The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-07-07
FOEIGN NEWS.
The Turko-Russian War.


The dispatches of the week relate chiefly
to the details OF events attending the crossing
OF the Danube last week by the Russians. 1t
was evidently no holiday affair. The first
crossing from Ibrail was attended with little
loss because the Turks seemed 10 regard it as
afeint and made little opposition, although
the Russians thereby threw 5000 men into the
Dobrudscha and cleared it completely of
Turks.
The only really successful crossing was by
the Russian center at Simnitza. Here the
Turks seem to have been taken by surprise,
and though they made what opposition they
could with small force, the Russians los,
not over 1909 before they had complete los
session of the south bank and were able
thenceforth to hold it IN spite of all opposition.
Attempts to cross further up the river were
in all cases frustrated by the determination of
the Turks. At Turtukoi the Russians were
driven back with heavy loss. So at Rygros
the slaughter was fearful on both sides, the
Turks succeeding through the Efficient aid of
their gunboats. so IN the attempt to cross
from Glurgevo on Tuesday the Turks claim
than the Russians lost 5000 men and again on
Wednesday Qast week. in an attempt to cross
at Nlkopolis, the slaughter Of the Russians,
the Turkish dispatches tell US, was appalling,
However, in the course of the week the Rus.
SLAMS got at least 10000 troops, with cavalry,
artillery, &c, IN proportion, safely over the
river at Simnitza and Ibrail, and now it may
be safely SAID they are masters of the country
between the Danube and the Balkans.
At present the Turkish line is said to ex.
tend from Rutschuk on the left to Shumla on
the right, the center resting at Rasgrad. The
first great and decisive battle of the war will
probably be fought on this line, if the Turks
conclude to make a stand north of the Bal
kans The Grand Duke Nicholas has his
head quarters at Sistova and the Emperor is
near Turner-Marguereli. The Russians are
greatly impeded in their forward movement
by the desutution ofthe country. The Turks,
In falling back seem TO have left the land a
desert waste, while the means of transporta.
ton Of the Russians are so detective that the
army is nearly starved in waiting for supplies
to be brought across the river.
In Asia the rumors of Turkish successes
for the past two weeks, which were at first
looked upon as mere Turkish boasting. turn
out to have been founded on solemn fact The
fact is that the Russian right wing received
terrible check at levin and Delibaba, COM
pelling them to retreat nor,hward. They were
also driven from Soghanli and the Euphrates
valley; at Kars they were badly handled in
several spirited sorties OF the Turks; they
were driven from the heights around Batoum,
and, violent instruction having broken
out in Clrcassia, the Russians are really in q
bad plight The siege of Kars has been raised
and the campaign in Asia, Minor has virtual
ly failed, and Milikof, the Russian comman.
der, report says, has been recalled. 1t is regard
ed as too late in the season 10 rene W the Aslat-
ic campaign for this year. The failure of the
Asiatic campaign, however, is to be redeemed
by proporlionally harder striking in Europe.
Poor Montenegro has been completely con.
quered by Suleman pasha, and is SAID to
have been saved from being totally crushed
by the intervention of Austria, at whose in.
stance the rUrkish army has been withdrawn,
the porte asserting to the arrangement in con-
sheraton that thereby Servla might be pre-
vented from taking up arms on the side OF
Russia.
The British cabinet is still disunited on the
Turkish question, but since the successful
crossing of the Danube by Russia the cry
for war against the Muscovi,e in defence of
"Britlsh Interests" has materially abated.
There are said to be $4,000 British troops at
Glib altar and Malta, and an English feet
has entered Beslka bay, at the mouth of the
Dardanelles, but when the victorious Rus
slams appear ON the banks of the Bosphorus,
British interests" will have to be very rudely
assaied indeed before England will be apt
to strike.
Austria still maiatalns the position OF peace
maker. She will occupy Bosnia and Monte
negro in the interest of peace, and to preveat
Servia from getting embroiled, and then,
when Russia has ended victorious cam
paign against the Turk, she must after all get
permission Of Austria to effect any acquisi-
ton Of territory in Europe.
England.
A very curious exhibition has been opened
at the Kensihg,on Horticultural Garden. un.
der the name OF the Caxton celebration, con.
sisting of specimens of early printing as far
back as 14G7, when the art of printing was
first introduced in England by Caxton In
the Caxton room are 100 volumes from Cax-
ioas press, including "Dctes and Sayings OF
the Philosophers" 1477-the first book issued
from the Caxton press There is also THE