The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-06-30
FOREIGN NEWS.
The Eastern War,

|
| The week has been one OF exciting, cventful
scenes on the Danube, including the first seri'
Gus movement of the Russian army towards
crossing that stream. As carly as Wednesday
| OF last week it was announced from lbrall
that AL Is ready tor crossing the Danube by
a bridge from Ibrial;" and on Thursday the
repor, was justified by the Russians having
actually commenced crossing troops troHs
lbrail and Galatz by pontoon bridges. The
Turks, however, seemed to take proper view
of the matter, regarding the movement as a
mere teint to draw them away from other
points where the actual crossing would be
attempted. II was not at all probable tina.
Russia would throw large army INTO the
low, swampy Dobrudscha to die of malarial
fevers. The result was, that the few ,hous-
and Cossacks who crossed at Ibrail encoun-
tered no opposition except a few thousand
Turks who made q feeble defence at Matchin,
and then, by tearing up the railroad from that
point to Tchernavoda, showed that they In
tended to make no opposition to the Russian
possession of the DObrudscha.
And the Turks were right about it. All
along the Danube from SilIs,ria to Kalafat,
the Russians seemed TO be in force, and kept
up furious cannonading across the river,
SO that Rutschuk, Nicopal and other cities on
its south bank were literally battered down
by the furious cannonaGing. The Turks IL.
piled with equal vigor, and nearly equal dam.
age was done on both sides. The Turks,
however, seem TO have decided that the seti.
Gus attempt at crossing would be made from
Giurgevo opposite Rutschuk, and here con-
centrated their heaviest opposing force. In.
stead OF that the point selected by the Rus
slams was al Simnitza, twenty-five miles above,
and nearly opposite Sis,ova. The arrange
ments were perfected by Tuesday, and on that
night and wednesday the crossing coInihenc.
ed IN earnest. The Turks made what oppo
sition they could, but were evidently taken by
surprise, and though there was some hard
fighting on The south bank, by Thursday the
Russians lad thrown fifty thousand men into
Bulgaria at a lo1s Of less than 1860, killed
and wounded, ana are now in such force
across the river that they can fully protecs
the banks against any further opposition. On
Wednesday the Grand Duke Nicholas crossed
in person, and on Thursday the Car issued 9
proclamation, announcing officially that the
crossing had been effected, promising the
Bulgarians protection, &c. The Turks seem
to DC in no condition to meet the Muscoyite
While they keep up desultory
opposition to the Advancing hCrdes, they are
evidently falling back upon their defences III
the Balkans. But that the Russians will soon
pass these is no longer doubted, and less than
q month, Ill all probability, will see them on
the banks Ct the BosphoruS and in possession
Of Consantinople.
AND all Europe seems 10 think Ii is we'll
that it shall be 50. London dispatches agree.
that 1.-THE highest financial authorities concsr
that the Austro-Hungarian debates, Rusa,aE,
l,terances and the tone of the MedierraleaW,
press assure non-intervention in the orient
and tranquility outside the actual combat
ants" Also, that there is a conviction that
Russia will be satisfied after a substantial
victory in Europe, and that there isa better
war than at any time within ,hc last month";
From Constantlnople, likewise, the tone of
he dispatches shows that Thu&ey Is anxious
Tor peace.
From Asia the reports are contradictory.
The Russians claim to have had the best of IL
II Delibaba, while the Turks claim a signal
,ictory.in the same affair. It IS certain, at
east, that the Russians have been driven
rom Bayazid, which is hardly consistent
With Russian victory at Nelibaba. On the
whole, events in Asia have been uninportant
Turing the week, the attention Of the belliger!
ants be ing absorbed blythe movements on the
Danube.
The MOntenegrins appear 10 have beer,
substantially crushed by the overwhelming
orce Of Suleiman pasha, who reports that he
IS in possession Of all the strategic points in
he country. With the Russians in Bulgaria,
however, the case with Montenegro, Servia,
Bosnia, and all the Turkish European prov
nces Is very decidedly changed.
Enghnd!.
There were sensational rumors At the be-
ginning OF the week that the English cabinet
had decided not TO allow Russia even tenn
)orarily to occupy Constantinople and had
also concluded to occupy Egypt with British
roops and had asked parliament for $4,000.
,G0 for war contingencies; all of which was
Interpreted 20 mean that England had virtu.
lily thrown of her neutrality and decided to
axe part IN the great Eastern war. There
seems 10 be no foundation for this. England