The New York herald., 1877-07-05
RUSSIAN REvERsEs IN ASIA.
Kars Still Bcleagured by
the Muscovites.
MOVEMENTS OF THE BRITISH FLEET
tDr CABLE TO THE nEnALp.f

opentions Of the Russian army which
crossed the Danube, near sistova alter
making good their position on the Bulga-
ian side. In the course of the fight which
took place after the landing one Turkish
battalion charged the Russians in the most
heroic manner with the bayonet and fought
Tor short time with desperate bravery.
They were outnumbexd, however. and the
struggle was short The Turks were pushed
back and the Russians remained complete
masters of the field.
STILL NEAR sisrovA
The Russians, 30, 600 strong. then marched
in the direction Of Bjela. Echref Pacha
proceeded to meet them and fought with
their advance guard all day ON Sunday. At
the close of the day the Turks maintained
their position. The operations Of the con-
tending forces since then have been kept to
great extent secret, but the latest reports
received in Rustchuk say that heavy fusi-
ade is going on at Aschaga Monaster. and
considerable skirmishing, but the bulk Of
The Russian army is still in the neighbor-
hood of Sistova.
CAUSE OF RUSSIAN ISAcrIox
It is said now that the original Russian
plan was to cross simultaneously at Sistova
and Turtukai, and if successful in both
places then to march ON Rasgrad. The fail
ure at Turtukai frustrated this plan and
paralyzed the force which crossed at Sis
tova. A good deal of the inaction of the
Russians in Bulgaria is explained by this
hct.
RUsTCHUK DEsERrKD.
The bombardment of Rustchuk still con-
inues. The Konak, or Government House,
las been burned down, and the town is
quite deserted. The moral condition of the
garrison is excellent The spirit of the
troops could not be better, and they will
make gallant stand against the Russians.
The HERALD correspondent says he is one
Of three Europeans who have remained in
the town. All are gone in anticipation Of
IN attack from the Russians.
RUSSIAN SUCCESS NEAR KARs.
The HERALD correspondent at Mazara tele.
graphs that a field battery of four guns has
been captured by $50 Russian volunteers
under tremendous fire from the Turkish
batteries outside of Kars. This was only a
mile and half from the main fort Of Kars,
and is very important acquisition to the
Russians, inasmuch as it opens the way to
Kars itself. The Russian loss was four men
killed and twenty-five wounded. Two
Turkish officers were bayoneted. This prob
IDLY settles the question as to whether the
,iege has been raised or not.
THE TURKISH MINISTRY OF WAR.
the HERALD correspondent in Constanti-
nople telegraphs that Mahmoud Damat
Pacha is the man who replaces Redif Pacha
Professionally in the Ministry of War during
the absence Of the latter in Shumla.
Redif and Mahmoud pull together and this
fact does not indicate any change of policy.
BULGARIA DECLARED INDEPENDENT.
The same correspondent states that it is
announced in the Turkish War Office that
The Gear has issued proclamation formally
declaring the independence of Bulgaria
This is the sequel to the call for all able
bodied Bulgarians to present themselves ut
the Russian camps for the purpose of being
organized for purposes of self defence.
TURKISH BuNGLE
The Times special from Shumla says:-"when the
Russians first crossed the Danube two small can
mons and six battalons Of 75O men each, were sent
against them, but from some unexplained reason
only four battalions were brought into action. and
these were badly cut up.''
FATE OF THE TURKISH GrNBoArs.
OF eighteen gunboats and monitors which were
ON the Danube at the commencement OF the war,
SIX are in small bay near sulina two have been
destroyed, three or four are water-bound near
Matchin, two at SistrIa, one at TurtukaI, two at
Rustchuk and one at Nicopolis. The latter is re-
ported surrounded by torpedoes and helpless. All
on the Danube will fall into the hands OF the Rus
slams unless destroyed.
A Vienna despatch has the following-"It is said
The Czar will return to ST. Petersburg with the
czarewitch very shortly, some say within a few
lays. At Graja tile construction OF bridge to the
Bulgarian shore Is being very actively carried on
rhe Turks at widdin are very watchfui."
PREPARING FOR RvENrUALlTfEs
Constantinople correspondent states that an