LATEST EUROPEAN TELEGRAMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1343, 25 August 1877, Page 15

LATEST EUROPEAN TELEGRAMS.

. [BY SUBMARINE CABLE.] (JtBUTSS'B SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.) 1 rt • London, August 14th, 5.40 p.m. • f Skiraii!hes ' favourable" to the Turks take place, daily. ; ' „ "The positions of the armies before Plevna are unchanged. ' ' ■ A great battle is imminent, there being 100,000 men on each side. ' • Tie wool, .sales opened to-day. The brokers (Balme and Hazard) had a wellselecjed^catalogue 0f; 5142 bales. The attendance of Home and foreign buyers was large, and' the biddings commenced with great spirit. Prices are about the same as at last series. 'Arrived ;. Wellington, Trafalgar, and Strathdon. • " r Singapore, August 17th, 12:30 p.m. Lords Beaconsfield and Derby remain in. town, during the autumn. Muktar Pasha remains .on the defen-, aive in Asia. , , The Russians have evacuated Kustenji. Bombay, August 11th. < The left wing of Mehemet Ali is marching towards Sulieman Pasha, whose cavalry is beyond the Balkans. General MeUkoff has been reinforced, and has resumed offensive operations. Imali checks Tergoukason. - The following is the Agent-Generals telegram from London, August 16th :—: — The Russians have evacuated the Balkans with heavy loss. A second Danube bridge has been completed, and large reinforcements 1 of Russians are crossing. Bustchuk is being bombarded. ~ Fighting is going on at different points without aay very important results. - Mehemet Ali and Sulieman Pasha are pushing on to effect a junction, and the .Russians who have been reinforced are' advancing their centre and left wing. An important battle is expected. Frightful masacrea by the Turks, without distinction of .age or sex, are reported. Revolted Bulgarian towns and villages were burnt in every direction. The Russians are suffering from fever and dysentery. The Turks are healthy. Bombay, August 18th, 10.10 p.m. The Russian Imperial Guard has been called into active service, and also all capable of bearing arms who have hitherto been exempt. General Gourke goes to Bt. Petersburg to bring the Guard to the teat of war. Wellesley (?) has returned from Bulgaria. Undecisive fighting has taken place at Batoum, in Asia. • August 19th, 1.44 p.m. Suheman Pasha is at Elena, north of the Balkans. , Salbnica is in a state of Beige. Poti in Asia is deserted. ° Hobart Pasha is.ot Sinope. Turkey is increasing her army. ' m. LoNDOK » August 19th, 6.47 p.m. The Queensland mail was delivered on the Uth, and the San Francisco on the loth. Sailed : Chimborazo, on the 13th, and Durham to-day. ' Bombay, August 20th, 7.43 p.m. In skirmishes in the vicinity of Rustchuk, the Turkish official despatch states

that a detachment from the garrison rei pulsed the Russians. . i The Russians are advancing against the Turkish force near the Dobrudseha. ! ' Bombay, August' 20fch. Circassian immigration to Turkey iB increasing.. . , : I ' Russian official despatches admit that r the Russian reconnaisance has been repulsed at Osman Bazar. . Rao Dervish has carried the advanced. Russian position at Batoum. London, August 19th. Ten regiments of Russian cavalry and 35,000 infantry, with 110 guns, attacked Mukhtar Pasha's army yesterday, near Kara. After fighting all day the Russians were compelled to fall back, with a loss of 1200. The Turkish loss was 100. The Rußaians have reoccupied Kustendji, in the Dobrudseha. A special cablegram to the Wellington Argus, dated August 15th, 5.11 p,m., gives additional particulars :—": — " It is estimated that 250,000 men are, before Plevna, chiefly infantry and cavalry. The real fight has not begun yet, but some sanguinary skirmishes, in which the Turks, more or leas, have gained the advantage. Most horrible massacres are reported by the Russian Press to have been committed by the Turks. Turkish authorities say the statements are exaggerated." s In the wool sales competition is well maintained, and prices improve as the sales, progress. The home trade is operating vigorously. 30,000 bales have been sold. The wheat market is depressed, and imports, are increasing. There haa been fine harvest weather. Australian wheat is at 675 ; New Zealand, 54s to 083. New Zealand flax, is scarce. ■ London, August 20th. The Russians hold strongly to the OhipkaPass. Sulieman Pasha is making a reoonnaisance near the Jenikoi Pass, where the Russians are strongly entrenched,' and where, according to the Russian official despatch, the Turks were repulsed. The Nile haß been stationary for four days. Its level is now fourteen feet below- the average for the past three years. Bombay, August 21st, 2 20 p.m. ' An unofficial Russian account confirms the attack by General Melikoff'on Batoum on the 18th. jlfter capturing the first line' of entrenchments, he fell back to his former positions." Many were' killed on both sides. '.'■'"< In Bulgaria the Russians have taken up a position between Lovatz and.Selvi. General Gourk,e lost 4000 in the retreat from the GhipkaJ • ' , „ ' The Turks are preparing for a winter .campaign. -- ' ' . •