Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-12-01
Foreign News-By Mail.

OF THE DANuBE.-The following article
from the London Times, Of November Sd,
gives an account Of the passage of the Dan
ube by Omar Pacha, and the present state
of the Eastern question::
"The intelligence from the Danube, though
sufficiently ominous of evil and danger, is
not such as to occasion much surprise
The negotiations for peace have been rudely
interrupted by operations Of war, and hos
tilites have now commenced in reality.
"At Constantnople and Vienna affairs |
had at last been brought into a train favora- /
bic for immediate adjustment, but .he Turk
ish army. as we have been more than once
compelled to explain, is something altogeth-
er distinct from the Ottoman government,
and Omar Pacha has put his recent men
aces into execution, without hecling or oX-
pecting any further communications from
the Divnn. His summons to Prince Gorts-
chakotf, delivered on the 9th ult., had fixed
the oath for the expiration Of the prelimi-
nary armst'ce, 1t which period he declared
that he should cross the Danube and drive
the Russians from the Principalitcs. in
the first, at any rate, Of these threats, he has
been as ;,-od as his word.
"He had employed the remaining inter-
val of peace in transporting detachments Of
his army to certain islands in the stream Of
the Danube, from which point they could
cross with little further obstacle TO the bank
in the possession of the Russians On
these islands his advanced guards were re-
ported TO be Stationed and it now appears
that on the 9th, or, IN other words. almost
Immediately on the conclusion Of the orig.
nal armistice, he proceeded to give effect TO
his declared resolutions, by despatching his
troops across the arm of the river between
the islands End the Wallachisn bank.
"The operation was executed in front of
Widdin, fort situated at the western ex-
tremity of the Bulgarian frontier, and the
Turks seem 10 have lodged themselves in
kalafat, exactly opposite. They have made
as it was alleged preparations of similar
character at Brailow, but it is n5t vet re-
ported that they have crossed at this point
also. There was naturally some variation
in the statements respecting the number o.
troops actually carried over, but this is OF
little importance, and, indeed, it is obvious
that no statement would be likely to be ac-
curate for more than a particular moment
of time.
at is known that Omer Pasha had pro-
vided twcnty-four large boats for his pur-
pose and we may very safely assume that
when the passage had been once coInmenc-
ed he would transport the main force of his
| army from The right bank to the left with as
: little delay as possible. A more interesting
point concerns the opposition offered to the
movement. 1t is not probable that the Rus
slams could have been ignorant of the Turk
ish preparations, or of the spots where an
attack was likely to be made, and although
the passage of the river was greatly facili-
tated by the previous occupation of the is
lands, yet the arm of the stream still re-
naming to be crossed was some five hun
dred or six hundred yards in width, leaving
ample opportunities for formidable resis-
tance.
"Nevertheless, so far as we are at pre-
sent aware, the passage was effected with
out opposition, and the Russians were on
ly gathering upon the point assaied.' -
Such inaction was probably due to the strict
ly defensive course enjoined upon Prince
Gortschakoif; but, as Omer Pasha will. I'm
less detained by pacific Instructions from
the Divan, proceed TO attack the Russians
outright, longer forbearonce will be ont OF
the question, and we may expect intelli.
gence of regular battle"
The London News, commenting on III,
! same event, says:
, at is now apparent thrt the Turks are il
c earnest. The Russian steamers and other
a small craft which attempt TO pass Up O,
down the Danube, are fired upon from tn,
0 Turkish forts. Cmor Pasha has pushed
2 his troops across the Danube, at a poin
: whence he can take the Russian forces il
: Wallachia in flank. The Russians, accord
ing to the most Ineligible and credible &C
E counts, extend along the river from in from
It of Bucharest to Kalaiat, or near it. Thei
). trrops at the latter place have been calle
e in.
n "If Omer Pacha advances along the riv
is er, they can at first present but a narroy
y front 10 him; or he may strike inland an
le get in their rear placing them betwee
is the detachment of the Turkish army whic
Is has already crossed, and any detachmer
nj which may hereafter cross lower down.
To obyiate these diSa1vantaoes Tho enti,