Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-05-12
The Eastern War.

and capture Matcnin.
The Russian commanders are evidently TAX
ing every precaution to bring their armies to
the Danube without fa.iguing the men or ami.
mails. The condition of the troops shows that
their efforts are successful. A majority Of the
cavalry passing through Bucharest walk, lead
ing their horses.
The largest Turkish monitor on the Danube,
which anchored before IbraiI, was sunk by the
fire from the Russian batteries at 1 o'clock yes
tcrday afternoon.
The TUX continue to seize vessels lying IN
Rouaniau harbors. They burn those which
refuse to cross to the Turkish side OF the
Danube.
Further particulars OF Thursdays artillery
engagement between Romauian betlcry near
Oltenitza and Turkish battery in front OF the
town Of Iur,ukai, supported By two monitors
state that rurtuL,i was gnited by shclls and
twice displayed the white flag. One monitor
was seriously damaged. The Turks, ID oonse'
qucncc Of the conf lgraIion, ceased firing aud
| withdrew their battery during the night.
A Russian battery, hitherto masked by a
vineyard, opened fire yesterday on the Turkish
| monitors near Ibrai. An hour after the com.
mepccmcnt of the action shell struck large
| three 1nastnd iron.clad, and sank her with
crew of three buodred aud Hassan Bey. There
arc 10000 Russians at Gjurgevo, who arc be-
ginning to push their way westward along the
river to Siuiutz,. They intend 20 occupy the
| bank Of the Danube as far as the junction With
the Aluta river.
The Russians have constructed very lngeni-
GUS poptoon bridge in the mouth OF the Iereth,
which will be towcd uto the Danube and aDch-
orcl there ALMOST ready for the immediate pas
| sage oil troops.
| The heavy movement Of Russian troops TO
| the westward Of lbral indicates purpose OF
| occupying great part or the whole OF the no
| mauiau bank OF the Danube.
This will prove pcrplexlDg 10 the Turks, as
| they cannot oppose an equal force at all points,
and they must leave some places Vulnerable to
the sudden concentration of Russians for pas.
sage OF the river The movement OF Turkish
troops in the DobrujIa is sus geslivc Of an in
trptou 81 retiring from there to tho second line
Of defence, leaving the crossing OF the Danube
comparatively unopposed there.
There is nothing 10 the Russian movement:
50 far as to indicate the points where they vii
attempt the passage Of the Danube. Probably
ooc crossing will be made at lbra!l and lsmal
bat other points further up the river arc entire
i " conjecturai at present.
The Rouma9la Senate arc as yet Undecided
on the question Of proclaimiug Independence;
~ rncmba OF $50 are opposed to 1t. Although
this n1incrty is powerlcSs, they have hitherto
held the majority in check, but the opportunl-
ty il so favorable that declaration may be ex-
nec,cd at any moment. The roads are improy-
ing rapidly.
Ia the RoumaDan Chamber resolution was
PASSED Yesterday by vote Of IS to % declaring
that as Turkey has severed al! bUnds between
herself and Roumauia by unprovoked out
RACES along tbs Danube, the Ministry shall be
empowered to take any steps they may deem
necessary 1t is not difficult to prophesy wha
the resulting decision OF the Ministry will be-
The march of the Russian army IN Rouma
MIA is now 20 lar advanced that Grand Duke
Nicholas and General Staff 20 thither lmmcdl
atcly. According to ad7ices from Paskany the
Russians intcod stationiug corps Of obscrVa
: tior Oh the frontier OF BukoWina.
There are serious differences between tbs
Turkish Chamber and the Government. Tho
Chamber is very angry at the Portes accept
ance Of the German protcCtoratc over Russian
subjects in Turkey. 1t also desires 10 llnpeact
Noury Pasha, the Sultaus brother.in-tsw, tol
entertainments and Redf Pasha,t the War Minis
J ter, Tor maladministration. Redif who is a.!
powerful, is determined TO crush the Parlia
nent before it can harm him. The Porte want
ed to proclaim state o. siege in Constantine
pie, 50 as 10 be abla to close the Parliament
but it is now satisfied it can close the Parlla.
lnert without rcsorting to such measures.
There is reason TO fear that Redlf aud other
enemies of free government will triumph.
4 Russian military expedition started from
= Fort Krasuovodsk, on the east coast OF the Gas
man, gong in southeasterly direction towards
the country Of the Akhal Turcomen, who re,
ceutiy rendered their allegiance to Persia. Ii
is thought the object OF the expedition is the
1 ACQUISITION Of fresh strategical position.
IL is reported that 1000 infantry have been
dispatched from Tashkcnd to reinforce the
Russian garrison in Central Asia. An army oil
$50, 600 men il to be concentrated there under
General Kautfmau, with a view Of entering
Pamir
In the British House OF Commons yesterday
afternoon the debate on the Eastern question
was resumed Mr. Bourke said MIR. Glad.
stones attack on the Government was Djusti.
fable. The Government, he said, wish to main
tain strict neutrality but cannot countcnance
the views OF extremists about the dsmember.
mcnt of Turkey or policy of coercion. There
was was not the slightest reason to suppose
that Austria and Germany would join 10 such
an undertaking. Mr.. Bourko denied that EGG
lard had destroyed European concert.
Mr.. Goschen, liberal, thought the debate
had dissipatcd many illusions, and would be
ample warning to the Turkish Government.
Mrs. Cross's speech OF Monday had clearly de,
fined Whnt British interests we're, and had re.
levod the anxiety Of the public mind by show.
ing that the government was not 80 strongly 10
favor Of Turkey as had been suspected. Hc
(Mr. Goschen) noticed that Mr.. Cross when
enumcratirg British Interests which were to
10 DC protected, did not mention as one of them
the independence aud integrity of the Ottoman
Empirc. The whole of Europe would note
tAis omission, and il theTurks could b thorough.
ly persuadc1 that in the opinion Of the British
Government Ottoman Integrity ard indepen.
dcuco was no longer British interest it would
be more useful result.
1t was also admitted that, ina great measure,