The New York herald., 1877-07-08
BJELA OCCUPIED BY THE RUSSIANS
Another Battle in Progress in
Armenia.
GORTSCHAKOFF ON THE PROSPECT
[Bx CABLE TO THE HERALD.1

Petersburg that the cause of the dangerous
position in which the Russian army in Ar
menia was lately thrown was chiefly the
fact that Persia allowed Turkish corps
from Lake Van to pass through Persian ter
ritory. This corps was thus enabled to
surprise the rear Of the Russians at Bajazd,
and to jeopardize the position Of great
portion of their army. The effect was all
the more embarrassing as the Russians did
not anticipate any such action on the part
Of Persia and were entirely unprepared
for it.
REPRIsALs SPOKEN OF.
Reprisals Of the most serious nature are
considered inevitable and the situation is
likely to become further complicated. It
is not yet known whether an irresponsible
Persian official, prompted by his Moham-
medan feelings, acted without instructions
in permitting this breach of neutrality or
that the responsibility can be directly fixed
case the consequences are likely to be very
serious.
BJELA OCCUPIED.
1t is officially announced in ST. Petersburg that
Russian dragons occupied Bjela on the 9Th INST,
and were joined on the 9th by detachment Of
infantry.
ANOTHER FAILURE TO CROSS THE DANUBE.
Redif Pacha telegraphs to Constantnoplc from
Shumla, under date Of Friday, as follows:--"TfA
Russians attempted to cross the Danube near the
Baba redoubt. five hours march from Silistrla.
The troops with the artillery were on twenty
RATS, towed by three steamers. The Turks bom-
barded the RATS, which precpitately turned back.
One large raft with troops and stores sank The
tugs were damaged"
ANOTHER BATTLE IN PROGRESS.
The Governor Of Erzeroum telegraphs under date
OF Thursday that the Russians dislodged at Utch-
Kilissa, retreated to Ipek and Guedik, where o
battle is proceeding
MUKHTAR PAcHA's MOVEMENTS
Mukhtar Pacha telegraphs under date Of the 9th
that his army had arrived at Kerkponnar five
hours march from Kars Communication with
Kars has been restored, the Russians who occupied
positions near Hadj, Hall having retired beyond
the fortress.
GOING TQ. RELIEVE BAJAzID.
It, officially announced in st. Petersburg that
the Erivan column arrived on the 5th inst In the
vicinity of lgdyr to complete the stores Of provi-
sions and material previous to marching to the
relief Of Bajazid, where a Russian garrison main
tans the position, though surrounded by twenty
battalions and 10000 cavalry.
THE MILITARY SITUATION IN BULGARIA.
From Bucharest the military situation is summed
up as follows:-The Turks have changed front and
faced to the westward since the Russian entrance
into Bulgaria. The Russians are deploying with
their left flank resting the Danube to flce
the Turkish line from Rustchuk to Shumla.
When this movement Is completed general
battle may be expected unless the Turks fall
back to the Balkans the Russians mask the
whole quadriateral and turn 1t by passing til. Bal
kans The Russian forces coming through the Do
brudscha approaching the rear Of the Turkish
Rustchuk and Shuma line. This column Is too
strong to he opposed by any force detached from
the Turkish main body, while the main body itself
cannot turn upon 1t without exposing It's rear to
the Russian main force.
DISADVANTAGES OF THE RUSSIAN POSITION
risons S,listra, Kustendje and varna. The latest
Information likes the garrisons at these PAGES re.
spectivey at $1,000 10000 and 10000, which, oper
atng the nanks or rear of the Russian
Dobrudscha force would to Il certain extent par
alyze Its efforts to cooperate with the army In
Central Bulgaria Besides the garrlsons oi THESE
fortified places Suleiman Pachas army which Is
now stated TO be embarking atAntivan could be
landed ut Varna, which would make the number OF
Turks on the Russian lett nank alone over $4,000.
The Russian Dobrudscha corps Is stated to number
only 10000
TURKISH ADVANTAGES NEuTRALIzED.
The garrison OF Silistrla. however. may have
enough to do to watch the Russians still on the
Roumanan side OF the Danube, and II the Russians
succeed in crossing the river at any point between
Sllisiria and Rustchuk the dnculties OF the Turks
will be still further increased. 1t would also be
easy lor the Russians reinforce the army oper.
ating In the Dobrudscha.
THE SITUATION IN ASIA.
The following Is the actual position OF the forces
IN Armena:-fhe Turkish right wing conlronts
the Russian left at Utsch-kissa. Faick Pacha has
a fresh body OF IL, ,000 Russians opposed to MIN near
Bajazid. Another Russian division of 10000 men Is
marching toward Ardahan. Mukhtar Pacha's adj
vanced guard Is within fourteen miles OF Kars.
Battles are expected at Utsch-Kilissa and Bajazid.
IL 1S also DcneVeu I1at Mukntar Pacna Will oe
engaged soon. The provisioning Of the bclligerent
armies Is now a matter OF great difficulty.
PRINCE GORTsCHAKoFF SPEAKS.
The P,esse OF Vienna says:-"Prncc Gortscha-
korr in an interview with a distinguished statesman,
stated that only the Servian question induced him
to accompany the Car to the seat OF war. He
had prevented Servian cooperation although
urgently orYered. In order to avoid European
complications Russia had acted on two princi-
pies drst to avoid all interference with the
internal AFFAIRS OF Serva and Roumania and not en-
courage them to warfare against Turkey, and sec
Dndy to decline so long as the war lasted any in.