The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-02-28 00:00:00

THE WAR IN THE EAST.

Letters from the Danubian provinces statethat a stragetic
movement of great importance had just been adopted by
the general-in-chief of the Ottoman army. Omer.Pasha,
who is perfectly aware of all the plans of the Russians,had
just concentrated a powerful corps of reserve at Sophia,
and was making that place one of the principal centres of
operation in order to .eheck the Russian army in case it
should attempt to turn the position at Kalafat, as its.gene-
rals have proposed. Sophia, which is situated.in a vast
plain on the road from Belgrade to Constantinople, is the
key to Bulgaria. The Ottoman army, supported by such
a forminable position, would infallibly stop the Russian
army, exhausted by a first combat, which it would have to
fight with the corps of Turkish troops which guard the
frontiers of the empife.on the side of Servia. Up to the
10th, the position of both ivnties at Krajova was that of
mutual observation ; both sides were receiving considerable
reinforcements.

Omer Pasha's despatch gives the following as the total
force of the Russians on the Danube Dannenberg's
corps, 30,000 men ; this corps has suffered much from sick-
ness and during the engagements. Luders' corps, 28,000;
a division of this corps is in the Caucasus. Osten Sacken's
corps, 25,000 ; more than one division of this corps is in
Bessarabia. It is by no means complete. A division of
cavalry, 4,000 ; total, 87,000. We may, without hesitation,
deduct from this army 10,000 men detached from the ranks
by sickness, for the typhus and other fevers are making
great ravages among it. Russia dare not withdraw from
Poland Pauiutin's corps and send it hither. The reasons
for not doing so are known, and we do not envy Russia
the spirit which reigns in her army. The opinion ex-
pressed by her officers is, that this time the Emperor is
greatly mistaken in his calculations."
We learn, by Constantinople intelligence of the 9th,
that an engagement had taken place in the Caucasus, in
which the Czar's troops were soundly beaten by the Cir-.
cassians, under Schamyl.
According to accounts from Smyrna, of the Ist of Feb,
the collisions between the Turks and Greeks in Asia
Minor are increasing in importance every day. Conflicts
had taken place at Kutaiah, Angora, and Scala Novo,
which required the intervention of an armed force.
At Lisbon, it is understood that the Spaniards send
troops to Rome to relieve the French, who go to Constan-
tinople, and that 4,000 Portuguese troops proceed to the
lonian Islands to relieve the English, who are to join the
French expedition. A French squadron, probably a de-
tachment from the fleet at Brest, has been cruising off
Lisbon. _ . _ _

PARIS, FEB. 26.—A despatch from Vienna, received
yesterday, fully confirms the adhesion of the government
of Austria to the policy of England and France.
TOULON, FEB. 24.—Orders have arrived here for the
embarkation of the troops belonging to the corps destined
for the East.

FEB. 23.—The events connected with the war
' now leave no hope of a pacific arrangement. The Empe-
ror has -ordered:an additional force of 25,000 men, which
has already taken up a position in the Banat, and also
25,000 men to protect the south-eastern frontier, or to be
employed as circumstances may require.
BucnsnE,sr, FEB. 18.—The cannonade of the Russian
batteries against Rustchuk continues.
ODESSA, FEB. 13.—The troops of the governments of
Twer, Ostrowa,.and Jaroslaff, have marched for the Da-
nube, and wilt pass through Moscow. There are neither
English nor French vessels:at•Odessa.