Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-05-18
The Eastern War.

in Europe except on the line Of the batteries
between Ibrail and lsmaiI. The question now
being discussed at Bucharest is whether the
Rounauiau army shall cross the Danube With
the Russians or simply remain 90 their own
soil to protect the lines Of communication. AL
though the majority Of the members of the
Government ere at present opposed to The pas
sage Of the river, it is extremely probable that
the more active and determined members OF
the war party will finally prevail.
Along the Danube the commanders OF Turk
ish forresses have published manifestoes urg-
ihr the inhabitants to withdraw further inland
to tlc Balkans. Opposite Gaalz enormous
masses Of Turkish cavalry arc said to be visible
once more. An attempt to cross by sailing yes
sells will be made by the Turks towards Sim
nitza
A dispatch from Bucharest Wednesday says:
General SkobeIef's division of Clrcasan Cos
sacks, intended 10 head the advance OF the TO-
yasiop, is passing through Bucharest to-day,
ea route for the Danube. A crossing Of the
river, it is believed, is not Immediately i'm.
mincnt.
The position Of the Rouuaniau general head
quarters is not set made known. 1t seems as
though the Russians had quietly and dexter
ously placed Roumauian troops where they
should be blended with their oWn. as previous
" suggested by the Grand Duke Nicholas, but
strenuously objected to by the Prince and UoV'
| eminent. ga
W M ~
AGO a question arose about the supply OF coal
to Roumanian railways. The Austrian Stats
bachn, which has advanced a considerable sud-
towards finishing the Roumaniau lines, sup
plies from its pits in Barat the coal required tor
Working the lines through Walaohia. The
question now is whether coal is contraband OF
war. This has never been settled. AS the
railway company will scarcely take upon itself
to decide the question, the Government will
doubtless be appealed to.
p The news that the Russians have some float
pg batteries 90 the Danube is confirmed. They
are described as small but iDgenously made,
consisting OF three pontoons joined together.
Each battery carries one gun. The pontoons
were tloated down the Pruth and joined by
marine detachment. Besides the foregoing,
the Russians have some large steamers which
have been armed. They were found on the
| SpOt, WHICH Udlutallf SACteo ou9P'Siou 'n"'
they had been sent there before.
The Turkish gunboats are still refugeed at
Matchin, whence they do not attempt to come
down the Danube, The Russians firing from
Ibrail to Matchin yesterday was an experiment
with extra heavy guns as to the possibility OF
DESTROYING these gunboats, but as the distance
il eleven kilomctcrs, the result, al most, was
nero chance.
4 rccopnoitriug expedition, consisting Of five
hundred Russian infantry, crossed the Danube
in boats little below REM. The Turks al
t lowed them to come we'll within range, when
they opened such heavy ire upon them that
they were compelled to retreat to their boats
with heavy loss The Russians have crossed
the Aluta aud entered Little Walachla, which
it was expected hitherto would be occupied
, solely by the koumanians
The Turks altogether have captured two
hundred Russian vessels in the Danube, c1n
tanning over $50, 900 hectolitres of wheat.
4 Coostantinople dispatch says that the Ger
mau. Austrian and Italian Ambassadors lave
arrived there. The canuouade between Ote
) nitza aud Turtukai continues
The Russians have closed several channels OF
the Danube about Matohu, near Galatz. with
torpedoes, The report that the Russians had
crossed the Danube al Pod Bassl originated in
the fact that they constructed one battery on
it's banks. Pod Bassi 10 small channel.
The London Times Bucharest dispatch says
eight Turkish soldiers captured near lbrail
we're armed with American rifles firing thirty
six cartridges without rcloadi0g. La addition
: to the charges contained in his rifle each SOL
der was provided with one hundred and TWEEN.
" rounds Of ammunition. The Russians were
somewhat surprised to find such weapons in tho
hands CT their enemies The advanced guard
=. ! T. ID 80, oi,,1 II
reach Bucharest tomorrow. The column will
march through the city, being the first consld.
cradle body Of Russians who have done SO since
the commencement Of the war Rain has fall.
en- heavily all day and continues this evening.
Ia consequence Of the al!uvial formations along
the lower Danube the state of the weather is
! ono Of the most important items OF the cam-
pGlgD.
Up to the present the Russians have not at
tempted to place poDtoon bridges on or to cross
the Danube at any point.
A dispatch from Elzaroum Monday says -
"The Russians have advanced to Kara kalisa
in great force. The Turks will confront them
at Toprak KaIa. Both armies are preparing
for pitched battle
A Pera correspondent sends The following al
ditioaal particulars az 10 the SUCCESS OF the
Turks aud Circassian insurgents at Sukum la
| lel :-'1hey drove tue N1OScOVltc garrison auu
road guards all over the district, chasing them to
Gaugara, which they also destroyed. When
these successes were reported, Hassan Pasha
landed new supply of rifles and cartridges to
; equip the Circassians A formidable local
force was organized to march upon the railway
liuc to Tiais, aiming at the destruction Of ku-
tais Another large band was dispatched to
raise the country 10 the rear of the Russian
columns which arc attacking Batoum. The
: foregoing news, however, was sent to Constan
linopIe by the Turkish commander.
The capture Of Sukum Kaeh and The rising
OF the CircassiaDs, who massacred the garrison
and burned the town, is officially announced.
An iron clad has lett Sukum Kaleh for
Batoum to obtain arms for the Circassians.
An official telegram, dated at Achalkalaki,
May Is, says Tho Russians have thrown u
bridge over the Kur. A flying detachment on
the ] lth advanced as far as the Notifications
| or I(,ep,eon,,hio Tho TurEs rnnoin nae.