The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-06-02
FOREIGN NEWS.
The Russo-Turkish War.

The Russo-Turkish War.
The war news from the East this week is
tame and devoid OF exciting events or incl
dents. The Russian lines extend pretty close
ly along the north bank of the Danube from
Galatz 10 Orsova, the prevailing movement
beng westward, new arrivals hating at east
crn points when the troops there move up
stream, from which the impression prevails
that the serious attempt to cross will be we'll
up towards the Hungarian border The river
is still so high, however, that the CROSSING
must necessarily be delayed for week on
two. Meantime there is pretty active fusil
ade Of artillery kept up across the stream
different points, and on the Goth the RUSSIAN
by means Of torpedo boats, succeeded
blowing up another Turkish monitor WI
the Turks still present formidable iron
the south bank of the Danube, it is also
that they have a splendid army of Co. COZ
at Shumla, at the principal pass of til.
kans, so that, even after crossing the
| the Russians will have a harder task
them to pass the mountains. ShumlS Is d
very strong position and though besieged by|
the Russians in 1I14, 1910 and 1928, waj
never taken.
The Car is expected to arrive at the head
quarters of the army in Roumania on the III
inst, when he will take personal command
it is said, and the present inactivity will Id
succeeded by stirring events.
In Asia Minor the belllgegents appear ID
be more active, though it is very difficult I'll
figure out" from the dispatches what is bel
ing done, The fighting around Batoum seem|
to be kept up, and yesterdays dispatches mi
dictated that the Russians had gained an imI
portant position in the rear of that fortress|
so as to cut of Its communications with thtI
interior. Ardahan, after having been capI
tured and destroyed by the Russians, was rel
taken by the Turks who appear to be occu
pied in restoring its defenses.
The bombardmcnt Of Kars is kept up, buI
the main Russian army Is evidently conce2|
trating around Erzeroum, where before Ion !
heavy engagement seems inevitable. Thert|
is good deal of complaint about the Turk
ish management in the East, and the lates
reports say Mukhtar Pasha has been dis |
placed while London correspondent write !
from Constantinople that the Turkish man
agement IN Asia is designedly inefficient L
alarm England and force her to intervene L
protect her highways to the Indies.
The government at Constantinope is in
bad way on account of local discussions. \
formidable Sofia demonstration on the 18th
demanding the dismissal of Redit Pasha, tn
war minister, and the recall of Midhat Pasha
was suppressed with considerable difficulty,
The leaders have since been arrested, and
Is mildly stated that the affair proceeded oH
ly frCm few though:less persons. The poor
weak Sultan, however, dismissed the obnoA
ous minister, and seems to be raCked wit
uneasiness and fear.
For several days in the beginning of III
week the air was full of rumors of peace ne
gotia,ons. 1t was SAID, as the result of III
recall of Bismarck to Berlin, that he had ia
duced Russia to make overtures of peace, o
the ground that the success in Asia Mino
thus far had demonstrated Russian superior
ity, and that now, Turkey being ready 10 Civ
the powers the desired guarantees OF interna
reforms, and to give Russia certain CONNER
cial privileges in the Bosphorus, Russia wa
willing to withdraw her armies, etc. Late
dispatches, however, say these rumors hat
their origin manly on the Paris Bourse t
influence stocks, and are without foundation
On the contrary, a general European war il
regarded as more imminent than ever.