The Portland daily press., 1877-05-21
ON THE DANUBE.

The Russian Headquarters.
LONDON, May 19.-The Telegraph's Bucba-
rest despatch Gays that Grand Duke Nicholas
will transfer his headquarters to Bucharest on
Sunday The Prince offered him his summer
residence, but he will probably stay at the
Russian mission, while his immediate personal
suite and staff will be lodged at Catrocini. He
is expected to remain here about five weeks,
by which time three army corps will probably
be formally established in Bul garia, when he
will definitively take the field. The Caro-
witch is also announced to arrive in Bucharest
shortly, as he will witness the crossing of the
Danube.
ASmall Body OF Russians Across the
River.
The Times says as there are no'heavy masses
of russian infantry on the banks of the Dan
ube west of Ibrail il is scarcely probable that
any passage in force will be attempted until all
the corps are in position. A small body of
Russians appear to have crossed between REM
and Ibrail, in spite of Turkish monitors, and
are now awaiting the deployment of the centre
and right wing on the line of the river
Railway Collision in Roumanin.
NEW YORK, May 19-Kiernans special by
Bucharest telegraph states that train with
Russian soldiers collided with freight train
on the railway IN Roumania at Pilast. killing
and wounding great many including prom
inent Russian General
Russian Reiuforcemeuts.
LONDON, May ia Berlin despatch says
the experience which the Russians had of the
Turkish needle gun daring the first few days of
the campaign, has caused reinfoTcements to be
despatched to Roumania and Caucasus. In
Roumania the three corps which were to have
acted as reserves are added to the operating
force, and fresh corps are being moblllzed in
their stead. While in the Caucasus similar
changes are being brought about. The Russian
combatants in Roumania are thus raised to
about 100000 men, which will require the
Turks to make a corresponding effort. Be-
tween Rshova and 5istova the Danube is almost
unprotected. Probably no attempt will be made
to cross the Danube before the arrival of por-
ton of the reserves
Russian Movements.
The Times Vienna correspondent says that
for some time movement on a large scale of
Russian troops westward has been observed,
supposed to be directed to Simnischa and Turnu
Magureli. This seems to reveal their intention
OF crossing there with one column, to operate
in the rear of the Turkish positions of Rust
chuk Silistria, Shumla and Varna, or else to-
wards Tirnova and the Balkan passes. AS far
as trustworthy Intelligence goes, the Russians
do not seem to have gone much farther west
ward than Slatina, on the Aluta, and Korbu,
from which there is fair road down to the
Danube at Turnu Magureli and Simnitscha.
IL is rumored that portion of the troops
which arrived at Slatina are destined for Kra-
Jova and Turnserverln, to act with the Rouma-
MAN army corps already assembled there.
This agrees with the report that the Russian
ambassador at Vienna was instructed to explain
the necessity imposed on the Russian COM
mander of operating beyond the Aluta, which
was the boundary agreed upon beyond which
the Russian right wing was not to extend to-
wards the the frontier of Austria.
Besides the four army corps forming the first
line another, originally destined for the defence
OF the south coast, is said to be on its way to
join, as well as the 4th. 18th and 14th army
corps. 1t is said that a portion of the 4th has
already passed Jassy If complete each of
these corps ought to number $4,000, thus giving
the army an effective strength of $50, 600 men.
LONDON, May 2O.-Weeks' kilograms confirm
the Russian advance to the Aluta at Turna
and Simnitscha. The forces actually at these
places are only advance posts. The main body
is distributed in the rear between Alexandria,
Komain and RusVede, 58, 900 being at the latter
place, from whence good roads lead to Turnu,
Magureti and Simnltscha; $4,000 at Alexan-
drla; 16 COO at Koman; and 16, 900 at Karakal.
There are thus, in what may be termed the
centre advance between the Aluta and Verde,
100000 men. AS regards the extreme right, Is
field batteries have been sent, part to Tunsev-
erein and part 10 Kalafat
Two batteries have arrived at the terminus
OF the Roumania railway. This movement of
artillery further west, coupled with constant
arrival of sappers and pioneers, with the other
forces now amounting to some 100000 west of
kragoVa, leaves little doubt that the Russians
intend to turn Widdin. Everything goes to
show that their campaign will be directed with
the view to compel the Turks to fight in the
| open field. The chief concentration on the left
and extreme left is at Giurgevo and Slobodzie.
Between these points there are now 81, 600 men,
exclusive of cavalry and artillery. At Kirnogi
and Oltenitza there are 1000, and at Kalarash
an advance post of 1000 to guard against any
| flash attempt from Silistria. Thence to Ibrail
there is only a chain of Cossack outposts; but
at Slobodzie there are 5000, exclusive of artil-
| lery and cavalry, On the Galatz, REM and
| Ismail line there has been no increase of men.
but notable increase of defensive works in the
shape of batteries. All these arrangements, and
| the disposition SO far of Russian troops, show
that attempts to cross the Dobrudscha are
| feints. The chief concentrations are at and
near Giurgevo and on the Aluta line.
The Czar's Visit the Signal for an Ad-
VIENNA, May 19.-During the Cars visit to
Bucharest the Russians will attempt crossing
OF the Danube at four different points on the
| same day. Grand Duke Nicholas has ordered
the whole army to be ready for action next
| week. All the stragetic points have been
taken up. Fourteen trains bringing reserves
to the front leave Knew daily.