The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-07-09

LONDON, July7.-Concerning the situa.
tion on the Danube we have no new inior.
nation from any quarter, except denials
OF the first haSty reports Of rapid ad.
vance of the Russians. TirnovR Is not in
their hands nor is not likely TO be, as the
Turks probably mean to hold the line OF
IanitrR, II they can, and Tirnova Ia very
lavorably situated for strong deienses.
The fighting, thus far reported, cannot
have amounted to more than out
post affairs, for the Russians are
not yet prepared for any serious
work. The Turkish quadrilateral re-
mains intact, and Is not less threat ening
to the 10000 Russians said to be across
the Danube at SiStova than il General
Zimmerman had not crossed at Ibrail and
swept the Dobrudscha. His 10000 men
must connect with the gArrisons OF the
three fortified positions Of Kuntendii,
Silistria and Varna before they can rem
der electual help 10 the army now at
Sistova. In some way provision must
be made against the Turkish
forces about NikopAlis and Widdin
before any serious advance upon
Balkans can be undertaken. Nothing is
yet known ot the Turkish dispositions,
except that the headquarters remain at
Shumla, where Redii Pasha, Minister OF
War, has joined Abdul Kerim and a coun.
Gil has been established, under whose
direction the campaign will be prose.
cuted, possibly with more vigor than
heretofore, as the only good quality gen.
orally conceded to Redif Pasha is energy.
The Turkish Danube Aotilla remain
supine, while single pontoon bridge at
siStoya is permitted to supply large
Russian force with provisions and war
material. The bridge Is reported as
very weak; that 1t has broken OF its own
weight several times in the past week.
One Of the iron clads might place the
Russian army in desperate position, for
the country along the Turkish side Of the
river would not keep them many
days II they were deprived Of their com.
missary. II was reported, recently,
that Hobart Pasha contemplales an
operation Of this nature on the
Danube, under his personal direc.
tion, but has thus far been restraln-
ed by jealousy on the part Of the Turkish
Pashas. Nearly all accounts from the
seat Of war in Asia Minor agree that the
Russians have met with serious reverses,
but their posltion does not appear to be
as thoroughly compromised as would be
inferred from the earlier dispatches by
way Of Erzeroum.
THE MOST SINISTER
feature Of the Russian situation is the
almost utter absence Of official bulletins
from the Grand Duke Michael, which
helped to keep us informed OF the pro.
gress Of the Russians.
The following are the positions Of the
respective forces az near as can he ascer.
tanned: The Russian left after advanc.
ing TO Delibaba has now turned back on
its line OF advance and is marching on
Bayazid, which is still invested by irreg.
ulars from Van. It will probably
be able 10 defeat these, save
Bayazid, and re-establish commu-
nication with Erivan. A detached
column Of the centre under Gen. Heyman,
after defeat at Zewin with heavy losR, has
fallen back to the neighborhood of Kara,
but the siege OF kars has not been raised,
and the latest Turkish bulletins do moi
give the impression that Mukhtar Pasha
feels himself strong enough to undertake
its relief. The latest adviCes represent
that he has advanced to within Is miles
OF the Russian lines.
There has been nothing definite from
Batoum since the capture by the Turks
Of the Russian positions on the Samebah
and Rhatesuban Heights. Both the Rus.
sian and Turkish reinforcements are said
to be Fastening forward. The question
Of provisioning the armies is said to be
growing serious for both sides.
The dispatch Of the fleet to Besika
Bay continue to be the chief topic
in British politics. The movement
is gravely censured by the op-
poaition as tending 10 revive in Con.
stantinople hope OF Britiph intervention
and TO impair England's influence as n
neutral power when the Eastern question
comes to final settlement.
AOpecial from Shumla says the report
Of battle at Biela and the repulse Of the
Russians remains unconiirmed.
A special from St. Petersburg denies
that the Russians we're repulsed at Biela
and asserts that BielA ia now in posses.
sion Of the Russians.