The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-05-18
Heavy Cannonading on the Danube.
Bombardment of Rutschuk--A
Great Battle Impending.
Persia Decides Not to Join Russia.
Two Hundred Russian Vessels Cap
tured by the Turks.
Christians to be Conscripted into
the Turkish Army.
Great Battle Impending.

Times from Ginrgevo says that great
battle is impending, and already heavy
csnnonading is Ill progress. For several
days the Russians have been cJncentrst-
ing large force at this point p epsrstory
to forced passage of the Danube.
| The army is III fine condition and good
spirits. Opposite to US iE Rustchuk the
Turks are IN strong force, and that they
| will resent our advance is certain, and
| tomorrow or the day after We may eX-
peCt bloody struggle. The infantry
iorce Is present in great numbers, and, rs
| write, are On the mach, while great
activity prevails in sll the departments
OF the army Severe musketry firing is
heard OH the other side OF the Danube.
Already Turkish monitors are hurrying
toward this spot, and the more advanced
ones are taking up positions IN the front
Or near to the point where the Russians
hope TO lay their pontoon bridges. To-
night the scene on the Danube is indeed
magnificent one. Shells are bursting
IN the air; distant can phres lend en-
chsntment 10 the scene, and signal rock
cts ascend and fall, and tell the
story of advancing forces. Cannonading
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 iortresses.
Further down the river the sky Is red
dened by the flames OF burning Turtukar.
The town has been fired by Russian
guns in Otenitza. 1t will be compare.
lively easy tor the Russians 10 cross At
that point. The headquarters OF the left
wing are still ut lbrall. News has just
reached us that Natschln, some five miles
distant from that place, has been set tire
By Russian artillery.
War Notes.
The Russians seem to be IN great dltli-
cullIes about transportation. The small
Russian country carts are scarcely suited
to military purposes. All through the
winter the work OF Supplying the Rus
sian military trains with carts ard
wagons has been going on, still one of
the first things done by the Russians after
nterlng Roumania WAS to apply to tie
government of that country Tor 1900
carts to meet this demand Transporta-
ton by railroad, too, seems TO be giving
more Iroub than was anticipated.
The Turkish troops propose move
mont against the Herzegovina IN
surgents.
Thousands of Christian refugees are
expected across the frontier, TO augment
the number already IN Dslmstla, and
who are already actually dying oi stsrva-
ton.
LONDON, May l7.-Along the Danube
the commanders of Turkish fortresses
have published manltestos urging the IN
hahitants to withdraw further inland to
Balkans. Opposite GalaLz enormous
masses Of Turkish cavalry are said - be
encamped. An attempt TO cross by sail
| ing vessels will be- made by the Turks
towards Ljmnitzs. Extensive military
preparations are making in Carlu. Re
ports have been received Of the massacre
of returned Rayahs 1T Durbend, on
more fearful scale than any that has yet
happened in Bosnia. Persia has de
! clsred her nter ton not 10 join Russia.
The capture q. SoOkgoom kale and the
! rising ~ tie Circassians, who msssscred
the garr,-ur d 4 burned the town, is otii-
cisllv ant .pir.G. An irOn-clsd has lett
! Sookgoom Il - Bstoum TO obtain
arms for the Cl.c..ssIaas.
The Turks have captured 200 Russian
vessels in the Danube containing over
! l3O 600 hectOlltrcs OF whent.
A reconoitering expedition of 500 Rus
sian infantry crossed the Dsnubs in boat
a little below Reni. The Turks allowed
them 20 come well within range, when
they opeued such n heavy fire that the
Russians were compelled to retrea: to
their boats with serious loss.
! The Russians crossed the A.uta AND en-
tered Little Wallactris, which it was eH-
pected would be occupied solely by Rou-
manian-.
The Russian floating batteries on the
Danube are small, but IngeniOusiy
made consisting of three pontOons
iojned together. Esch battery carries
one gun. The Russians also have some
large armed steamers.
General SKobeleito's division OF CIR
css.isn Cossscks, intended to head TIE
| invasion. is passing through Bucharest
en- route for the Danube.
L. is stated that Russis intends 10 In-
crease the DUTY on imported tobacco,
which now yields about loOOO,vo
roubles yearly, sufficiently to increase the
WELD several millions. simultaneously
the tax on the Russian growth will be re-
duced 10 encourage home industry. The
secretary of the Golden Club hs' receIy-
ed several replies to Dis letter asking tor
Americas feeling about sdhe.ing 10 the
declaration of Paris. Charles Frat cis
Adams expresses regret that the govern
nent die not adhere to the declaration,
and believes that the document Is best
for her. az well a. for the rest Q! the
world.
Loxpyx. May IA dispatch 70 the
Tj,a.. from Bucharest ssy-: CoEstsntinO-
ple kilograms which reported that tight
irg had been going on II DobruGschA
were uufounded. No engagements have
occurred between the Russians and Turks
in Europe except on the lines Of batteries
betwe cen IbrsiI and Imsul.
The question now being discussed here
l. whether the RoumsnIs army shall
cross the Danube With tie Russians or
simply remain on their Own soil u pro.
too, the lines OF communication. Though
g majority of the members OF the gov
eminent are 81 present opposed TO the
nss.sre Of the river, il is extremely prot
Able that the more active and deter
mined members of the war party WI
finally prevsil.
LONDON. May 16-The TsL<grdPhs
.necisl from Erzeroum, dated Monday,
SAYS tha, the Russians have acvat ced 70
aKsliss In great force. The Turks
will confront them ST Toprok- slA. Both
armies are preparing for sp',ehed ostiie'
The Sultan has determined Oh the sd-