River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-05-31
RUssIA's WAR WITH TURKEY.

The London Daily 7elegrdph's Rust
chuk dispatch dated Monday, has the follow
ing: Great preparations are being made by
the Russians for an attempt to pass the river
between Rahova ard Nikopolis. They have
brought down by rail to the bank pontoon
bridges and a small steamer, and are erecting
large Notifications al Islatz and Turnu Ma
guirella. A continual concentration of troops
in the direction Of Sirnnitza Is observable The
Turks are fully prepared to resist the attempt
The council Of ministers at Constantinople
Sunday. determined to send all reinforeements
still arriving In COnstantnople 10 Batoum and
Erzeroum The authorities al COnstantinople
seem to overlook the fact that these troops, ~
making their way TO kars or Erzeroum, would
have TO break the Russian division barring the
way at the TschuruksOn; indeed the advance
OF the Russians against Batoum seems to have
been undertaken with the aim of locking up
thirty-four battalions of Turks and preventing
them or any other achievements from get
ting the Tschurkson line TO Erzeroum or other
threatened points.
The London Times Bucharest CORES
pendent telegraphs as follows: Grand Duke
Nicholas has been stopping here for some days,
and it is asserted that he, during that time has
remarked that he intended TO enter CONSTANT
nople, TO make the Turks feel that they are
crushed, although he does not intend TO retain
the city" A Berlin dispatch says il is pretty
universally believed at ST. Petersburg that the
Russian government would not object to Con-
stantinoplc and the Suez canal being placed
under the protection of England, provided Rus
STA is allowed to protect Roumania, Bulgaria,
Servia and Montenegro and annex the Vilayet
of ErZeroum. A Vienna dispatch reports
that the Turkish troops which fled from Arda
han have beech defeated in a mountain pass
near kars.
According to a dispatch from an Eng
lish military commissioner with the Turks in
Asia, Mukhtar Pasha has been utterly unable
to hold the mountain passes between Kars
and ErZeroum. The commissioner adds that
the Turks are Obliged to retreat without Civ
ing battle, and attributes the ranid advance of
the Russians to the total want of efficient pre-
cautions on the part of the Turks. He fears
Erzeroum will not be able to hold out for any
time. Russia will probably put off attempts
TO cross the Danube in force till the middle of
June. A Vienna special says il is stated that
Abdul Kerim Pasha, after gaTTisoning fortress
es, could only place at the utmost $1,000 men
in the field.
The London Times Bucharest cores
pondent saws: present indications strength
en- the conclusion that no important events
will occur on the Danube until the whole front
line is i'm position on the bank of the river. A
strong corps will he formed on the extreme
right composed of the Roumanian army and a
division or two of Russians. This force will
move up the Turkish side of the Timok and
turn the flank of the Balkan line by move
ment on Sofia and PhillippopOlis. Such flank
attack WOulu not NlOlalc the PROMISE not 10
enter Seryian territory, and would unquestOn-
ably bring corps of 1000 Servians TO assist
IL. A Russian corps crossing below Widin
garrison and leave the Timok valley unop-
posed, with a friendly country on its right from
which TO draw supplies. The Russian main
army in Asia, which took Ardahan is 10000
strong. A portion of the force having since
been detached, Batoum is now evidently inn
perilled.
Sir Arnold Kimball, British ministry
attache, gives the most deplorable account of
the Turkish armies IN Asia, which he repre-
sents as lacking everything an army should
have except courage and patience. Sir Arnold
appears to anticipate that the Russian army
win not find any serious military resistance in
Asia, and that the only difficulties they will
have to encounter are those of country and
climate The Gear has issued proclamation
forbidding the granting of letters of marque.
His Majesty says he accepts the declaration of
the treaty Of Paris regarding free navigation
to neutrals, and guarantees the careful observ-
ance of this provision of the treaty. The Car
also declares his unwillingness TO accept the
proposal made AT the recent conference at
Brussels.
The London Times Bucharest special
SAYS: Rumors of peace are becoming more
clearly defined. 1t is asserted that negotia-
items are actually going ON in Berlin for a
cessation of hostilities. 1t certainly will be
singular If all these reports turn out TO be
entirely unfoundcd. Some of them have
actually emanated from official quarters at
Bucharest. War movements are, however,
being pressed forward as fast as the weather
will permit and there is not much confidence
felt that peace will be made until after a Turk
ish defeat on the Danube, even if the Berlin
negotiations are really going on"