Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1877 — NEWS OF THE WEEK. [ARTICLE]

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

THE WAR IN THE EAST. Turkish accounts report horrible outrages by the Russians in Bulgaria. It is stated that Mohammedan children and old men are ruthlessly slaughtered and women outraged and carried off by the Cossacks. On the 16th of July the Russians from Sistova made an assault in heavy force upon and captured NikopoUs, oue of the Turkish strongholds on the Danube. This is regarded as a vastly important victory for the invaders, a* it secures them another crossing place and base of supplies. Another bridge is being thrown across the river at that point. The new Russian army of invasion.now being mobilized will be brought immediately to reinforce Ceil. Zimmerman’s corps in the Dohrudscli.t. • The meager details sent by cable of tlio attack and capture of Nikopolis by the Russians show it to have been the bloodicstbattle fought so fur in the war, as well as the most important victory achieved by the invaders. Under cover of a furious artillery fire a column of infantry stormed the outer works. The Turks fought courageously, but were beaten back at the point of tlio bayonet.. The loss on both sides was tremendous. Whole ranks of Russians were mowed down by the terriblo musketry, but others clambered over thoir dead bodies, and frantically sought revenge. Thus tlio battle continued all daylong. The Russians being reinforced in the afternoon by several battalions of Roumanians from Turna, crossing in boats at midnight, Achmed Pasha capitulated. Over 0,000 Turks, 40 pieces of artillery and 2 monitors were captured by the Russians. The report that tho Russians had crossed the Balkans is officially confirmed. Tho advanced guard now iTouth of tho mountains is commanded by Gen. Gourklia, and consists of cavalry, infantry and artillery. Twenty-three members of loading Kurdish families, inhabiting Russian territory, have been court-martialed and hanged by order of Gen. MolikolT. Dispatches from Bucharest of the 20th announce that tho Russians had completely surrounded Rustchuk, Unit a column of 50,000 was marching on Widin, and that those two places, together with Bhumla, would lie besieged with infantry. Abdul Kerim, Generalissimo of tlio Turkish army, lias boon dismissed, and Meliemet Ali appointed to succeed him. Mehemot Ali is a Prussian, whoso real name is Bchultz. Ite has shown himself capable as a division commander in Montenegro and elsewhere. ° *-v A Constantinople dispatch slates that a large section of society there believes that Malnnoud, Itedif and Abdul Kerim have sold tho country to Russia, and that the transaction was negotiated by Abraham Pasha. There was very little news from the Russian fordo that had* penetrated the Balkan pass from prenova to llciukoi. It was known that severe fighting lifffl boon going on between Gtn. Gourka’s cavalry and tlio Bashi-Bazouks. The main body of the Russians, it was believed, would advance by another route via Selimuo. Monkhtar Pasha telegraphs from Kars that the re victualing and reorganization of the Kars garrison is now complete. Hassan Pasha, who commanded at Nikopolis, and who is a prisoner, had an interview with the Czar recently. lie said that wliyn ho capitulated his ammunition was all gofip, and lie had boon obliged to kill three or four soldiers with his own hand for .caving their duty. The Government of Philippopolis reports that tho Cossacks have burned the villages of Pohanly, Baganly, Guczlidja, and Tehinakdje, near Kassanlik and Eskissghra. A Constantinople dispatch says : “The Turks are mm displaying groat activity. Troops and munitions- arc being dispatched in all haste. Unhappily the fortifications at Adrianoplo are very imperfect, not ovon armed.