Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 July 1877 — NEWS OF THE WEEK. [ARTICLE]

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

THE WAK IN THE EAST The English Government formally disapproves of Itiissia’a intentions toward Turkey, and declares that in no event will England ]»ermit Jiussia to occupy Constantinople, even temporarily. The Russians made an attempt to cross the Danube at Rustchuk, on the 25th of June. A sharp engagement followed, in which the Turkish gunboats took an active part. The Turks claim to have defeated the Russians with heavy losh in a twelve hours’ engagement at Delibaba pass. They also claim a vie-’ lory in a sharp engagement before Batotim. A Constantinople dispatch announces the capitulation Of the Russians at Bayazid. If these reports are tine, the tide of Success has evidently turned in favor of the Turks in Asia Minor. But then these MussulmanHiireawfullygiven to lying. A Bucharest dispatch says: “The Russian corps now entering the Dobrudscha is ordered to advance as quickly as possible up to the line of tho Csscrnavoda and Kustcndje railway. After their arrival the right wing of the center army will force a passage higher- up the stream,” Tho Czar and the Grand Duke Alexis have been reconciled after a long disagreement, and the latter has been promoted from a Major to a General.

In the Chamber of Deputies, on (he 25th of June, M. Grevy, the President, read a decree formally dissolving the Chamber, and intimating that the elections would be held after an interval of two months. Detailed accounts of tho terrible bombard Hiont of Rustchuk by the Russian batteries at Giurgovo are furnished by cable : “The terribly effective character of tho Russian tire can scarcely be described. The gunners seem to 1/We directed every shot at Rustchuk without Vegard to the buildings liable to lie injured. Shell after shell came crashing through the roofs of tho houses, and burying themselves in the floors, where they exploded, demolishing the walls. The mosques seemed to ho selected as particular targets at times, for two, three, and often more shells would fall on and around them, tearing pinnacle and dome with fearful effect. Not even tho hospitals were spared by this awful rain of shells, and their inmates in many cases were killed in their bods. Tho unfortunate inhabitants of Rustchuk suffered terribly during tho bombardment. Hid away in deep recesses or sheltered behind thick walls, the Russian shells found and destroyed them. As they darted through the streets toward places of greater security, their bodies were scattered in fragments by the explosion of these terrible missiles. Women flying from 1 Heir burning or ruined homos were killed as J bey ran. Little children clasped ill the arm* of their terrified parents were struck' dead by the .fatal fragments. The scene was one of unqualified horror throughout.” Tho Russan cavalry are spreading over the interior of the Dobrudscha, but the infantry follows [slowly. The Porte has telegraphed to its representatives abroad a note bogging the Cabinets to take cognizance of tho destruction with explosives of four Ottoman merchant vessels by (lie Russians, which is denounced as contrary to the rules of international law. The Czar has ordered another army corps from thorintorior to the Lower Danube. The long-expected crossing of the Danube by the Center of the Russian army occurred on the 28til and 2!)th of June, at or near Sistoya, about midway between Rustchuk and Nicopolis, the Commandor-iu-Chicf taking immediate charge of the movement. The crossing was effected with little or no opposition, the Turks seemingly having made up their minds that the passage would' be mado at some other point. Tho Czar issued a proclamation to the people of Bulgaria, announcing the prcselico of his army among them to do battle in their behalf, and guaran teeing protection and good government as tho immediate result of tho Russian occupation. The forces in the Dubrudsclia aro advancing rapidly to the southward, and tho formation of a uxiliary battalions among tho Bulgarian" Christians has already bugun. Tho terrible torpedo continues its work of destruction in tho hands of the daring Bus-t-iaiis. The latest exploit in this line was the destruction of three richly-laden Turkish merchanf ships in the harbor of Heradea, outlie southwestern shore of the Black sea’. A dispatch from Rustchuk, dated Juno 30, says : “The bombardment of Rustchuk still continues. The town is rapidly becoming untenable, although the southern defenses of the place aro intact and the. railroad in a fair condition. Tho foreign Consuls, tho hospital staffs and the ambulauco corps have removed to Varna. This indicates the abandonment of the line of the Danube by tho Turks, and their retreat to that of tho Balkans. Russian forces at Hirsova are reported to be marching on Pilistria, and are said to bo within forty kilometres of that fortress. The Turks aro apparently concentrating their troops in tho principal forts, where they will soon -be attacked. The Russians attempted to cross tho river at Nicopolis in fifty lighters. Ten of the lighters wore sunk by shells, and the attempt failed. The slaughter was frightful.”