The New York herald., 1877-07-03
THE SITUATION IN RUSTCHUK
The Hospital Service and the
Condition of the Troops.
A VALI'S JUD MENT.

considered worth talking about now that the summer
heat upon and the river IL about 10 tall
There are many different opinions the subj
there variety OF picturesque costume in tho streets
The wheels OF the Russian guns drag heavily. 1t ap-
pears surely cannot be long before we hear their
thunder The Czar Is al our doors. Surely we must
soon hear his knock The whole line OF the Danube
from widdn TO Tultcha, swarms with armed men,
Who are only prevented from dying Al each
yhe-'s throals by the mighty stream that
rolls its waters between them. Both sides are
impatient and cuafe the deay-at least
san answer for this side The Ottoman troops, where
aver have them, arc eager to meet their enemy
officers and await the invasion with Impotence
aud with confidence Tho south bank OF the Danube
is shouting, "Come on !" but the north shore gives
back only echo, and up the present moment not
single really serious attempt has been made to accept
the invitation.
vALuELEss INFORMATION.
The reports of the English journals of "bon-
bardmentE" and "passagcs' OF tho Danube are, IN
many cases. ridiculous exaggerations oil rumors picked
up from "the man in the s.reet'-more "colee house
babbc." The Turkish telegraph company must have
already made fortune out OF the special correspond
ons, who, every day and many times daily, rush or
to the Offices and hand in telegram after telegram
worthless rubbish Any item OF really accurate mill
tary is not allowed TO go, or, II accepted at the
Ruschuk Telegraph Bureau, is stopped at Constant-
nople War correspondents very heavily hand-
capped IN Turkey, and the public viii do
wisely TO accept the frequent kilograms OF elusive
respondents With gram o. SALT especially II the tee
grams straight through from Turkey itself am
informed that even dispatches sent by the British
military at,ache TO the Ambassador IN Constantinople
are 'arrete par ordre supereur," and the money po
htey handed back to the gallant colonel. The true
history OF this will be eound in the kilograms
but the letters OF those who have been watch
and report It's events
REcoYSorssANcEs.
During the past week we have heard Of two moro
'passages of the Danube" but they turned out, as
usual, havo been reconoissances for the pur
pose OF testing the strength and courage of the Turks
At village little distance above Nicopos about two
hundred Russians landed in boats and established
themselves on Turkish SOIL They were promptly met,
and after short struggle driven again with loss
OF several killed. At about the same time somewhat
larger body passed the river near Tchernavoda the
terminus OF the short railroad from kustendji which
connects the Danube with the Black Sea; but troops
Immediately moved forward to check the at
tempt and the Russians compelled to beat
nasty retreat Nicopolis and Tchernavoda arc about
$50 miles apart that the Turks have long line OF
river watch, which will probably be subject to In
fents and sham passages to draw hoir atten
determined upon. where the real attempts will be
made to gain permanent footing.
VERY FUNNY, NOW.
The reconnaissance made by the Russians at Tcher-
uavoda may have been of more serious character
than is at present supposed II is not unlikely that
the Russians Will choose that spot among others for
The forcing OF the Danube, provided the difn-
ruliies OF The marshy country on the Wal
iachian shore can be successfully overcome.
An invading army operating at that point
would probably march upon KustendJ, port
In the Back sea, and by its capture cut off the
whole of the Dobrudscha. The Turks, however, have
,hougnt of this danger and are busly engaged IN for
lilyine the and bringing up new guns. while a
battalion OF troops has been sent from Varna TO
strengthen the garrison OF Kustendji 1t be
the general Impression, however, the Turks viii
not make very good fight Of it in the Dobrudscha,
and II Will only be when the Russians come within
striking distance of varna that they w NEE; with
serious resistance.
FIGHTING on THE LowEROASuBs.
From an Englishman doing service in the Turkish |
iron-cad eunooat Mdnat obtainei some interesting
Information about the recent fighting at Matcnin ana
Brala, on the Lower Danube. 1t appears that the |
commander OF tue gunboat, Delavcn Pacha, had been
siveiy 10 endure a regular bomoardmenL rho Rus
sian fire was so holly maintained that the gum
boats iron-clad side was completely stripped
81 It's paint down to the water line, which
does not say much for the penetrating power
pe nps"p foT gun h eae Sp
always refused. The sailors and marines we're so ex
,spcrated hat they could with difficulty be restrained
from dIs0beying orders. The commander sent IN his
resignation, saying that he did not understand the
kind o warfare which forbade reply To an enemys
Gre, aud that the authorities might ind else
did TO nll his place. In a subsequent engagement
the Midha closo into shore and DESTROYED large
Russian Island battery containing seven guns Seeing
The Russians scampering out OF the WORKS tho Turks
landed some marines, who charged The rotrcating
enemy drove them INTO the wa or and took possession
NJ fha ham 1haI ItraA Al amin nj nd
The embrasures and guns all 10 pieces. Fifteen Rus
slams found dead beside their cannon, and no
doubt many were drowned IN the attempt To escape TO
BrLG4RIAxs BECOMING INsoLESr.
OF local Intelligence there still dcarth at Rust
chuk, and the batteries maintain the azy silence into
which they relapsed after the "afair" OF the 18th u
paid visit recently TO the Muchr, Eschren Pacha,
who received his tent aud invited me 10 The
coffee and cigarette without which nothing can
done IN Turkey. The encsmpment OF thc Mucnir
q a RIDGE inside tho walls oil The town, but com
,ietely commanding it, On the ridge near the tents is
, battery OF 1eld pieces IN position. Every gun is
ira ned ON the Bulgarian quarter oil the town. During
NY visit Two mi,raileuses arrived and placed,
at other end oftuc line oi guns have already
men TINS battery in former letter as being IN
tended 10 keep The Bugarans Ia order, case they
became nj nil troublesome. There 10 no doub that
the Turks taking wise precautionary measure IN
making tbs display Of iorce Tor the euigarians are
become somewhat insoont OF late.
REMEMBER
One OF the officers told me that the exact positions
Of the houses OF the leading men are well known,
aud that the battery Will open aro and blow them
10 pieces al the nrst provocation. Bulgarian mp
rising might very seriously compromise the safety of
Rustchuk when the Russian siege begins and the |
military authorities arc, Of course. taking every meas
Tor the instant stamping out Of any nsurrccton.
heard a Buigar remark Turk the other day
''You have had your turn will soon come 1
II Is TO he hoped that beer counsels may prevail
lmoug the Sclav population oi Ruschuk, or the
bsnnot fa 10 become the scene Of dcpioraDe events
fnc whole Turkish nation Will shortly he 10
pei the Invasion OF foreigners who ak in by blood
ana religion 70 m lhons OF tile Sutans subjects.
rho situation 10 most critical ana dangerous All
Iii.
mast be ut nand.
cHANcISo The RAILWAY srArios.
Tho railway company winch owns the limo between \
and Yarna are very busly engaged in |
making new temporary line. which will branch od |
from the existing near Ruschuk run Tor Ave
mics behind the hils VI the town out OF reach
OF any bofnbardment from across the river AT pres
eut The terminus RuscbuK Is close the bank and
we within range OF the Russian batteres which are
sxactiy opposite bat the new line will enable the Turks
10 Keep up The railway communication with tho town
without fear OF interruption. The government have
-. lhl lunI mi ..r 4 aaa