Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-07-06
The War in the East.
THE PASSAGE or THE DANUBE


1t had been ascertained by spies thai ~
| Turkish forces at Matchin were in no cnidi
tiOn to oppose the crossing, if made in iuIcr
and only struggling bands of hashi-baz tuA
were to he met among the low lands alOn!
the river. Before dawn, few barge-lOad
OF t1ssacks were sent cross from GalatZ
crOssln g being facilitated by small steamers
! The guns IN the forts, at GalatZ, on the
ROumanIan side, fully covered the cavalry
The same movement was made at lbrail
and several hundred men landed opposite
that place. The force landed at IbraIl had
more diiheult task, for they were COM
PEELED TO extend their line - the utmost,
while the detachment from Galatz advanced
along the main road and the larger paths,
outside which it was impossible for the
enemy to approach or flank them because
of the mar-hy condition of the country. In
less than two hours the two lines of horse
men had formed junction, the distance be-
tween Galatz and lbraIl, measured on the
inside of the bend in the river, being onlv Is
miles. Thus was 'Ormed Gordon of Cos
sacks between the rivers hank aid the
enemy. Under cover OF this Cossack Gordon
the pOntOOns were tOwed into position, and
bridges at two points were soon laid. No
sooner had the last plank been laid in the
main structure than : 600 men and two bat
terles OF artillery passed over as rapidly as
possible, each battalion forming directly il
bad reached dry ground. BY the time
the guns were ready to be brought
over, the preparations for landing them
across the marsh were finished.
The enemy in the shape Of scattered. ir-
tar "a
various points, and when the main body of
the troops had formed and the batteries had
been placed, the Cossacks were ordered for
ward to drive back the videttes An ad-
vance was made toward Matchin, the on
jcct hcing to attack at once before the place
was reinforced. The Turks were found
posted on a range-ot hills to the northwest
ward of the town. The batteries on these
hills opened on the envading troops, and a
strcng detachment of irreguars sailed out
to meet the Cossacks. They did not risk q
close encounter, however, and few shells
from the Russian battery posted on the as
sailed flank dispersed the bashi-bazouks.
Without delay the Russians were ordered to
advance and charge the batteries. Alter
severe hand-tO-hand fight, the OUTLYING for
tlhcatlOns were captured, and the guns
turned upon the fleeing Turks A second As
sault followed as soon as the Russians could
be reformed and with the aid Of the newlyac-
qnired held-pieceS the heights were carried
by storm. These struggles continued until
late IN the afternoon. Driven from their
position. thn Turks fell back on
and the Russians bivouacked for
the night in The deserted camp. During
the night the utmost activity prevailed in
the Russian camp, and it was soon general
ly known that Matchin was to be attacked
on the morrow. 1t is impossible tl sscer-
tam the losses, but from their exposed Do
SitiOn 1t Is probable that the Russians
lost more men than the Turks. The
prisoners captured place the number OF the
Turkish garrison at 5000 men. Saturday
the battle was renewed. During
the night the Turks had made a great effort
To strengthen some earthwOrks IN front of
the eastern approach to the village of Mat
chm, but lew shells were thrown into the
and town. and the Turks
evacuated the former, the Russians sdvanc-
ing and occupying the town only to find it
abandoned by the main body of the Turkish
tronps during the darkness.
All day Saturday the crossing at Ibrail
The arrival of the Gar at lbrail
was the signal for the beginning of the con-
quest of the DUbrud-cha. The heights COM
the river as tar as nirsoya will be
seized within the next four days. Only two
army corps, embracing between So 600 and
TO 600 men, will cross at lbrall. The lIth
corDs. without It's cavalry division numbers
81 600 men. The reason for sending so few
troops into the DObrudscha is that. because
OF the Darrenness OF the country. 1t cannot
be relied upon for furnishing sustenanee.
The next crossing will. 1t is said, take place
II Turnu. opposite NIcOpOlIs. Thus the
Russians will ouitlank two strong fOrtres-es
1f the famous Turkish quadrangle, namely,
Sillstrla and Narna. besides cutting all COM
between Varna and the Danube.
\ London despatch says: All authorities
sssert that the crossing opposite lbrail Is
Intended merely as diversion. because the
nestIential climate and flooded condition OF
The DObrudscha forbid operations on an ex-
ensIve scale. As any danger from the
Turkish futllla or army on the Galatz and
fenl line has, in the opinion of the Russian
passed away, the ma jority of
he troops has been withdrawn thence to
to replace forces that have
zone to the Node and Alura.
There are between Kalaraseh and |
he Hungarian frontier 232 900 men
or the first line of attack. In the second |
me CT SObOsIa, Bucharest, Slatlna and |
NrajOva there are IS, coo. and further north |
IgaIn a reserve of 1000 Is stationed. half |
It Ploiesti and half at Piteseh. These all |
ire combattants, of whom there are thus |
80, 900, exclusive of the troops at Galatz,
brazil. REM and the reserve camps and bar
acks at Tartar, Bunar and BOlgrad. The |
otal number of Russians, combat
ants and non-combattarts, now in
toumania Is reliably estimated at
IL 500. Their heavy guns are supplied
with 100 rounds each, and they have on the |
Iodo and Aluta sufficient pontoons for the
obstruction Of six bridges across the
Danube.
1t is believed that the main passage will |
,e attempted in few days, for. though |
he Danube is still rather nigh, the spring
loods caused by the heavy rains have in
,reat measure subsided, and before long the
summer floods caused by the melting snow
N the lower Carpathmns will commence.