Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-06-30
'rI,o Eastern War.

of Staff, the Grand Cross 0! %. deofRe VI lue
third class. The Emperor has taken up his
residence nea, TIurnu Magsrel!l.
An account of the crossing OF the Danube
from correspondent who was an eye witness
says:-"With the darkness General Dragom''
roia began his dispositions. Ills hrst work was
TO plant 10 made emplaeemenss row vi ncla
Guns all along the edge Of the flats to sweep tho
opposite banks. This was while the lu!antry
was being marched over the flats to The cover
of the willows The darkness and obstruclionS
were 80 great that all was not ready until The
first glimmer Of dawn. There was no BRIDGE
but number Of river boats, capable OF holding,
from fifteen to forty five men each. These were
dragged on carriages through The mud, anu
launched 10 the darkness. The boats put OH
siugy rowing across for little cove and later
little sIeam tug was brought into reqa'slIlon'
The Turks immediately opened smart iire, both
on the boats and the troops who were waiting
to cross. The leading boat contained Major
General Yolchinc. The Turkish rlH"mcn were
10 position about fifty yards from The shore.
lie landed his handful OF men, and babe them
lie down in the mud, aud then opened severe
skirmshipg fire to cover the landing OF The boats
that followed. One by one these landed their
freipbts. who followed the example Of the first
boat load. At length enough had accumu;,
lated. Among them was Gen. Skobeletl and
his son. Cen Yolchine babe his men Tx bay
onets, stand up and follow their officers: There
was rush and cheer. The Turks Lfed an
effective vollcy, but did not wait. General oil
chimes skirmishels followed them some DIS
lance up The slope but for time conl! not
press on far from their base. Meanwhile The
Russian guns from across tho river and tho
Turkish artillery were firing brlskly., Turkish
shells kept falling in the water ard whIslilng
through the Willows and bursting among the
columns on The fat.
One shell from mountain guu lei! nlo o
boat containing two guns, their guunera and
the commandment of battery. The boat was
swamped, and all on board persisted. This
was the only serious casualty, but mauy Rus-
sian soldiers were falling on bath sides OF the
river.
1t is said that Turkish gunboat has broken
the bridge ut Ibrail. The foreign Consus have
left Rustchuk.
The Turkish gunners c,upr to their guns
with wonderful stauucbneSs AMID the clouds OIL
dust thrown up by the shells Which burst
around them. A Turkish monitor had been
hcmmed in by a Gordon Of torpcdoes within the
chanpel north of the island opposite Fardln,
and 4 Russian battery on the Roumarian side
shcllcd her. After their first repu!Se from the
landing place the Turks rallied and coucrurat-
ed on the upper slopes in front OF their battery,
and then came down on the pickcts o! General
Yolchine's brigade and made some headway,
but only for q moment Soon alter uoon tie
Russian infantry had crowDcd the heights. y
Turkish infantry detachment tried to wolk
around and down upon Sistoya' but was was 'hwar''
ed by an iutcrceptipg skirmishlng force
The correspondent estimates the less al ! ,uOo.
lie adds that probably two bridges will be laid
at Simpitza, which will be tie main thorough
fare for the Russian army One hundred thou'-
and men will march ia the column which Is n0w
crossing.
A dispatch dated ShumiIa, Thursday states
that forward movement Of the Turks will I'M
mediately take place to meet the Russians who
have crossed the Danube.
A dispatch from Bucharest, dated June -,
says THE Russian forces at lllrsova, report.
ed to be marching ON Silistria, are said to be
within forty kilometres OF that fortress. The
| Turks are apparently concentrating their troops
in the principal forts, where they will sooil be
| attacked. Everything is reported quiet today
| on the Danube. 1t is asccrtalned now that the
| principal crossing west Of GiurgcVO was at Pc
iroceni and Parapan, just below Smnilza,
where the Russians crossed on large number
! Of rats and small boats until position was &c.
cured on the south bank. This accounts Tor
| the comparatively snail 0Sa suffered by the
| Russian troops rs the passage was Objected la
! small detachments, who we're scattered Gu the
river, and advanced towards the opposite bank
after the manner OF skirmishers, so as to render
| the encnys fire less effective. The Russians
| have also crossed at TurDu Magurclli, and have
| Joined the Grand Duke Nicholas at Sistova
The Russian Commissariat have tclegraphcd TO
hurry up supplies for the army, representing
that the country on The other side Of the river
is entirely destitute, and saying there arc lcars
of famine in Bulgaria.
The Russians attempted TO cross the river at
NkOpos on Thursday in fifty lighters. len
OF the lighters wero sunk by shells The at
tempt failed. The slaughter Was irightiul.
II is reported from Coustantin0pIe that since
The Russians crossed the Danube The Sultans
intimate advisers have more than ever urged
urged him to enter lutu negotiations with the
Gar as soon as the Turks have suffered scri-
GUS defeat.
A special from Pera says it is reported. thai
the Russians have taken Batoum. No definite
Intelligence, however, is obtainable.
Deputies Of the Cretau Assembly have seut
telegram to the Sultan praying him to seud i
mixed commission to examine the questions at
issue between Mussulmans and Christians The
Deputies refuse The Porta's summons TO seud
delegates to Constautinople to explain their
grievances.
Admiral llussen Pasha is cruising in the
MORGAN and JOran waters with four iron clads,
watching for chance Of attacking two Russian
triQates.
Five or six days ago 40 Austrian Lloyd steam
er landed at Corfu for the Turkish Government
1913 cases of arms, which it intended to reship
for Prcvesa 10 Albania, but the Russian Con.
sui protested to the Greek Government against
the use of neutral territory as depot for arms
of belligerent. The Government thereupon
ordered the detention of the arms and the cap
tain Of the Austrian ship in which they had
already been re embarked, on hearing the pro
test, unloaded them into boats, where they now
ro,no;n rrbo TprkS int;m tnr} that fhau upra