RUSSO-TURKISH WAR.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XX, Issue 3922, 2 June 1877, Page 2

RUSSO-TURKISH WAR.

A cable telegram of the 30th May, p\iblished in another column, states that the Russian troops have evacutecl the Transcucasian province of Abassia. Previous telegrams had informed us of a rising of the Circassians, and that they had taken Sukhumkale. It would now seem thatthe Russians are leaving the territory to the Circassians. Abassia is described as a narrow and rugged territory which extends along the north-eastern shores of the Black Sea, from the westward termination of the Caucasus to about the parallel of 43deg. 20min. It embraces the declivities of the mountain region, furrowed by torrents : and divided by a series of narrow valleys ' and ravines. Abassia, however, is fertile, and produces abundant crops, besides 1 possessing numerotis herds of cattle. Its : subjection to the government of the ] Czar has at all times been little «' more than nominal, and great part of the i province has throughout remained in the "* possession of the warlike tribes of moiui- c

taneers who constitute its inhabitants. . There are no towns— properly so caller"d — r" within the limits of Abassia. But the Russians had constructed numerous fortresses at short intervals along this portion of the Euxine coast, which (together with Anapa) formed a chain of military stations along the entire eastern borders of the Black Sea. The whole of these forts were destroyed and abandoned by the Russians during the campaigns of 1854-5, to prevent their falling into the hands of the allied English and French fleets.