Ellsworth American., 1877-05-17
THE RUSSIAN MOVEMENTS.
Preparation for Crossing the Danube

MANCHESTER, Eng. MAY W. \ Rust.
chak dispatch 10 tie Guardian. dated
THURSDAY. says: FROM The preparations
hciu. made on both sides il i, plain that
the time for action on the Danube i close
Al hand The Russians evidently intend 1,
open lire on the Turkish position along the
whole line. aud under cover OF an over
whelmins artillery fire attempt to cross the
ryer a several points simultaneously.
Notice i Thu, given by the military au-
thuiltles here that the Russian batteries on
the opposite bank, al Gairgevo. may com
mcncr firing on tins town and fortress al
any moment. For the last two DAYS the
Russians have been c,tabli,hlu. battcrle,
on the lett blt>. from which 4 lombard
meut can be directed upon Ia. forts and
town R1>tchucA and the station OF the
Narua Railway. which has It's terminus
here. believe thssc batteries Will open
tomorrow. The Turkish fortresses on
the Danube are in admirable condition aud
are well prepared 10 withstand an attack
Vienna dispatch To the Guardian last
night says: Dispatches from Bucharest
announced the concentration of the Rus
sian army in .he direction OF Glurgrvo.
lts purpose i. probably To keep the main
army of the Turks a. Rustchuck wht.e a
nyins corps attempt To cross the DJDru-
d.cha. The banks OF the river near lbrat
are lined with Cossacks and Bashi-Baz-
ouk-. who keep uD a constant ride fire.
LONDON, May Is. There seem, 20 be
two distinct movements progressing in
Asia Minor. one j. an advance upon
Erzeroom, with operations about kar, as
incident hereto. The other is a movement
upon Van and Btlis. which VIII be the
base of future operations a-.aiu>t II lliarurkir.
Van aud Buns. arr >il-htiy i"4,iird and
dominated by nights. winch iu The case
Van are traversed by comparatively good
and easy roads. Btll- occupies a some
what stronger position. but can odrr uo
serious opposition. Tae iorce otthe Turks
in this district j. unknown. II they have
~ 900 or 25,OoO men they might make
successful stand at stuart al the en-
trance OF the pas. through which good
road leads from Bitlis To Diarbehir.
On the Danube there ha~ been n, in
crease in the Russian forces occupying
the Galstz and Reni positions, which are
some 60 ,000 strong. These forces natural
ly keep equal with the forces OF the TURK.
in the line from Silistria 10 Sultcha. Mean
while all the Russians movements show
that they are concentrating the bulk OF
their forces between G.ur.evD and
NicopolI In one position. The forces viii
form the west OF the Russian advance.
fronting the Turks from Rustchuk to
Shumla. supported by the Galatz and REM
troops. The other portion will take the
centre portion. aud viii be covered from
attack from Widiin bv corps called
the Timoa Valley Corn,. bat which is a
mi>noiuer as far a. il signifies au advance
through Seryiau territory. for the best in
formation is that Russia. for both political
and military reasons. will not violate Ser
vain territory Operations by the Turkish
monitors on the Upper Danube are mere
idrces. These monitors have only three
quarter iuch armor and are armed with
centlmetre guns. The Russian CEN
tire IS rapidly assuming shape on the Auta.
and small detachments have already oc
cupied Turnus. Magureli and Islash. SO
that it is very probable that they Intend
crossing the Danube at this point TO OBJ
tain possession OF these chief passes of the
Balkans and thus cut Turkish communca-
ton with the trans Balkan districts
The ground between the rivers Ishra
Vid aud Osma increases in difficulties to-
ward the south. the mountains becoming
more rugged and steep. but east OF these
passes OF the Balkans is the valley of the
fortified town Of Tirnova the former cap
ital of ancient Bulgaria TO the westward
is another series OF passes, for which
Lampalanke on the Danube would be the
starting point. and which converge upon
Sophia and Nisch.
The Russians may choose either of these
routes. but it is not likely they will split
up their forces, and for many reasons the
first named would be the best
ERzEROOM, May l3. A detachment OF
Cossacks advanced to Baskoy but were
compelled to fall back to Kajshmau. The
Russians have sent forward recommending
parties in two directions from Soghaule,
probably with an object of making a flank
attack upon the Turkish camp at Bardez,
but owing to the depth of the snow were
unable to prosecute the plan. Turkish
reinforcements continue arriving on a
large scale. The is a scarcity of provision
at Alexandropol and EtUan. Teegraphc
communication with kars continues. The
Russians endesvored to obtain inforlna-
tion by tapping the wires. but were i'm.
mediately discovered by their question.