THE WAR IN ASIA MINOR.

Auckland Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2334, 8 September 1877, Page 3

THE WAR IN ASIA MINOR.

Ninety thousand Russian troops have been scut forward to reinforce the armies in the Caucasus smd Armenia. The rebellion in the Caucasus has been completely suppressed, and 50,000 Circassians have ©migrated to Asiatic Turkey, with a large number of cattle—Hobait Pasha effecting their removal. In Asia Minor, Mukhtur Pasha claims to have gained several minor victories over the enemy; surprising one party near Ardahan, and inflicting a loss of 1,000. In Asia the intention of the; Russians is to advance from Ardahan, outposts have already been pushed on aw far us Penuek-. Another division is marching to Arduuusch, which commands the road from Bntinm to Olti. A third column of fresh forces is occupying the line of the Ad jam river, south of Batoum. This points to mi evident ii> teufeion to advance, possibly even on Erzerovuii, or to carry out the campaign with a sweeping Jlank ami rear movement on Mukhtur Pasha's army before Knrs, which will be covered by attacks in front, conducted by Melikoffs forces at Kurukdara, supported by General Tergukassofl", who i is bcl:eved to be somewhere on the river Arras, "■-'■ " r Kar:«. The 'a": c:- \ lan is - :- A probable than the advance on Erzci roiun, if, is. ■>'•", '-'-; •.. Ii -I* inurement on Olti is not a feint to distract Mukhfar's attention from what is going on in front. But as the feint might bo coustrncd into a real attack, Mukhtar cannot afFord to ignore it. He will, therefore, be fo'ced to detach a considerable number of men from his army to guard the b:ir-e of the triangle formed by Ardahan, Kar.--, and Olti, whilst the Russians :u-a able to direct their operations from the

apex at Ardahan against any portion of the base, and, a>»isted by General Tcrgukassoif, cut Mukhtar's connection with E»zeronrn, and force him to fall back upon it, or into

Kars. Telegrams from Constantinople j report that a portion of the Turkish Batonm ' army is embarking for Varna to reinforce

Mehemet Ali, so that the Porte must feel sufficient confidence in the strength of Mukhtar Pasha's central column and position to throw upon it the entire burden of resisting Melikotf's second invasion.