THE FALL OF NICOPOLIS.

Colonist, Volume XIX, Issue 2282, 11 September 1877, Page 3

THE FALL OF NICOPOLIS.

The secrecy and .deliberation with which the Russians are aoting in Bulgaria are again illustrated in the capture of Nicopolis. Having crossed the Danube 20 miles to the eastward and secured Sistova, they sent scouts toward Biela and Tirnova, indicating that the main army was about to hold the line of the Jantra, and attempt the passage of the Balkans, without investing the fortresses of the quadrilateral. While the Russians where thus mystifying the Turks, and incurring the censure of the military critics for their -imperfect communications with ;„Roumauia, the Grand Duke Nicholas was preparing steadily for the capture of Nicopolis, whioh had already suffered severely from the bombardment last month. At •ltDpth, on Sunday, July 15th his troopß advanced boldly against the heights which command the town, and by sheer courage and energy drove the Turks from their strong position, and so effectually cut off their retreat that two Paßha's, 6,000 soldiers and two monitors fell into the victor's hands. In its material aspects, the capture of Nicopolis will be of great benefit to the Russians, inasmuch as it will enable them to establish seourely a second bridge, over which they may convey the immense stores of provisions and war material, accumulated at Turna. Provided with these supplies, they will be able to act independently of the Bulgarian granaries, which would afford only a scanty subsistence. A Times correspondent telegraphs from Turna-Margurelli, July 16:—''I have visited the two monitors captured from the Turks. They can probably be made ready for action without mnoh delay. The prisoners are all regulars, the Bashi-Bazouks and Circassians having left some time ago. On the heights commanding Nicopolis, empty cartridge-cases lying in every direction tell of a desperate struggle. Thousands of rifles, bayonets, and accoutrements are piled along the road to the town where a train of 300 wounded Moslems await removal into improvised hospitals. The Turks burned their stores t»nd the principal buildings of the town before surrendering."