Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-05-17
THE WAR.
The Battle of BatOum.
Defeat of Russians in Asia.

tUdTktu
Curcharest have exchanged ordinary
colors for flags bearing the double
Greek cross, carried only when the war
is religious one.
The Danube which has been very
high, rendering the attempts to bridge
it dangerous, is now falling.
A Rome special says that the Radical
and Ministerial papers are adopting
an unpleasant tone towards England,
because OF the visit of the English fleet
to Crete. They assert that the Medi
Iteration is far rnO;e likely to become
English than Russian.
From Belgrade comes the news that
the first class militia have received or
ders to be in readiness. provided with
four days provisions.
The expectation Of corn from Servid
has been provided.
A St. Petersburg dispatch officially
contradicts the reported attempt OF the
Russians to cross the Danube at Reni,
and the defeat on the 9th.
Extensive movements of the Turk
ish cavalry are observed from the
Roumanian side of the Danube. The
Turks threaten to lombard SininitZs
and TO cross the river afterwards and
plunder the town.
The Porte has given the most salts
factory assurances In regard to the de-
struction of the British shipping at
Beckett, and promises compensation.
The whole Russian headquarters will
be on the Danube in a week. Owing
TO the fall of water in the Danube, the
balance OF the monitors behind the
island opposite Ibrail in the old bed oil
the river caanot get out and must be
abandoned or destroyed.
The Times says that the war in Asia
Minor will not be parade for the Rus
sians as WAS anticipated by English
alarmists. The Russians run great
risk of disappointment if they try to
repeat their rapid triumphs of the 18th
and 29th ult.
Three columns of Russian soldiers
are marching towards Giurgevo, Sim
nitza and Morgulli, with the design vi
crossing the D,nube at those points.
The object is to break the Turkish lires
aud separate the corps at Widdin from
the main army. The Turks appear to
be contemplating crossing to Kalatat,
as they have at that point two moni-
tors, one war steamer and eight sail
Ing Darques.
BRUSSELS, May IA lie Nord, Rus
sian organ, publishes letter from st.
Petersburg, containing the following:
Russia has but one aim, namely, the
amelioration of the lot of the Chris
tians, but if at the end of the war she
claims more extended guarantees, Eu-
rope must blame herself, not the ambi-
tious designs whereof it gratuitously
suspects Russia. Russia, after the war,
will give fresh proof of her moderation
by consulting Europe respecting the
conditions to be dictated to the Turks,
to prevent further massacres.
LONDON, May 1.-THE Bucharest
journals state that the Turks crossed
the Danube at Cochanesch and stole
and some cattle.
The Ietegrdph's special from Batoum,
dated Friday, says: About five O'clock
this morning the Russians largely aug
mented, advanced with field artillery
aHd made furious attack on the
heights defending Batoum on the land
side, occupied by Bashi Bazouks. The
Ottoman troops were entrenched and
opened terrible and well sustained
fire of cannon and musketry which
Literally moved the Russians down in
swaths. They fell by scores and hun
dreds on the plain below the Turkish
position, turning their attempts to
make way against this fire. The boly
of the Turkish horse and foot, taking
advantage of thick forest, broke forth
on the flank of the Russian column
and effected great slaughter, the Musco-
vites being upon the ground perfectly
open and having no choice but to fight
or fly. In shcrt time the spot which
was The scene of this flank movement
became covered with dead and dying
Russians, but they very quickly bro't
\ up endorsements and the battle was
renewed with mnch determination.
Fer many hours the efforts of the as
sailants were desperately maintained,
but towards midday their artillery fire
gradually slackened and they at length
withdrew ", after suffering considerable
loss.
An eye witness of this important en-
gagement says that the Ottoman sol.
,iiers behaved admirably. They had,
however, during great part of the
engagement, the advantage of in
trenchMents on high ground, and it
was due to this fact no dOubt, that their
losses, compared to the Russians, were
insignificant.
The Telegraph's Botonin dispatch,
dated Saturday, says that the victory
was won by the extraordinary courage
of the Bashi- Bazouks. The dead and
wounded Russians exceed 1000. The
engagement lasted over eight hours,
actual fighting. The last OF the Rus
SLAMS did not withdraw until near
midnight. The Russians lost many
guns. The only Turkish officer OF note
killed is Khalin Bey, Major of irregu-
lars. <1r 0naa ~ 8.
FIGHTING RESUMED.