The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-05-28
The Turc0-Russian War.
ANOTHER TURKISH GUN-BOAT
BLOWN UP.
Cessation of the B0mbardmeDt
of Kars.
SUMMARY OF THE SITUATION IN ASIA
AND ION THE DANUBE.
Order Restored at COnstantinOpse.
Russin's Demands i'm Case of
Victory.
THE AsKATIC CAMPAIGN.


The Bonn bnrdmenf of Kars-The Abchn.
sian Rebellion.
LONDON, May 26:-The Russian lombard
ment of Kars has slackened.
The Russian troops continue their advances
on Erzeroum and battle is expected shortly.
A detachment of Rcssians Tuesday attacked
Abchasan villages Akoba and Idisk, near Ba-
toum. The Abchasian chiefs assembled all
their available forces, and repulsed the Rus
SLAMS, who lost $50 killed and many wounded.
A MAJ or and four captains were found among
the slain. The Turkish loss was seven men
killed and seven wounded.
Strategic Points-The Russians Purpose
Strength Of the Opposing Forces, etc.
One of the best roads in Asia Minor runs
from Batoum along the River Chornk, through
Artvin to Olt and thence to Bardez. The
road crosses the river about so miles northeast
of Pertrhkek and follows tributary of the
Choruk to Tartoum, guarding the northern
entrance of the pass leading into the valley
of the Kara or Western Euphrates. Thence
it runs through swampy valley, south OF
which lies Erzeroum The importance OF this
road cannot be overrated, as it is the best and
shortest line of communication between Ere
roum and the sea coast. The object of the
Russian attack on Batoum is doubtless to
obtain possession of the town ITSELF then to
control this road and cut off communication
with Erzeroum. They have succeeded and
pushed their advance already to Artvin. From
another Ardanudsch where it branches to Art
vim and south to Lovosgera and Olti. A third
road leads from Arabian via Urut across the
Chonly Mountains to Olt and Bardez. On
their retreat from Arabian the Turks used the
roads leading westward and southwestward,
part escaping to Ardanudsch and part across
the Chonley Mountains to Olti.
Dispatches received during the past week
from Turkish sources reports that the Russians
occupied the Olti road from Kars to Erzeroum,
hi oh, Itxysd c64 AsnAn I
branches running nearly parallel with the
northern through pass in the Soghoulee range,
a little south of Border, and the southern
through Delamusa and across similar pass to
the junction with the northern branch at
Chorassan. The Envan column had at last
accounts reached Jeranos
The plan of the Russian advance is thus
clear. The centre of the Asiatic army under
GEN. Melikoff is estimated at $4,000 men and
20 cannon. The right wing under Gen. Okoli-
lo numbers As 900 men and lao guns. The
left wing or Erivsn corps under Gen. Terguka-
doH numbers 50,000 men and 156 guns. The
Turks have about 10000 men in the neighbour
hood of Erzeloum and about 10000 at Kars.
Ut is impossible ito, give reliable account of
the number of guns as those sent from Con-
staptnople may be still at Trebizond or on the
road.
All signs indicate that the Russians intend
to attack Moukhtar's positions by two flank
movements, one from the line of Artvin and
Ardanudsh and the other from, Bayazid. The
Turks are already fortifying Erzingam in an
ticpation of being forced to leave Erzeroum.
A revolt in the Caucasus can be product i've
only of petty annoyance in view of the prec all-
tions adopted and the advance of the Russian
army which is closely followed by another army
of civil fnnctionaries, so that by the time the
Russian commanders get to Erzeroum all of
that pashalik east of the river Choruk will be
Russian province.
The districts of +Sturogel, Bayazid and Dyr-
din are already under Russian administration.
That Erzeroum will be permanently occupied
is the conviction openly expressed in authori.
tative circles in Tiflis.
Turkish Reports.
CoNsTANTINOPLE May 28.-Mukbtar Pasha
telegraphs that the Russians are making for
ward movement from various sides. He also
reports several engagements, especially in the
neighborhood of Kars, resulting favorably for
the Turks, and claims that the Russians in
taking Arabian lost 5000 men,