The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-03 00:00:00

THE DANUBE.

The Journal de Constantinople of the 19th,
says :—" 1n one of the last engagements on the
line of the Danube, several soldiers of the Imperial
troops took from Russian officers who were slain a
considerable quantity of gold pieces and of paper
roubles. They gave up the entire sum to their
officers, and it has been sent to Constantinople."
SEMLIN, April 28.—The Turks,
as they ad-
vanced:into Little Wallachia, were received with
the greatest enthusiasm.
The gßussians were making tremendous pre-
parations for a regular attack on Silistria.
Liprandi's corps will probably attempt to pass
the Danube at Nicopoli.
RITTSCIIUK, April B.—l arrived hero last night,
and found the report which had met me on the road
that the Russians had crossed the Danube in force
at Matchin and Issatche, under the command of
General Luders, fully confirmed. In the midst of
all the rumours that are flying on every side, it is
impossible to make any positive statement as to
their numbers. It is alleged, on the one hand, that
they are 80,000 strong, whilst others affirm with
equal confidence that they do not amount to more
than 15,000. I can hardly believe, however, that
they would venture to enter Bulgaria unless with
a large body of troops, and am inclined to set them
down at at least 50,000 or 60,000. The Turkish
troops, in accordance with orders previously re-

ceived, have fallen back on towards Shumla, where
the main body of the army has been rapidly concen-
trated. According to the last accounts Omer Pacha
was. at Bazardjik with 65,000 men, and was prepar-
ing to offer battle. In the meantime the Russians
are advancing westward,. and have occupied the
whole, or nearly the whole, of the Dobrudschll.
They are already within twelve leagues of Silis-
tria, and the inhabitants are sending their harems
and valuables in hero every day. The panic has
even extended to Tortrokan. The greater part
of the troops quartered here marched for Shumla
this morning. Everything is, in short, being done
to increase the force which will strike the decisive
blow. In case of defeat, Omer Pacha has no re-
source but to fall back on Shumla and stand his
ground there until the arrival of the English and
French troops, and of the Turkish reserve, which
have not yet reached the scene of action. Re-
ports were current here last night, which I can
hardly believe, that the Cossacks who, as you know,
generally overrun the country 40 or 50 miles in
advance of the main body, were already on the road
between this and Shumla, and that the communi-
cation was consequently cut off. The post, how-
ever, arrived here safely this morning, and brings
no confirmation of the statement. I start for the
latter place to-morrow, and trust that no unpleasant
contingency of this sort—for thatsuch a contingency
does exist it is impossible to deny—may prevent
me reaching the scene of action in sufficient time.
I am fully confident that Omer Pacha will, if not
decisively victorious, be at least able to maintain
himself until the allied forces arrive. If these turn
the scale, and the Russians are defeated, they are
lost, as the Dobrudscha is a sterile and desolate
district, and the inhabitants are fiercely hostile.
The cannonading on each side • of the river has
ceased here for some time past, but the chasseurs
still keep up a popping of carbines to every one who
goes down to get water, or in fact approaches the
bank for any purpose.