New Orleans Republican., 1877-05-23
TRE LATRsT OF Thk WAR.


Turnseverin and Kalafat on the twenty
fifth.
The Circassisns who landed at Souk-
goum- Ksle have arrived at the capital of
the. Abschasian country. The Abscha-
slams are afraid to join them. The Dam
ube is too high for pontooning. 1t is
estimated that the Turks have 200, 600
men north of the Balkan mountains to re-
sist $50, 600 Russians. The Russians are
bombarding Nikopolis.
The Nelos' Bucharest dispatch says:
Every day makes it more obvious that the
Russians are in no hurry to cross the
Danube. The dispatch further says the
Cars coming to join the army was alto
gether unexpected here. The announce
ment created much surprise and satisfac-
ton. he will be accompanied by the
Czsrowitch, Prince Gortschakoff and the
diplomatic chancellor.
The Grand Duke Nicholas departure
for Bucharest is postponed in consequence
of the Czar's visit
A Russian official bulletin, dated the
seventh, claims the capture of Ardahan
with sixty guns and immense stores. The
bulletin says the Russian loss is believed
to be one officer and fifty soldiers killed
and four officers and eighty-six soldiers
wounded.
The Telegrdph's special from Erzeroum
Saturday, describing the first attack on
Ardahan, says: The efforts of the Rus
SLAMS commenced with a heavy artillery
fire, which was as hotly returned; this
was followed by impetuous infantry at
tacks, which were Tepulsed every time
with great slaughter. Under orders, ap-
parently to obtain success somewhere or
other at any cost, the troops were led
back to the assault after each failure until
night stopped the carnage.
From Kars we have intelligence that
yesterday the Russians attacked the outer
lines with furious determination, hav-
ing preceded their attempt by heavy
but ill-directed cannonade from the siege
artillery. The powerful guns in the
Turkish batteries replied with better ef-
feet. The duel was vigorously maintained
till the Russians brought up columns of
infantry as close as they dared to the for
tifcations, apparently purposing, if pos
sible, to take the place by storm.
The Ottoman commander observing this
drew together q large body of troops be-
hind the ramparts, and launched q tre-
mendous sortie upon the Russian flank
and rear, under the shock of which the
enemy were obliged TO retreat into dis
advantageous position. :.
A bloody engagement followed at close
quarters, and Ut its termination the Rus
slams were obliged to retreat beaten, leav-
ing on the field 800 corpses, and a large
number of wounded. There was slight
encounter in the meantime between the
cavalry without any special result.
The Ielegroph'S dispatch from Batoum,
dated Saturday morning, says: The Rus
sian forces here, after making a great
show of warlike intentions yesterday, con-
tented themselves with q harmless ar
tillery duel. The fact was the enemy has
sent off fifteen batallions in the direction
OF Soukgoum-Kslek, in the hope of ar
resting the insurrection which has spread
from that centre.
The defenses Of Batoum are quite un-
impaired, and the position leaves nothing
to desire. The issue of the next assault
is looked upon as pretty certain victory
for the Sultan.
The Times Vienna correspondent re-
ports that thousands of workmen have
been sent to repair the railways damaged
by the tioodD in Moldavia. 1t is hoped
communication will be established in a
few days, but still the interruption is so
complicated a business, as an advance of a
large army must needs be felt in every
direction, and can not but retard consid-
erably the commencement Of active ope-
rations.
1t looks like, in anticipation of such a
delay, that the Cars arrival at Plovesti,
which was first announced for May 25,
is now spoken of as likely to happen
June'G.
Ardahan, like all other old citadels of
the Asiatic frontier, was surrounded by
heights commanding il within easy artil-
lery range. These heights had been for
titled, but when they were once taken, as
seems to have been the case at Arabian,
the fortress. itself would become untenab,e.
The Turks did the best they could
namely: to withdraw the garrison of
eleven battalions and effect junction
with Muhtar Pacha in the direction of
Erzeroum.
The danger is that the Russians in the
neighborhood of Kars may waylsy the re-
treating force if they attempt to pass that
way, but there is another and much more
difficult mountain road through the val
ley Of Keera to the valley of Oltei, which
the retreating Turks will probably take,
The fall of Ardahan is of conderable ad-
vantage to the Russians, for, besides open.
ing line of communication with Achal-
zik, it will enable the Russians to turn the
force hitherto operating against Ardahan
toward Kars, or to take part in the COM
bined operations against Erzeroum,
The Grand Duke Michael telegraphs
froln Tifis on the twentieth: Along the
entire coast, from Cape Adler to Cape
Pitchentchyr, Turkish men-of-war are
hombarding and burning undefauded aud
peaceful settlements, and landing Circas-
sian emigrants at various points, who seek
to excite the Abchasians to rebellion.
Troops have been dispatched to suppress
any rising.
The Russians captured at Ardahan Of the
Turkish Pasha, eighty-two cannon, in
cluding one teninch and a number of
small Krupps.
Roumania has proclaimed her inde-
pendence and declared war against Tur-
key, but will remain on the defensive.
A Reuter- telegram from Erzeroum an
nounces that the Russians have with
drawn from Kaghermsn. Muhtar Pasha
is at Kankjarduz.
A Reuters Bucharest telegram con-
firms the intelligence that the Roumanian
Chamber of Deputies has unanimously
adopted resolution declaring war against
Turkey, and proclaiming the absolute in
dependence of Roumania.
The railway bridge beyond the Alata is
broken, and the movement of the Rus
slams will consequently be delayed.
The Roumanian Official Gazette to-day
promulgates q circular interdicting nayi-