The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-05-19
FOREIGN NEWS.
The Eastern War.

| me war;
The Russians deny that there was a seri
Gus attempt on the 11th to cross the Danube
al REM, where the Turks claim to have de
s.royed pontoon bridge and drowned several
hundred Russians. The latter say no such
loss occurred.
The Turks on the other hand, deny that
the mopitor blown up on the 18th at Ibrail
was caused by the fire OF Russian shore bat
teries, but say it was caused by an acciden;
on board Hassan Bey, the commander, and
200 mot 500 lives were lost
| The Russian advance to the Danube which
had been proceeding very leisurely for over a
month, is now about complete, and the whole
Roumanian shore of that stream seems to be
alive with their army. y Pole who escaped
on the 10th from their lines, and has seen
their whole army and all its movements in
dispatch TO the London papers, gives a very
vivid account Of its strength, disposition, &c,
from Galatz westward. We give an extract
At Galatz the Russians had projected pro.
digious lines of Notifications, behind which
were assembled thirty divisions, aggregating
one hundred and scventy-tive Thousand nian.
try, fifteen thousand cavalry, and a great mass
of artillery. Hence, southwark to Oltenitza
the army forms continuous front en- echelOu,
embracing total of four hundred and fifty
thousand men.
TO the westward of this, at distances of
from one to three miles from the Danube, a
thinner line stretches TO Widdin, the extreme
Russian right. Renforcements were pouring
in, mainly on the lett and center. The Rou-
manian levies were used 10 mask the Russian
movements, and every article was adopted to
lull the Turks into the belief that no formid-
able movement will be attempted on the
Danube.
Yet In spite of this enormous force on the
Danube the correspondent referred TO says the
main reliance of Russia is on the army in
ASIA forcing its way to the eastern shore of
the Bosphorous, this demonstration in Rou.
mama being mainly intended to keep Austria
in check, for after crossing the Danube an at.
tack from Austria in the rear would paralyze
the whole campaign. This would also en-
courage England to take hand in, and the
Russian commander is TO make no important
forward movement until England is diplo-
matically nertralized. The Gladstone debate
has greatly enhanced Russa's expectation of
success in that direction
A New York Times dispatch, day later,
from Glurgevo, states that undoubtedly a
great battle is impending, and heavy cannon.
aiding is already in progress
For several days the Russians have been
concentrating large force at this point, pre-
paratory to forced passage of the Danube.
The army is in fine condition and good spir-
its. Opposite to US, in Rustchak, the Turks
are Ia such strong force that they will resist.
Our advance is certain, and tomorrow or the
day after may witness a bloody struggle. Sc
we're musketry firing is heard on either side
of the Danube. The outposts are exchanging
leaden compliments, and the rattle is fearful.
ly distinct. Already Turkish monitors are
hurrying towards this spot, and the more ad-
vanced ones are taking up positions in front
of or near to the point where the Russians
hope to lay their pontoon bridges. Tonight
The scene on the Danube is indeed a magnifi-
cent one. Shells are bursting in air, the dis.
tant camp fires lend enchantment to the scene,
and signal rockets ascend and fall to tell the
story of advancing forces.
The cannonade grows heavier and heavier,
and at this rate it will not take long to destroy
Rustchuk. The place is the weakest in the
quadrangle of Turkish fortresses. Further
down the river the sky Is redeemed by the
flames of burning Turtukai.
The town has been fired by the Russian
guns IN Oltehitza. 1t will be comparatively
easy for the Russians to cross at that point.
Up to Monday the Danube had continued
very high, rendering! crossing difficult at
any point but since then the river has been
rapidly falling, SO that some of the Turkish
gunboa,s are aground. A corps of Cossacks
crossed on Monday at Potback INTO Dobrud'
scha (the panhandle OF Bulgaria between the
Danube and Black Sea- and the Turks at
once sent corps from Widdin To drive them
back.
In Asia the Russian progress towards the
interior seems TO be considerably impeded by
tie difficulty of obtaining supplies as well as
the continued severity Of the weather. the
ground in those elevated regions being still
deeply covered with snow. The Russian ad
vance seems to be towards two main points
Ezeroum and Van and Bltlis-the two latter
as bases of operations against Diarbekir, an
punt lJO IlIltS S'uluNNSt vi
roum Tie intention is thus TO leave kars in
the rear, though strongly invested. Batoum,
however, the Russians cannot afford thus to
leave and on Friday of last week made
vicious assault upon It's outposts, in which
the Turks claim TO have driven them back
with loss of 1000. Dispatches from ST.
deny that their army had met
with any such disaster before Batoum, but
kilograms from Batoum direct to the London
papers fully confirm the Turkish report y
dispatch to the London Telegraph, dated May
18th, says
About five O'Clock this morning the Rus
SLAMS advanced with field artillery aud made
a furious attack upon the heights defending
Batoum on the land side, occupied by Bashi'
Bazouks. The Ottoman troops were IN
Oh N rarrihlp and u.al1 :