The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-05-18
ON THE DANUBE.
A Great Battle Imminent at Giurge


New YORK, May 1.-THE Times despatch
from Giurgevo says great battle is impending.
Already heavy cannonading is in progress.
For several days the Russians have been con-
centrating large force at this point, preparing
to force a passage of the Danube. The army is
in fine condition and good spirits. Opposite. in
Rustchuk, the Turks are in strong force. They
will certainly resist the advance. Tomorrow or
day after may witness bloody struggle. The
Turkish monitors are hurrying toward this
spot. and taking positions near the point where
the Russians hope to lay pontoon bridges.
Tonight the scene on the Danube is magni-
ficent. Shells are bursting in the air, and dis
tant camp fires and signal rockets tell the story
of advancing forces The cannonade grows
heavier and it will not take long to destroy
Rustchuk, that place being the weakest in the
quadrangle of Turkish fortresses. Further
down the river the sky is Redeemed by the
flames of burning Turtukai, the town fred by
the Russian guns in Oltentza 1t would be
comparatively easy for the Russians to cross at
that point.
Ibrail. News has just reached Guirgevo that
Matchin, some five miles distant from Turtu-
kai, has been set on fire by Russian artillery.
No Fighting in the DObrudschR.
BUCHAREST, May 1.-THE Constantinople
kilograms which reported fighting going on in
DObrudscha, are unfounded. There have been
no engagements between the Russians and
luFkS Ill EUROPE, eACepG Oh Gu0 line OF DaIGer-
les between Ibrail and Ismail.
A Turkish Manifesto.
LONDON, May 1.-THE commanders of the
Turkish fortresses along the Danube have pub
lished manifestos urging the inhabitants to
withdraw further inland to the Balkans
Enormous enasses of Turkish cavalry are said
to be visible opposite Galatz, and there is talk
of crossing the Danube.
The Russian Advance.
sacks intended to head the advance of the Rus.
sian invasion, is passing through Bucharest to
day en- route for the Danube. The crossing of
the river is believed not to be Immediately
imminent. 1t seems as though the Russians
have quietly and dexterously placed the Rou.
manian troops where they could be blended
with their own.
Russian Floating Batteries.
The news that the Russians have some float.
ing batteries on the Danube is confirmed
They are described as small but ingeniousy
made, consisting of three pontoons joined to-
gether. Each battery carries one gun. The
pontoons were foated down the Pruth and
Joined by marine detachment. Besides the
Russians have some larger steamers which
have been armed.
The Turkish gunboats are still refuged at
Matchin whence they do not attempt to come
down the Danube. The Russian firing from
Ibrail to Matchn vest erday was an experiment
with extra heavy guns as to the possibility of
destroying these gunboats.
Russian Recommending Party Driven
Back.
1t is stated accommodating expedition of 500
Russian infantry crossed the Danube in boats
a little below REM. The Turks allowed them
to come we'll within range when they opened
such a fire that they were compelled to retreat
to the boats with heavy loss.
The Russians have crossed the Aluta and
entered Little Wallachia, which it was expect
ed hitherto to be occupied solely by the Rou-
manians
1t is reported that the Turks have altogether
captured 200 Russian vessels in the Danube
containing over 10000 heelolitives of wheat