress, but an extensive mountain fast-
ness, with the town in the hollow of the centre, and
strong lines running all round the outer precipitous
escarpment, while forts on the high ground, flanking the
one level approach to the town, are mounted witti
heaVy artillery, so as to traverse the whole of the ground

on which parallels could be opened on the entrance
by the plain. As regards the commissariat and sup.
plies, large quantities of clothing and equipments con-
tinue to arrive. Nothing can be more incorrect than
the statements of some German journals about a
deficiency of provisions in the Danubian fortresses.
As the Russian troops cannot remain under tents for a
month yet, no immediate attack on Kalafat is antici-
pated by the people here : but that a bold attempt to
storm it will be made in March no one doubts. It is
for this reason that an addition of 7,000 men has been
made to the garrisons of Widdin and Kalafat, and
should a French army land here from Algeria, Rome,
and Toulon, there seems to be little doubt that the
Danube will cease to be the demarcation of the Turkish
line of defence, and that a forward movement will take
place. What are the plans, intentions, and hopes of
Omer Pasha it is impossible to tell. Until the hour of
execution he entrusts nothing even to the officers of the
highest rank in his immediate official circle, but pa-
tiently hears all opinions, on both military and poli-
tical subjects, from the many intelligent persons of
various nations assembled here."