WAR ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4912, 14 August 1877, Page 3

WAR ITEMS.

TORPEDOES IS THE DJ.VI'IiE The Turks appear to have devised a tolerably effective protection for the monitors in the Danube against the torpedo-boats which were so successful on their first attack. Some Russian launches in the Kilia moutli of the Danube attempted the same tort of enterprise as that which was so successful against two Turkish monitors in tlie Sulina mouth of the river. But by Hobart Pasha's order the monitors wore surrounded hy boats fastened together by chains, and the Russian launches struck the chains, and so gave warning of their attempt, without having got near enough to the monitors to injure them severely by their turpednes ; nevertheless, one of the monitors was slightly injured. On the other hand, the grape lired into the Russian launches injured them severely, and some of the party were drowned, and six, it is said, taken prisoners. The device of thus surrounding an ironclad with small boats connected by a chain seems, therefore, a useful oue, but it is obviously inapplicable except to a vessel at anchor, as it would be impossible to move surrouuded by such appendages. For a blockading or cruising squadron, this expedient would be useless.

THE CZAR. An English paper, after recording the arrival of the Czar at Plojesti, says :—The Kmperor appears to be suffering from an increase in his habitual melancholy, or rather hypochondria. The most extensive and elaborate precautions have been taken to protect him from assassins, tho Russian secret police having been sent forward in hundreds, and a demand made on the Roumanian Government to allow them an unlimited right of arrest, a demand which was refused. An incident, too, which occurred on his arrival has probably increased his gloom. A .Russian otlicer of Irregulars, who hart entered Servia without leave, and had been dismissed from the service in ooKsequeuee, applied to his Majesty for pardon, and was refused. He immediately shot himself in the Czar's presence, partly, as we suppose, from despair, and partly as a sort of Oriental protest r.gainst injustice. a sEVEUE ricim , r.v the bai.kaxs. New Yokk, July 17.— The Jlerald's correspondent at Yeni Saghra reports that on Monday afternoon, the Turks, under command of Lunian Buy had an engagement with the Russians, defeating them and driving them back into tlie Balkans, with heavyloss. The. battle ground was at Fcbitch, twelve milts from Yeni-Saghra. At first the .Russians seemed to be successful, but the determined lighting of the Turks afterwards appeared to promise a Turkish victory. The Russian forces consisted of infantry and cavalry, outnumbering the Turks, whose lirst attack was repulsed, and the liruiking column of a force of dismounted dragoons greatly imperilled the Turkish position. The Turkish artillery was splendidly handled, raking the columns of Russians anil thinning them at every discharge. Perceiving the terrible havoc caused by the Turkish lire, General Gourka ordered the Russians to charge-. A fearful hand-to-hand conIhet ensued. The Turks formed a hollow square. After losing several guns, the Russians attacked desperately, and a fearful carnage followed on both sides. The Russian Hanking movement and its desperate onslaught threatened to exterminate the Turks, when suddenly brisk liring on the left announced the arrival of Turkish reinforcements, under command of Raouf Pasha. Tlie Russians had no artillery, and the rapid advance of the Turkish reinforcements compelled them to face the new enemy, thus affording the opponents an opportunity to abandon their hollow square and throw forward their flanks, and renew the attack vigorously. The Russian line, thus held between two rows of bayonets, was completely overwhelmed. The Cossacks niadu a splendid resistance, lighting with the utmost but unavailing bravery. A Turkish charge was made over heaps of d"ad bodies, driving the Russians back into the mountains. The (light was precipitate. The Turk 3 pursued the flying Russians until the mountain pass was rec ivered. This Russian advance column consisted of Circassians and Cossacks, en. mi landed by Colonel Jndoinin. The mam body was commanded by General Gi'iirka. They were in light, flying order, without wagon transports or artillcrv. It is impossible to estimate the loss. " The Russian main body intended to cross the Haikans at this point, the eighth corps leading. It is not know/; what ell'ect this repuUc of Goiuka's Hying column will have on thu main advance.

TUB ASSAI'I.T VVOS XICOI'OMS. Ciiic.uio, July I".—A New York special, giving Jin account of tin! capture of Xico]i;>lis>, says : As soon us the Russians came within elective range of the Turkish position they were met by a severe artillery liiv, which, however, did not check the advance, aud to which they replieil with a still more formidable fire. The Turks being posted on a commanding position, had considerable advantage, and as the Russians approached, frightful yaps were made in their ranks by the Turkish artillery. With surprising valour, however, they continued to approach the heights, and as soon as they came within rill a range they opened a terrible lire on the Turks. For half an hour this military duel was continued with unabated vigour. About midday on Sunday the order for the assault was given, and the whole Kußsiau line, supported by several batteries of artillery, stormed the heights occupied by the Turks. During the awful climb in the face of the deadly lire, the Russians suffered terribly, while tho Turks, stubbornly defending their position, sustained an equal loss. After obtaining possession of the heights commanding the town at a terrible cost, the Russians virtually had Nicopolis at their mercy. The Turks, finding their line of retreat threatened, abandoned the town, which was rilled with. Turkish dead. Many wounded were found in the streets and in the houses, where they had been abandoned by tho Turks in the haste of their retreat.