New-York tribune., 1877-06-29
OPERATIONS ON THE RIVER.
TIE GRAND DUKES vICToRY-EEJoIcINGs IN 81
PErERsBuRG-A GENERAL ADVANCE.

BUCHAREST. Thursday, June %, 1877
The Grand Duke Nicholas, at the head oi the
Eighth Army Corps, crossed the Danube near SIS
toya Yesterday at daybreak, driving the Turks from
their positions Beats filed with troops continued
to cross the ver all the day. assisted by the lsahds
lying between the banks. The Turks did their best
to prevent the crossing and terrible hghtlng took
place. Nikepol, the south bank, was burned
during the bombardment.
now THE CROSSING WAS EFFECTED.
LoNpos. Friday June 20, 1877.
a special TO The Times frem Simnitza. June o.
savs: Under the willows and tamarsks there were
collected last night about o'clock boats and men.
Al o'clock they began to cross. Both during the
crossing and afterward they suffered seriously from
The fire of two batteries, and from rifle fire.
One gun standing alone fred with stcadiness and
precision aud created some damage, but, although
themen suffered, the boats went and came until
men enough were collected to hold Their
own when morning daHned. Still the Turks
made a feeble resistance. for resistance
must surely be feeble which cannot preveut 2Os
boats from passing to and fro on broad river.
Dragomjroh's division of the Eighth corps was the
fist to cross The Turks fired the last round little
after / o'clock to-day.
On the Turkish side the bank presents low cliffs
and steep declvities, and behind that more gradual
ascents but always forming perfectly defensive po-
sitions which were. in fact, only feeby contested.
On the right Of the Russians opposite SlstoYa, all
to-day three battaliOns of field artillery, h1ng
slowly have helped to crush the opposition OF the
Turks TO the left Of the landing place. concealed
among willows more batteries, and further leit
still horse artillery. From that position Whole
feet of Turkish craft is visible. One OF them rs
wal vessel. Its inactivity is unaecountabe.
Between ] ana o'clock to-day the first RUSSIAN
sta cuu gQ
pontoons, and by that time the column OF wounded
ceased to pass The character OF the resistance may
be estimated by the fact that so far as known at
present there are only I40 wouded, and giving
fair proportion for the killed, it may b9 SAID that
tie Russi an loss bas been about 200.
Gen. Scobeiof7s division of COSsacks is on the road
TO SmIitza from sOmeN here up the river. It's chlef,
who is to lead the advanced cavalry Of the army has
Just arrived here. Though she Russians have passed
here easily it has not been higher up the river
near Turnu-Magureh. where then attempt has failed
We must therefore suppose that SimnltZa Will be-
come the chief point of passage for other corps than
those originally destined to cross here. As matters
stand one CORPS only the Eighth, will have gained a
march on the Turkish army.
Long before this reaches England other corps
will be on the southern side. interpOScd like
wedge between the Turkish armies at Wlddin
and Rustchuk Tie Russians wisely drew
thick veil around their movement at
las, moment placing sentres OIL every road and SUI
ferng no man TO pass. They then passed higher up
the river than was expected"
The correspondent sums up the result Of the
operations as follows The Russian left is in
great force near Hirsona, and Is being constantly
strengthened. The right has secured crossing at
Simnitza with ease, so that we may say the Danu-
ban passage is secured. The center has the choice
OF concentrating upon the right OF left wing. and
crossing unOppOsed
All the troops of Gen. Zimmerman have crossed
the Danube at Galatz, and the Bulgarians i'll the
Dobrudja are arming against the Turks.
The Fourth Army Corps from the interior Of Rus
sa, IS now entering RoumanIa via BOlgrad.
NICHOLAS TELEGRAPHs TIE NEWS.
81. PETERSBURG, Thursday. June 28, 1877.
Tic Grand Duke Nicholas telegaphs as follows: :
"The difficult and complicated task of crossing the
Danube is achieved. Slstova and the surrounding
bights are in our hands. Gen. DragomrOtis division,
with mountain artillery, was the first TO cross,
the Yohynian regiment leading the van. There are
now the evening of the 27thl the other SIDE the
Eighth Army Corps and the Fourth Rife Brigade.
The Thrty-ffth Division is now crossing" Private
dispatches announce that the Russian headquarters
have been transferred to Simntza. Flags are flying
all over ST. Petersburg and solemn service Of
Thanksgiving has been celebrated in the Cathedral.
THE BOyBARDMENT or RUsTCHUK.
LONDON, Thursday June 29, 1877
The Tyme, in its leading article, says: "Neutrsl
States are painfully interested by the reports that
the Russians have been violating the laws
OF war by the infection of wanton in
Jury. If they deliberately directed their guns
agains. the consulates and defcnselcss parts of
RuseAuk Their guilt is surpassed only by their folly,
and AZ fol he all 10
cause, if, as reported. they continued to fire on
tie English Consulate after the Consul hojsted the
American flag, they would have gone out Of their
way to assail power peculiarly friendly to them
selves. Ii is difficult to believe the Russians would
have deliberately inflicted such outrage, and it Is
well to remember that similar charges invariably ae
company every bOmbardment