The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-10 00:00:00

THE WAR IN ASIA.

__—
A telegraphic despatch, dated Vienna, Sunday
night, states Schamyl had won a great victory in
Asia, but that details were wanting.
A letter from Erzeroum, March 14, says the
following return shows the reduced strength of
the Turco-Georgian army at Kars, Bajazid, and
Four regiments of cavalry, 500 strong 2,
Ardahan, owing to deaths and desertion :
40 battalions 400 strong
................ 16 ,
000
000

110 guns, including battering 18,000
and light field
pieces. No return of the artillerymen.
A battalion of infantry should consist of 960 men,
and a regiment of cavalry 800, so that the infantry
are 22,400 short of their regular 'number, and the
cavalry 1,200.
Five thousand men are on their way from Trebi-
zoud, and 5,000 will march from Erzeroum as soon
as the roads, or tracks, are open, which probably
will not be until next month. In the meantime
sickness has unfortunately, within this fortnight
past, fallen upon the men quartered here, and they
aro dying off by a dozen a-day. The mortality is
principally amon,, the Egyptians, who feel and
suffer dreadfully from the severe cold of this
elevated and exposed region, where the spring,
summer, and autumn are compress-3d into four
or five months.
Elia Bey, the Russian General (a Georgian by
birth), who was severely wounded at the battle of
1,1.10444:14 ;nu Giuntri, died filrgt than duce fkaa

the eacts of his wounds ; his body was transported
to Tiflis, and buried with the highest military
pomp and honours. Liva (Brigadier) Alee Paella)
one of the Turkish Generals, who was shot through
the chest in the action at Akhaltzik, has continued
ever since to linger under the effects of his wound :
he died here two days since, and was buried with-
out the slightest military honours being awarded t
hire, carried, to his grave by a few soldiers, and
huddled into it in the same way as they treat the
bodies of the private soldier.
The cannon left on the Trebizond road have ar-
rived to-day, the villagers all around having been
impressed and forced tot' open the way through the
snow ; the clothing has also arrived.
By accounts from Kars, it appears that the neW,
Mushir is hastly repairing the fortifications, and
adding new ones. This looks as if he expected an
attack.

The journal de Constantinople, of the 24th ult.,
gives the following details of the affair of Turtukai
" On the 12th aßussian column composed of si%
battalions of infantry, eight pieces of artillery, and
a detachment of cavalry made a movement towards
the island situated opposite Turtukai, and occupied
by 1,000 Turkish irregular infantry with one can'
non. This island is not only naturally fortified
by its woods, but it is defended by parapets,
which can resist the heaviest artillery. The,
Russians thought that the number of its defen-
ders would not bo sufficient to resist them ; but
they reckoned without their host, and found the
garrison prepared to give them a warm reception.
The Commandant of Turtukai in the night of the
12th received a reinforcement of a battalion and a
half of infantry, a company of excellent riflemen,
and three other guns. On the 13th a Russia"
column composed of 16 battalions of infantry, a.
regiment of cavalry, and 24 pieces of artillery,
marched in order to take possession of the island.,
All the artillery advanced with four battalions Of
infantry to the bank of the arm of the Danube op-
posite the island ; the river at this part not being
more than 150 yards wide. The Russians opened.
a fire from the whole of their artillery, and under..
that protection they endeavoured to throw a bridge
across in order to reach • the island. Their plans,
however, were defeated. The Turkish battery in-
stead of being silenced by the Russian artillery
kept up a very murderous fire on the assailants.
The Russians, however, continued their works, and
a part of th e bridge was constructed when the Ottoman
artillery directly directed its fire on it and completely
destroyed it. The Russian infantry then went into
the river, thinking to be able to ford it, but they
found the water deeper than they expected, and
a number of them were drowned. Three of their
guns were dismounted, and the Russians retreated .
with the remainder. The loss of the Russians in
killed and wounded is estimated at 2,500 ; a whole
regiment was destroyed, and all the artillerymen
were either killed or wounded. The loss of the
Turks was only 18 men killed, among whom Was
Abdullah Bey, the commandant of the irregular
troops : and 47 wounded, including Lieutenant-
Colonel Ahmet Bey. The Russians, finding all
their efforts unsuccessful, retired into the neigh-
bouring villages. The Ottoman troops, on seeing
them retire, raised loud shouts and a cry of Long
live the Sultan.' It is astonishing to see the man-
ner in which the Russian generals expose the lives
of their soldiers, contrary to all rules of military
tactics, and without the slightest chance of success.
It is an inexplicable enigma, and one would be al- -
most tempted to suppose that the generals cause a
mass of their men to be sacrificed without utility in
order to reduce the Emperor Nicholas to conclude
a peace."

The following was published in the Official
Gazette of Warsaw, of the 2d :—" On the 11th our
troops happily crossed the Danube in three columns
at Galatz under General Luders, at Braila under
Prince Gortschakoff, and at Tshukai under General
Ushakoff. The Turks had 20,000 men at Matschin, ,
and 5,000 at Tultscha. In spite of their numbers, .
however, and of the fortifications of Matschin and
Tultscha, the passage was effected with such- ra-
pidity that the Turks had not the time to dispute
it With the right column, and though they had as-
sembled considerable forces against the central co-
lumn, they were obliged to fall back before our
artillery. They only engaged a combat with the
third column, but they were repulsed, and we took
9 guns and 150 prisoners. Our troops have taken
Matschin and Tultscha."

The Prussian Correspondence Of the sth saYO
that the Administrative Council of Moldavia, pre-
sided over by the Russian General Osten Sackett/
has unanimously resolved to prevent most of the
foreign journals from entering the Principalities.
Negotiations, it adds, have been opened with the
Austrian consulates on the subject, as most of the
newspapers are sent through the Austrian Post-
office.