The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-26
THE EUROPEAN WAR.
THE SIEGE OF SJLIsTRIA.

THE SIEGE OF SILISTRIA.
Full particulars Of the several engagements which
took place before Silistria during the last days
May have not yet been received, but there is no
doubt that on May 27, the Russians made another
fierce attempt to carry the place by storm, in which
they were repulsed with great loss, and that the
Turks were able to assume the offensive against the
besieeing army.
Silistria has however, been defended with great
skill and bravery, and up to the last date with sue
cess The Russians since the commencement of the
siege have suffered tremen ious loss, and it is far
from unlikely that the fortress may hold out until
relieved. Up to May 80, only one English division
had left Scutan for Varna. Two thousand English
horses were at Constantinople, but the transport
ships were delayed by contrary winds, and it was
stated that the English commander would not risk
his forces against the Russians in the field until he
had full compliment Of cavalry and artillery.
Omar Pasha was still at Shuma, on the lst June.
The story Of the 10000 Turks having advanced to.
wards Sstria is not correct, neither is the state
ment that Paskiewitch had pushed forward 10000
Russians on the road to Shumla.
Nothing has been attempted against Rustchuk.
from the London Times, June 12.]
The latest accounts of the operations before Slis-
tria are decidedly favorable to the Turks. We are
not yet In possession Of full particulars OF the several
engagements which took place in the last days Of
the month OF May but there appears to be no donbt
that on the 9th alt the Russians made another at
tempt to carry the place by storm, in which they
were repused with great loss, and that the 30th
the Turks were able to assume the offensive against
the besieging army. II Is stated that information
has been received by the government from Admiral
Dundas that the garrison had succeeded in counter
pAning the Russian engineers to such extent that
5000 10 900 of the assailants had been blown up
hia atQf foil IN ho
fed within . short time by other channels, and it
may turn out to be no more than rum0r which
reached Admiral Dundas at Batschik, for 1t was ac
companied with some other particulars which are
certainly inaccurate. At any rate, however, we
may assume with confidence that Silistria has been
defended with far greater skill, energy, and
than could be anticipated; that the Russian army
has suffered tremendous losses before this place at
the outset of the campaign; and that 1t Is by no
means improbable that the fortress will be able to
hold out until 1t can be relieved. The result OF
these operations is 80 discreditabe tn the Russian
arms thst IL must tend TO increase the irritation of
the Emperor Nicholas, and to render it more than
ever unlikely that he will accede to the demands of
Austria, which probably reached st. Petersburg on
the sme day rs the news Of this fresh check before
Sstria. It Is even possible that the loss sustained
by that portion of the Russian army which has
passed over to the right bank Of the Danube IL so
considerable az to induce Omar Pscha TO attack
it. But on this point we speak with great hesita-
tion. Down 10 the 30th Of May, the British
Light Division, under General Brown, had alone
left Scuta,i for varna, and we are confident
that neither Lord Raglan nor Marshal st. Ar
maud will expose their troops to field opera
tions against the Russians without their proper
pement of artillery and certain amount OF caval-
ry. About 1000 horses belonging to the British
army had arrived at Constantinope when the latest
accounts left but the transports have been retarded
by contrary Winds The military authorities must
be fully aware Of the enormous importance OF an
adeuuate force of artilery-an in which British
armies are too commonly weak and we should Ger.
tainly learn with satisfaction that the whole artil
ery force Of this expedition, guns, horses and men,
had been doubled
While tie intelligence from the actual scat of
war has assumed, thus far, vefy favorable cha
racter the political occurrences of the last few
duys tend rather 10 strengthen our confidence
In the united action OF the four great Powers OF
Europe. The Emperor and Empress of Austria had
proceeded TO Prague for the purpose Of paying their
iespects to the ex-Emperor Ferdinand and the
fociuted Court OF the Hradschin. While they
were in the capit,l OF Bohemia the King OF Prus-
fia suddenly proposed an interview, and started
within q few hours by rairoadwith some Of his min