THE RISING IN THE CAUCASUS. (From the correspondent of the Times.) Berlin, 6th June.

Evening Post, Volume XV, Issue 181, 4 August 1877, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE RISING IN THE CAUCASUS. (From the correspondent of the Times.) Berlin, 6th June.

Before the landing at the Soukoum Kaleh and other Caucasian ports could be effected by the Turkish monitors, the torpedoes sunk in the harbour had to be removed by divers specially trained for the purposes. The divers entered the harbour in flat-bottomed boats at daybreak, and easily succeeded in catting the cords and taking the torpedoes in tow. The Russian f orts on the shore, being deprived of their principal protection by this simple device, one after another fell into the hands of the attacking party. The Circassian refugees and priests landed by the Turks have since been spreading rebellion so effectually that the entire strip of Mahomedan country between the Euxine and Caspian is either in arms or else kept down with difficulty. The Mahomedans in and close to the Caucasus being estimated at about 2,000,000, this rebellion in the rear of the Russian army in Armenia would be very serious indeed were it not that the Russians, having absolute command of the Caspian, can dispense with the roads intersecting the hills. As it is, their operations in Armenia may be somewhat retarded by the Yiadikaukas road being threatened by the insurgents : but as soon as the necessary number of ships have been assembled at Astrachan, and begin to ply between the mouth of the Volga and Baku, the difficulty created by the rebels will be greatly diminished. For this purpose the Russians have at thencommand the Caspian squadron, consisting of some twelve steamers and half a dozen transports, together with the vessels of the Mercury- Company and some others, showing a total of more than 1600 horse-power. According there is little prospect that the Russian operations in Asia Minor will be seriously affected by the audacity of the Circassian rebels. The chief obstacles the Russians have hitherto encountered in Asia Minor are the bad condition of the roads and the scarcity of provisions in the country.