The Portland daily press., 1877-05-14
ON THE DANUBE,

NEW YORK, May ia telegram from Bu-
charest announces that the Chamber has passed
resolution declaring that as Turkey has sew
cred all bonds between herself and Roumania
by unprovoked outrages along the Danube, the
ministry shall be empowered to take any steps
they deem necessary. This is equivalent to
form al declaration of war.
The following is text of the Roumapian
resolutions passed by the chamber on Friday
virtually amounting to a declaration of
independence:
The chamber seeing that Turkey by her
aggressive conduct has severed the ties uniting
Roumaula to Turkey, and considering that
Turkey has commenced hostilitles, and that
the Roumanian government cannot have
alraady replied to the Turkish declaration of
war relies on the sense of the iustice,of the
guaranteeing powers which assured Roumanian
political development in the treaty of Paris
and empowered the government to adopt all
such measures as will secure the existence of
Roumania and enable her on conclusion of
peace to take up well defined position render
ing it possible for her to accomplish her hstori-
cal mission in the east unbettered by any
dependence
Senate adopted Saturday by vote 81 to 81 an
order of the day similar in tone to the forego-
ing.
Particulars of the Destruction of n Turk.
ish Monitor.
KIsCHENEFF, May 12.-It is officially con-
firmed that the Russians sank large Turkish
monitor in the Danube yesterday. A Reuter-
telegram from BuchaSest aays a she'll pene-
plosion which fred the magazine. The entire
crew and 200 Turkish soldiers perlshed
An Engagement Impending
MANCHESTER, May ia Rustchuk de-
spatch to the Guardian dated Thursday, says:
From preparations being made on both sides, it
is plain that the time for action on the Danube
is close at hand. The Russians evidently in
TOM to fsro0 fba T,,r1, inh,1
the whole line, and under cover of an over.
whelming artillery fire attempt to cross the
river at several points simultaneously. Notice
is thus given by the military authorities here
that the Russian batteries on the opposite
bank at Gi1rgevo may commence firing on this
town and fortress at any moment. For the
last two days the Russians have been establish
ing batteries on the left bank, from which
bombardment can be directed upon the town of
Rustchuk, and the station of the Varna railway
which has its terminus here. 1 believe these
batteries will open tomorrow. The Turkish
fortresses on the Danube are in admirable
manner, and are we'll prepared to withstand an
attack.
A Vienna despatch to the same journal last
night says dispatches from Bucharest an
nounce concentration of the Russian army in
the direction of Giurgevo. Its purpose is probs-
bly, to keep main army of Turks at Rustchuk
whilst flying corps attempted to cross the Do
brudscha. The banks of the river near Ibrail
are lined with Cossacks and Bashi-Bazouks
who keep up constant rifle fire.
Russians Concentrating Between Giur.
geyo and Nicopolis.
LONDON, May Bon the Danube there has
been no increase on the Russian forces oc-
cupying the Galatz and REM positions, which
are some 90 600 strong. These forces naturally
keep equal with the forces of the Turks in the
line from Silstrla to Tultcha. Meanwhile all
the Russians movement show that they are
,fraf thah ball -
Gurgevo and Nicopolis in one position. The |
forces will form the seat of the Russian |
advance fronting the Turks from Rustshuk to |
Shumla, supported by the Galatz and REM |
troops. The other portion will take the centre |
position and will be covered from attack from |
Widdn by corps called the Timok Valley /
corps, but which is misnomer as far as it |
signifies an advance through Servan territory |
or the best information is that Russia for both |
political and military reasons will Dot violate
Servian territory.
Operations by the Turkish monitors in the
Upper Danube are mere farces. These monitors
nave only threequarter inch armor and are
lrmed three and a half centimetre guns
The Russian centre is rapidly assuming
hape on the Aluta, and small detachments
lave already occupied Turnow, Maguieli and
slosh SO that it is very probable that they in
end crossing the Danube at this point to
btain possession of these chief passes of the
BALKANS, and thus cut the Turkish communica- |
ion with trans Balkan districts
The ground betveenthe rivers Iskras, Vid
nd Osma increases in difficulties towards the
outh, the mountains becoming more rugged
nd steep, but east Of these passes of the Bal.
ans is the valley of the Yantra with the en-
renched and partially fortified town of Tirnova
he former capital of ancient Bulgaria. To
ne westward is another series of passes for
vhich Lampalanke on the Danube would be
he starting point and which converges upon
Ophia and NiSCh. The Russians NAV choosa |
ither of these routes, but it is not likely thew
I'LL split up their forces, and for many reasons
le first named would be the best.
Turks Driven Back.
BUCHAREST, May 13.-The following news is
ffered: The Turks endeavored on Saturday
light to effect landing at Oltentza The at.
mpt was frustrated by the Roumanians. Gen.
!anu has asked for achievements. Prince
harles has gone to Oltenitza.