The Republican journal., 1877-06-28
The Eastern War. Fighting Begun in
Earnest.

thousand troops crossed unoppOSed by
the Turks. An advance was at once made
towards Matchin, the object being to at
tack it before the place could be reinforce
ed. The Turks were found posted on a
range Of hills to the northwest of the
town. The Russians advanced and charg-
ed the batteries, and after severe hand
to hand conflict the outlying Notifications
were taken and the guns turned upon the
fleeing Turks. The Russians were re-
formed in line again and an assault on the
heights was then made. They We're car
rled by storm. Driven from their in
trenched position the Turks fell back to
Matchin opposite Braila The Russians
encamped for the night in the deserted
camp, and preparations We're made for at
lacking Alatchin the following morning,
Saturday.
Saturday morning the battle was re-
newed, but the Turks made but a feeble
resistance. An advance of the Russians
showed the main body of the Turks had
evacuated the town during the night.
The Russians occupied the town. All day
Saturday the crossing at Brahila contin-
ued and all the troops were probably
safely over by Sunday. The arrival of
the Car at Brahila was the beginning of
the conquest of the Dabrudscha. Only
one army corps embracing about So, 600
men will cross at Brahila. The heights
commanding the river will be seized as
far as Iirzova. The crossing at Brahila
is SAID to be merely diversion and that
the main body will cross at Giurgevo OPP
positc Rustchuk. (See map,) The total
Russian force on the Danube is estimated
at over 100000. Their heavy guns are
supplied with 200 rounds each. 1t is be
heVed the main passage will he attempt
ed in a few days. The Romanians will
cross the Danube near kalatat, and hold
III check the Turks i'll Widdin while the
russians are operating elsewhere.
In Matchln, Sunday, not a single in
habltut was seen in the morning, but
some struggled back in the afternoon.
Had the people remained in their houses,
their property would not have been
touched, but those vacated were all con-
tiscated. The town had narrow escape
from fire. The main body of the troops
which crossed are quartered to the north
west of the town. Only two Russian bat
talions occupy Matchin, while but two
lines of videttes have been thrown out
southwark and eastward so that the ap-
proach Of the enemy will be reported to
the main body at once
There does not seem to be the slightest
fear OF an attack, however, as refugees
from the neighb0rhood at kustendze rail
road say the Turkish troops evacuated
all the immediate country to the north
west There is not q sign of Turkish sol
ders. The troops which reioined the En-
pcror'S regiment brought several Turk
lSh field guns found abandoned between
GaatZ and Matchn. The Russians do
not anticipate being compelled to fight
a serious battle until they reach the land
of Thernanoda and Kustendie
Abdul kcrim is sending large reinforce
mentS into Dabrudscha and below that
point. The Turks will not attempt to de
tend Northern Dabrudschas have already
abandoned the first line of defence be
tween Matchio and Babadah through a
mountainous country. The second line,
that Of the railroad, is marked by the
celebrated Trajans WALL erected by the
Roumanlans to protect the present Bull
garlan territory against incursions of the
Scythians. The Russian advance will
break the long inactivity which kept both
armies on the Danube almost without
firing shot The Turks can flank the
line of Trajms wall on the east by hold
ing kustendZe, and being able to throw
troops from Narna and Constantinople by
sea INTO that town, without opposition
On the other hand the Russians will flank
the line at Tchernayada by holo .ng both
banks of the Danube at that point, as
they hold the ROumanian shore and are
advancing southwark along the right
bank with view of occupation of Here
sana and all small towns of short road
leading to Tchernavada
This advance is supported by gun
boats on the river, which follow the re-
treating Turkish monitors us they as
cend, toward Tchcrnovada, where they
will attempt to cover that town. 1t is
highly probable that the Turks will send
rentorcementS from SiliStria as well as
Schumla to aid in the defense of the line
OF the Trajan's wall. This can't be done
without the knowledge of the Russians,
and consequent movement will be made
on that city This again will react on
the situation at fustchull, and soon up
river to Widdin The approaching strug-
Ole at Tchernovada must therefore be the
first OF the series of bloody engagements
that will fill the Danube valley with bat
tie. The Turkish papers at CONSTANT
nople yesterday announced the passage
OF the Danube near Matchin 1t declares
the Turks gallantly resisted, but the
Russians, beat them back because of
vastly superior numbers, and crossed the
river i'll successive groups.
An official statement published in Con-
stantinoplc says that certain number Of
al
direction of karagatch below HirsOya,
with proportionate amount of artillery
and cavalry III Il number Of boats, towed
over by steam launches. The distance
tlaVcrScd by the boats seems to have been
over 30 miles. The Turks probably were
taken by surprise, us usual, although
there was a good deal of artillery and
muSketry fired. They don't seem to have
made very stubborn resistance.
LONDON, June 26. Aspecial from Ga
latz states that the Emperor of Russia has
50 thoroughly exhausted himself that his
physician requests his retiremant from the
seat OF war. His constant irritablitv and
abuse OF his generals has caused prema-
turc movement on the Danube before com
pete arrangements were made, forcing the
18th army corps across before the centre
or either of the wings Of the Russian army
were ready. He has probably enabled the
Turks under Abdul Nierim to concentrate
on the plains of Shumla covering the for
tresses of Rustchuk, Narna and Silistria in
such manneras to defy the small advance
guard Of sixty thousand. Although the
Russians who crossed at Ibrail and Galatz
havemade desperate march offorty miles
since Friday, from Matchin to Hirsoya
with the idea of destroying the railroads |
connecting the districts to the east 50 far
as TchernaVoda, and to isolate Widdin it
must be remembered that the Turks had
provided for just this contingency and will
probably flood and desolate large tracts of
country before their enemies can bring up
the central and thanking forces to engage
in a decisive battle before the Turks retire |
to the Balkan tortresses. Heavy cannon
aiding occurred all Saturday and Yesterday