Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-11-19
TIE EASTERN QUESTION.

THE EASTERN QUESTION
The news from the seat of indicates the probability
Of pitched battle between the Turks and the Russians
ON the left bank Of the Danube the Turks having crossed
the river from Widdin between twenty and thirty thou
sand strong and taken position at Kaafat the west
border Of Wallacha whittier the Russians were con-
centrating their forces This movement appears to have
been made at moment when the strongest antiepations
of peace had been encouraged by new proposition of
settlement from the mediang Powers believed to be sat-
isfactory to both hostile parties
PARIS, OCTOBER 80, 6 p. M.-The Monteur announces
that the French Government has received electric de-
spach from its Ambassador at Constantnople bearing
date the Dist instant Prince Gortschakos reply to the
summons of Omar Pacha considered as refusal.
Nevertheless the entreaes OF the representatives OF
the Four Powers the Ottoman Government had issued
ders for the posponement Of hostes to the first Of No
vember, provided they had not aready.commenced, in
which the order to be considered void.
CoysTAYTINopLE, OCTOBER 21.--The Porte, having
heard Of project of compromise being negotiated
has suspended the commencement OF hosttes for the
present.
VIENNA, SUNDAY, 30th.-Yesterday the project
arrived here from London and sent to Constantine
pie 1t consists of the Vienna note, deprived of the OBJ
ectonabe passages which, remodelled render the Turk
ish notifications superuous and being agreeable to the
Olmutz concessions, will satisfy Russia. The present
armstce has been obtained in connexon herewith Tur
key is expected to accept the terms and if So Russia
Some time since Omar Pacha sent notice to the Rus
sian commander that if armed Russian vessels approach
ed too the Turkish batteries they should be fred
into To this message Gortschako returned for
tnas the Russian vessels were fired into they would
return the IRE Aespsainsy on the 23d ultino Rus
eight boats attempted ascend the river from the
Suna basin to higher point of the river, the declara
ton of war by Turkey and the ayowed intention of Omar
Pacha to the Danube having rendered their pre-
necessary to support the main body Of the Rus
slams. On coming abreast of the Turkish battery they
summoned to stop, but not needing the summons
were promptly fired into, and promptly returned the
compliment AS before mentioned some ten fifteen of
the Russians killed. and fifty put hors de com
bat The Turkish loss is not stated but probably
few none, although stray shell set fire to the fort
The steamers crowded on steam and, badly damaged,
managed to make their the river beyond the
of the Turkish missiles Isaktch is midway between the
point of confluence of the Pruth and Danube and that
part where the latter river divides into the branches that
enclosed the neutral territory.
An account says that the fola when fred into was
from Ismae and attempting to place itself in
munication with Ibraia, port in Walacha, situate
the left bank of the river.
The London Times of the lst of November says !:
"The intelligence Of the armstce between the Turkish
and Russian forces has been substantially confirmed and
the appears be precisely of the character which
yesterday delineated The interval assigned by Omar
Pacha for the evacuation of the Danubian Prncpaltes
was to expire the oath ultimo but although the re-
ply of Prince Gorsshakof the Ottoman summons had
been considered at Constantnople equivalent
fusa the Porte had consented at the request of the Am
bassadors Of the Four Powers proong the term of
hminary peace until this day. the lst of November. We
have reason to believe before stated, that this
movement of the European representatives not made
without welgrounded expectations of beneficial result
and the assent the Porte the proposition bespeaks
in itself desire avoid extremes have good ground
for confidence that this last effort in the of peace
will prove successful These steps, however taken
before the collision between the contendng armies had
occurred, and it is not impossible that untoward an
affair may exercise its influence the Of events
Nevertheless, continue to be of opinion that such
result is unlikely for the encounter it is plain, no
premeditated signal of hosttes and, in so far it
produced any effect it appears to have been unfayorabe
that party which is least likely to be eXasperated by
the circumstance The of the ARRAY not ex-
acy the scene of the expected The hostile armies
OF the Russians and the Turks stationed in the pro-
yinces of Walacha and Bulgaria respectively with the
waters of the Danube between them Further down the
stream that is to say from the point of confluence of the
Pruh the left bank of the Danube becomes Russian ter
ritory the opposite bank being formed by the northern
most angle Of Bulgaria 1t at this part of the river
that the engagement occurred"
RUMoRED PASSAGE OF THE DANUBE
The London Morning Chronicle of the 1st November
contains the following despatch which that paper does
not attach much credit:
"VIESsA, MoSDAY--A private despatch from Temes-
war states that Turks have crossed the Danube
and occupied Kalafat From Orsova another despatch
says that 81 900 have crossed and that hosttes
have commenced This is believed in, although not
authenticated"
In the second edition Of the Chronicle there another
despatch from its Vienna correspondent of posi-
tive character, in these words
"VENNA, MosDAY.-The following authentic: thirty
thousand infantry and four hundred cavalry under the
orders of Omar Pacha, passed the Danube at Kaaat
the 9th instant great number in the act
of passing An encounter with the Russians expect
cd on the 28th."
BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH FROM LONDON.
LONDON, WEDNESDAY, Nov 1.-The Times in a lead
ing article, says "There is doubt that,
the 9th October three thousand Turkish infantry and
two thousand four hundred cavalry crossed the Danube
and occupied Kaafa and that large number of troops
were still passing over in barges when this was
dispatched
The Russians we're gathering the point attacked
and it was expected that collision would take place
the 18th. For the moment there is end notes and
diplomatic conferences Omar Pachas movement appears
the extremity Of rashness but he is probably forced
in order to preserve the authority of his relation
the troops After the ferocy of the hostile nations has
been satisfied by the sangunary offering Of useless and
obecess battle, it may perhaps be possible to reassert
the claims Of justice and humanity Whatever may be
the result Of this contest it cannot alter the duty Of the
Western Powers in this emergency.
whether Omar Pacha be successful whether he be
driven back equally bound to maintain the rights
of Turkey. Let the 60 it WILL England and
France permit Russia to reap the fruits Of her
dupcty and violence II will not discharge France and
ourselves from the duty Of preventing these fine countries
from falling under the heavy yoke and grapng ambition
Of the Car. Vctors vanquished the Turks have still
the right and claim the Western Towers !" and
do not doubt, continues the Times that the