Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-06-06
The Eastern War.

Gazcho and taken several Montcnegrn posi-
tions especially the important Notifications
arounl Krstdhe (probabIy krstazo,) which
were captured after desperate fight with Elk
thonsaul Mouteneg1ius. The latter were rout.
ed with considerable loss Ali Sab, uomman
dant at Scutari, also announces the capture OF
several Montcuegrn positions.
simultaneously with Su'cimau Pasha's ad.
vance, Mehpct Ali attacked the Montcnegrlos
| at ko!aschin. killing eighty aud iosog thirty
six Of his owu mcu.
The Turks yesterday bombarded and slight
| IL damaged some vessels which the Russians
were collecting at Giurgcvo to cross The Da-
uubc.
Travellers from Rustchuk coutirn the reports
| that the waters OF tie Danube have fallen, aod
sly an impression has bccn gaining ground Tor
the last three days that the Russians will very
shortly cudcavor 10 cross the Danube at three
different points making Rustchuk tue chief
object of attack. All the women have LETT the
town. The foreign c0nsul5, except the Eng
lish. will leave in few days.
y Nicpna dispatch and other adVices state
that the Gar will arrive at Plolcstl today. y
large posse Of secret police have preceded the
Gear 90 his way TO Bucharest. General lgna-
lietf has arrived in Bucharest.
4 grand military council, uodcr the Prcsl.
dcucy of the Sultan, lasting two hours was
held at the Ministry OF War yesterday The
Greek Patriarch has Issued 4 pastoral. recon-
mcudiug the orthodox to remain faithful to The
Sultan.
The scmi.offica Journal de st. Petersburg,
adYcrling 10 peace rumorJ, says diplomacy bad
better not pronounce 10 favor Of any definite
uIau for the termination Of the war until decl'
siyc events have occurred GU the battle held.
The terms Of peace must depend on the course
OF war.
A Belgrade correspondent says il is reported
that The English Consul at Mostar is to visit
tho Banajuka ana Bihateh districts to observe
the progress of the iOsurrcctlon and the c0ndl-
ton OF the Kayaks. The Ser7ans have sent
an address, through the SlaV Committee, to
the Russian nation calling the Gar Lberator.
\ SerViau paper cXhorts the Principally to
decide the fate Of the Scrvian race By declaring
var against the Porte 1t counsels SerVia to
wait until the Russians have crossed the Dl
pubc, aDd then cutter Old Servia and Bosnia.
y
states that despite all denials it is positively as
serted that Servia has made complete prepare.
(ons to commence hostities near Akpaanka
| and Altnisch as soon as tho Russians have
crossed the Danube.
The Berlin Post intimates that a diplomatic
conference may be held Bucharest during the
sG0urn Of the Gar.
The London Telepraph's Bucharest cores
rondent asserts that this year thirty thousand
Of the Servian militia are not to be called out
fer annual drill.
The London Times correspondent with the
Turkish army sends the following particulars
OF it, organization -
The Turkish Army OF the Danube 10 slightly
deficient in artillery and very deficient 10 caval
-. The cause of this iS exclusively the want oil
money. The Turkish Government have still
more than Jour hundred trecoh-loading cannon
lying idle at C1nstantiuople for want Of horses
AID harness, and there arc mulllIudes o! men
we'll qualified to be dragons, but there Is nc
money to mount them. The armament Of thu
troops is all that is perfect The infantry have
Martini Henry rifles and the cavalry WlncEes
ter Iifas. According TO most trustworthy Ia
formation the present strength OF the army,
exclusive oil the reserves IN course OF formation
ca the other side the Balkans, is go battalion!
Of iniautty, II squadrons Of horse, 800 cannon
and about 5000 fortress artillery and engineers
OF these as hattalions are stationed at Widdiu
36 at Ruschuk, Gj at Shumla, % at Farna
ions are divided by Nlkopolls, Sistoya, Tur
luoki, The Dobrujda and various places Of moro
or less Importance in Danubian Bulgaria
Every battalion 90 an average may be assumed
to contain 80 men. The contributions from
! Nish, it is true, are considerably below this
standarl, Iut on the other hand numerous
hedif battaliors have ,000mcn aud even more
Therefore the total number OF Infantry Is about
l72 800, and Of cavalry, reckoning 100 men tt
a squadron, 300. Accordingly the Army oil
the Danube. including fortress, artillery and
engineers, Is close upon 100000 strong. a;
to the organization, there is a want OF every
lhuc that is indispensable 10 tactical unity and
|.,5stem Until within few weeks there were
10 divisions, brigades or regiments. Battallons
lay scattered about without often knowing from
whom they had to receive orders. 1t is true
that after declaration Of war, divisions and bri.
gaties were formed, but this Is of little practi.
cal value when it is considered thst the troops
and commanders are changed about at tho ca
price Of one superior officer. The army is
virtually directed from Constantuoplc, where
all movements are plapne1 and orders issued
by the so.called Council Of War. This council
is composed Of Z number oil generals, who are
mere puppets in the hands Of a few ignorant
upstairs. Abdul kcrim Pasha is the mere
executor Of the will of this body. 1t caonot be
denied that he possesses military experience,
and sharp, .iudicious eye, but he is wholly
wanting in cuergy and power Of rapid action.
TO the uatural incapaci'y of the Commander
in.C Chief in this respect must be added the cir
cumstancc that he is seconded by no general
staff. As regards the icrresSes 10 European
Turkey, incredible results have been accom-.
pIisbcd. Widdiu, Rustchuk, Sllistria, Shumla
and Varna, especially the last two, are now
quite formidable. The Notifications almost en-,
tlrey consist OF independent works, mostly Of
earth, but constructed 10 conformity with mod
ern principles Of armament, and leave nothing
to be desired. That the Russians will succeed
perhaps at no distant date, in forcing the river
is inote than probable; but it is equally certain
s:lat 10 the face Of the tough, enduring qualities
OF tue Turkish soldier, they will only aIler spill
| inn n,urh ilooI farce fhn barrier onnosnd IN