The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-26 00:00:00

IMPORTANT INTELLIGENCE FROM THE

SEAT OF WAR.

A-telegraphic despatch received from Constan

nople, dated 17th inst., is to this effect :

"The Russians attacked Chefkatil (St. Nicholas),
in Asia, by land and sea, but were repulsed five
times. A Russian steamer, with 1,500 men on
board, was stranded ; twenty-five of the crew were
saved by the Turks, and brought to Constantinople
as prisoners of war.

" General Baraguay d'Hilliers arrived at Con-
stantinople on the 15th."
Another telegraphic despatch from Constantino-
ple, Nov. 14, says :—" The fleets of Great Britain
and France are in the Bay of Beikos.

" George Klapka, the Hungarian General, is still
in Constantinople.
" A corps of cavalry composed of Christians is
being organised, and placed under the command of
Mahomet Zadik Pasha, a Pole.
"A foreign legion, too, has been formed at Krass,
in Asia.

" There are rumours of an armistice."
The following telegraphic despatches were re.
ceived last night in Paris :

" TRIESTE, Nov. 24.
" We have news from Constantinople to the 14th
inst. The French and English fleets had com-
pletely entered the Bosphorus, and were stationed
at the anchorage of Beycos. Some Pachas have
been named."

From Odessa, Nov. 13, we learn that a division
of the Russian fleet, consisting of three line-of-
battle ships, five frigates, and several steamers,
went out from Sebastopol as soon as Turkish men-
of-war appeared in the Black Sea.

The retreat of the Turks across the Danube has
produced a favourable impression in the Austrian
capital, because it favours the hope of the resump-
tion of negotiations. A few days ago an attache of
the Ottoman Legation left Vienna for Constanti-
nople, with a note which will, it is said, open the
way to direct negotiations between Turkey and
Russia.

It is said that the Russians have placed batteries
on the heights which command the crossings of the
Danube at Oltenitza.

On Nov. 14, there were about 8,000 Russian
troops in Krajova and its environs. Their out-
posts are at Delea and Radowa. Mention has
been made of the probability of a retrograde move-
ment upon Slatina. The Turks have advanced on
the one side to Pojan, and on the other to Rastaw.
Bucharest on Nov. 17 was perfectly tranquil.
The Russian army had taken up positions which
effectually protect Bucharest against all the acci-
dents of war. On the previous day the Turks
made an attempt to cross the Danube at Nikopoli
and Sistowa. They were unsuccessful. An armistice
cannot be thought of, as the winter does not pre-
vent the carrying out of military operations.
Under the title of " Operations of the Imperial
Army in Europe," the Journal de Constantinople
publishes the following in its impression of the 9th
inst. :

" Two couriers arrived at the Porte on Saturday last
(Nov. 5) wih despatches from the Governor-General of
the province of Widdin, and from Omer Pacha, Com-
mander-in Chief of the army in Roumelia.
"The first announced to the Government that, since
the 28th of October, other Imperial (Ottoman) troops
having crossed the Danube, they joined Ismail Pacha at
Kalafat, where he was strongly fortifying himself, with
out being at all molested by the Russian corps, whose
position he has taken, and which is believed tobe still
at Krajowa, the capital of Little Wallachia.
"Omer Pacha announced that he had caused a small
inhabited island opposite Turtukai to be fortified and
garrisoned by a detachment of his troops.
"By another courier, who arrived on Monday even-
ing (7th November), the marshal announced that the
day following the occupation of that island, 12,000 men
had by his orders crossed the river on the 2d Nov. at that
point, and taken position at Oltenitza, a village opposite
the island, a short distance from the left bank of the
Danube, about eight hours' distance from Bucharest,
where there is a quarantine building. Oltenitza was
occupied by 5,000 Russians, whose resistance was not
long ; they fell back upon Bucharest.
" Omer Pacha had not yet crossed the Danube in
person.

"Having received this good news, the Council of
Ministers met at the C`heik-ul•lslam's, under the presi•
dency of the Grand Vizir."

The same journal publishes another article,
headed :

" GREAT VICTORY.

" This morning " (it says) "at about eleven o'clock,
just as we were going to press, the Minister of War re-
ceived the news of a great victory gained by the Impe-
rial Ottoman troops over the Russians.
" We have already stated that on the 2d of November
12,000 men took possession of Oltenitza, driving out the
Russians. We now add the details of the victory we
allude to above.
"Additional Turkish troops crossed over to Oltenitza.
On the 4th of November a Russian corps &armee, con-
sisting of 24 battalions of infantry, 3 regiments of
cavalry, 1 regiment of Cossacks, and 32 pieces of arti-
lery, making a total of more than 30,000 men, advanced
upon Oltenitza to give battle.

" The Imperial troops made every preparation to re-
ceive them. The cantre was commanded by Ahmed
Pacha, the right wino. by Moustapha Pacha, and the left
wing by Ismail Pacha. Neja Pacha commanded the
artillery at Oltenitza, and Khalid Pacha the island.
"The action commenced at half-past twelve in the
clay, and at seven the whole Russian army was com-
pletely routed. They left a number of guns and ammu-
nition upon the field, which have been brought to Omer
Pacha, on the other side of the river ; they also left 800
dead ; but during the battle twenty vans were continually
occupied carrying off the dead and dying who fell before
the Ottoman arms. The Turkish guns ceased firing to
allow the Russians to remove their dead. This noble
action needs no commentary.

"Both officers and men gave proofs of courage and
intrepidity worthy of their ancestors and of the great
cause which they defend. But we must more particu-
larly mention the generals we have already named, and
Hussein Bey, lieut.-colonel of the Imperial Guard ;
Hussein-Agha, major of the Rifles ; Mustapha-Agha,
aide-de-camp of Omer Pacha ; and Arab-Agha, captain
of artillery.
" The loss of the Imperial Ottoman army consists of
13 killed, 72 wounded, and one man missing, who did
not answer to the call after the battle, and whose fate is
unknown.

"If the Turkish army made no prisoners, it is pro-
bably because they had no cavalry to follow the fugitives,
who were protected by the Russian horse."
Is is understood that a part of the Trieste despatch
has been suppressed by order of the Government.
The suppressed part announces the formation in
Turkey of a regiment of cavalry formed of Christians
and commanded by a renegade • and the formation
of a regiment of infantry at Kars, in Asia, com-
posed of Hungarians and Poles, and to be com-
manded by General Chrzanowski, who served in the
campaign of 1828, on the staff of General de Die-
bitsch, and who afterwards was the director of in-
struction in the Turkish army. Besides this, the
announcement of the arrival of the Hungarian
General Klapka in Turkey was also suppressed.
The Press of Vienna of the 21st, says :—" No
news has arrived since the evacuation of the bank
of the Danube, near Oltenitza, by the Turks. The
town of Bucharest is perfectly tranquil. I rateschti,
near Giurgewo, and Sokarischti, near Kalaractsche,
are each other occupied by 5,000 Russians, The
position near Oltenitza has been reinforced by two
batteries, four squadrons of Hulans, and 1,000
Cossacks. The Russians have raised batteries on
the heights, which dominate the passage of the
Danube near Oltenitza. It is not known why
these precautions were not sooner taken. Ac-
cording to a telegraphic despatch from Bucha-
rest of the 17th, the Turks made a vain at-
tempt on the previous evening to attain the
Wallachian bank, near Nicopolis and Sistow. On
the 14th and 15th they also endeavoured to estab-
lish themselves a new near Roustjouck. It is true
that they still occupy an island near Roustjouck,
but it forms part of the Turkish territory. A letter
from Krajowa of the 12th states that the Russian
troops of the environs have received orders to
march towards the lower Danube ; they will be re-
placed by other troops. Prince Gortschakoff was
expected at Krajowa. It was believed that the
Turks were about to be attacked near Kalaradsche.
The state of siege is strictly observed in Lesser Wal-
lachia. The Russian forces on the Danube are
estimated at 120,000 men, and 30,000 horses.
There are 200 pieces of artillery near Boustjouck."
Private letters from Vienna, of the 21st inst.,
announce positively the appointment of General
Baron Budberg to the command in chief of the
Danubian provinces. It appears that the Baron
distinguished himself on former occasions in the
wars of the Caucasus. They add, that it was the
opinion of well-informed persons that before long
a portion of the combined fleets would enter the
Black Sea, and that, should it interfere with the
operations of the Russians, either at the mouth of
the Danube or on the coast of Asia, the conse-
quences would be serious.
•

A letter from Constantinople of the 10th inst.
states that a captain of a merchant ship, who ar-
rived there from the. Black Sea, met the Russian
fleet three days before not very far from the Bos-
phorus. The Turkish fleet was proceeding nearly
in the same direction ; and the captain was of opi-
nion that the fleets could not continue their course
long without coming into contact. The letter
adds that the cholera had broken out at Galatz.
Most of the letters received from northern And