The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-05-24
Gleanings from the War News.
THE RUSSIAN PLAN IN EUROPE.

THE RUSSIAN PLAN IN EUROPE.
The Herald's correspondent at Rust
chuk tclegraphs under date of the 10Th as
follows: 'There is good authority for
saying that the Russian plan is to await
a complete development of the invasion
Of the Asiatic frontier, which everything,
so far as learned, indicates will be vigor-
ously pressed. Russia, having her hands
freer there than on the Danube, can move
more rapidly Meanwhile, the European
invading force will endeavor to tire out
the Turks by worrying and harassing
them with frequent feints along the river
The Turkish Danubian fortresses, es-
pecally the quadralateral formed by
Rustchuk, Silestria, Shumla and Narna,
are in admirable condition of defence,
amply provisioned and stronger now than
ever before. The Turkish plan is a strict
ly defensive one, awaiting the onslaught
at Rustchuck. There have not been any
active hostlities here yet, but the river
landing stages have been cleared, and
barges, having unloaded immense guam
titles of grain, have been removed to a
place OF safety. Only an occasional tug,
hugging the southern shore, breaks the
smooth surface of the Danube. A gun
boat recently launched here has received
her armament, and, it is stated, is about
proceeding in search of a mysterious Rou-
manian steamer. The Wallachian earth
works have not offered any opposition,
but remain silent. 1t is believed that the
Turkish military authorities have instruc-
tions not to fire first"
Eight thousand Russians belonging to
twelve divisions march towards krajova
tomorrow. They will be succeeded by
thirty-three divisions, which are already
waiting at the next stage in the river.
A railway bridge over the Aluta, near
Slatina, fell to-day. A train of ten wag-
ons carrying ammunition to Little Wal
lachia was engulped with its attendants.
Five passengers were drowned
Within the last forty eight hours rum
ors of peace-which, however, are not
traceable to any source have been circu-
lated among the Russian officers. The
Car will start for the Danube on the I'd
of June. He will be absent about three
weeks.
The Turks are concentrating large
masses of troops at Tultukai and Sistova
expecting the Russians to make a power
full attempt to cross the Danube within
the next few days
THE SUEZ CANAL.
The Heralds Egyptian correspondent
also visited the British fleet at Port Said
on Friday. The Monarch's boilers have
given out, and she will return to England
to have them replaced. The Hotspur will
remain at the entrance to the canal until
further orders. The rest of the fleet have
gone to the Pirpus, the port of Athens
The fleet is composed of the Alexandra
Admiral Ilornbys flagship, carrying Il
heavy guns, and having armOr II inches
thick; the Sultan, - guns, 10 inches Of
armor plate and $3.50 tons burden; the
SwittsTe, IA guns, inches of iron plate
$500 tons: the Devastation, guns, tur-
ret, i'll which is mounted a Alton gun
400 tons burden: the Monarch, guns
turret, 9 inches Of steel plate; the Hot
spur. a ram, 4 guns, a turret, with 9-inch
plates, and the Raleigh, a despatch boat
The Monarch has the greatest speed, be-
ing equal to Is knots per hour. The Hot
spur is slower, being equal to only l.
knots. The Devastation is the most for
midable. Nearly all have Gatling guns
OF board The Egyptian navy is weak
as the best vessels are serving at trans
ports in the Black Sea. 1t is reported
that the British ironclad Research may
be expected at Port Said at an early day
THE CAPTURED CITY OF ARABIAN.
The Russians captured at Abraham q
Turkish pacha, eighty-tWo cannons, in
GLIDING two eight-inch and a number OF
smaller krupps. Arabian, like all other
old citadels on the Asiatic frontier, was
surrounded 10y heights commanding il
within easy artillery range. These heights
had been fortified, but when they were
once taken It's seems to have been the
case at Ardafan- fortress itself would
become ulltcnable; so the Turks did tho
best they could namely, to Withdraw the
garrison Of eleven battalions and effect d
junction with AIukhtar Pacha in the di-
rection of Erncroum. 1t is Il remarkable
fact that they forgot to destroy theil
stores and to spike their cannons. This
was an oversight which casts u shadow
over a leisurely abandonment of a great
fortress such us that at Abraham. The
danger to the Turks is that the Russians
i'll the neighborhood Of kars may waylay
their rctreating force if they attempt tt
pass that way But there is another anC
much more difficult mountain road thro
the Valley of the kora to the Valley O
Olti which the retreatng Turks viii
probably take. The fall of Abraham is :
considerable advantage to the Russians,
for besides opening Il line of communica-
ton with Akhaltzik it will enable the
Russians to turn the force hitherto oper.
ating against Ardahan toward kars or t.
take part in a combined operation against
ErzelOlm.
INCIDENTS OF THE SEIGE.
4 despatch from Erzeroum, dated Sat
urlay, describing the first attacks ON Ar
dahan. says: 1.-The efforts of the Rus
slams commenced with a heavy artillery
fire, which was as hotly returned. This
was followed by impetuous infantry at
tacks, which were repulsed every time
with great slaughter Under orders APP
parently to obtain success somewhere OF
other at any cost the troops were led back
to the assault after each failure, until night
stopped the carnage. The city was taken
the following day.
Charley Ross
SPRINGFIELD. MASS. May Is Christian X Ross