Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-12
RUSSIA'S WAR WITH TURKEY.

A terrible battle was progressing near
Sistova, on the 30th ult. Reenforcements were
being hastily forwarded from Rustchuk,
Shumla and Nikopolis. The Turks still held
their ground. Their artillery inflicted great
loss upon the Russians. Abdul Kerim, reply
ing to telegram sent him on the LIST, by the
council of ministers, reported that up to the
present time sixty thousand Russians have
crossed the Danube. A battle is imminent at
Biela, which is expectad to last several days
The Turks made desperate sortie from Kars
Sunday morning, July list, attempting to sur
prise the Russians and storm the hill on which
are two guns used in the bombardment of
Kars. The Turks were compelled to with
draw after several hours fighting. The losses
were heavy on both sides.
A dispatch from Erzeroum, dated on
the LIST, says the siege of Kars was raised on
that day, and that the Russian forces are now
retreating towaads the frontier. The sortie
from Kars that dav is represented as one of
the most bloody and desperate struggles Of
the war. The Turks fought with great gal
lantry. The damage they inflicted was i'm
mense. In the battle of Seewin, which also
took place the same day, the Russian loss was
about 1900 men. The Turks are greatly Ella
ted over their success, and represent that the
Russians are in an utter state of d9moraliza-
ton. Tirnova, which is an important point
from which several roads radiate, is in the
possession of the Russians. All able bodied
Bulgarians have been summoned to present
themselves at the Russian camps to be organ
lied into foIce for their own protection in
the future. The British feet arrived in Besika
bay July 3rd. The rumor that it will come
to Constantinople is erroneous. No request
for authority to come cas- been preferred by
England. Admiral Horribly is, however, ex-
pected there
An official dispatch of the 9Th announces
that the Dobrudscha is completely cleared of
Turks as far as Trajan's wall. The Russians
continue to cross the Danube uninterruptedly
day and night According to intelligence
from high sources, the Russian army at b.
toum, after several engagements has been
broken up. The fragments arc retreating in
different directions, and the army besieging
Kars, being left uncovered, in consequence of
the disaster at Batoum, although it has not
yet raised the siege, is taking measuresto do so
if its situation becomes more imperiled. Both
sides seem to have shown great bravery The
Russian troops, after losingpositions, one after
another, were, after time, rallied by their
chiefs. This explains why twenty general
officers are mentioned as killed or wounded.
1t is believed that the Turks also suffered
heavily as they do not seem to have followed
up their success with the rapidity which might
heve been expected The advance of the Rus
slams across the Danube seems to have aroused
the oficialworld in Constantinople. All avail
able troops, including the imperial guard have
been ordered to the seat of war.
The Russian advance is about half way
to Tirnova, which the Turks seem to have
abandoned and afterwards re-occupied. 1t is
reported that the Turks are concentrating
about Shumla, in order to take the Russian
advance to the Balkans in the flank The.
Russians will probably go forward until the
Turks come out of Shumla, and then face
about and give them battle in the open coun-
try. The 100000 Russians who have crossed
the Danube at Sistovs comprise 10000 cavalry
and $50 cannon. About $4,000 more Russians
are concentrated between Simnitza and Turnu
Maguereli. The army which crossed at Sis
tova has been divided into three bodies the
principal of which is marching on Rrstchuk,
and the other two towards the Balkans and
Nikopolis respectively. Gen. Ignatieff has ar
rived at the headquarters of the Grand Duke
Nicholas.
The following is the position of forces
in Armenia: The Turkish right wing con-
fronts the Russian left at Otoch Kilissa. Faick
Pasha has fresh body of $4,000 Russians op-
posed to him near Bayazed. Another Russian
division Of 10000 is marching towards Arda-
han. Mukhtar Pasha's advance guard is with
fourteen miles of Kars. Battles were ex
pected at Utoch, Kilisse and Bayazid. 1t is
also believed Mukhtar Pasha will be engaged
in the provisioning of belligerent armies,
which is now matter of great difficulty.