‘The Russo-Turkish War. 1877. Operations in Europe.’ [‎26r] (51/66)

51
MAY 13th to MAY 19th.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
51
I. Narrative ..
II. Mobilization of the Russian Army
III. Russian Army Details ..
IY. Movement of Troops, Stores, War
Material, &c. .. .. • • .. 55
54
Y. Railways, Roads, Bridges, &c. ..
VI. Roumania, Servia, &c. .. .
VII. The Turkish Army
VIII. Turkish Fortresses, Stores, Guns, &c.
IX. Miscellaneous
PAGE
56
56
56
58
59
I.
NAKRATIVE.
Up to the end of the week the movements of the Russians on the Danube ^ a y \s77.
were Still unrevealed. Of the presence of a large force at Banjassa and other
points between Bucharest and Giurgevo there was little doubt, and also that
bodies of troops were being brought up on its left so as to connect it with the
force at Braila, and that these portions of the army were not on the banks ot
the Danube, but thrown back from it and in a kind of echelon, the positions
selected being the cross roads where the roads of the interior were intersected
by others leading down to the river. On the other hand, to the west of
Giuro-evo, between that point and Turnu, at the mouth of the Aluta, and further
west still, as far as Rahovo, it appeared to be part of the Russian plan to make
a display of troops close to* the river.
Later in the week it was becoming doubtful whether this was a ieint or
whether there was really the intention of concentrating any large Russian force
to the right of Giurgevo, the news being rather in favour of the latter view, as
besides the Cavalry near the Danube there were rumours of a strong column
kept back from the river, and said to be destined for Turnu Margurele and
Simnitza. In the meantime, the Roumanian troops were interlaced with those
of Russia, the former holding temporarily the positions from Oltemtza^ to
Giuro evo with a strong force of Russian Cavalry and Horse Artillery on their
right" between Giurgevo and Turnu Margur61e and towards Rahovo, and
the Roumanians coming in again on their right at Kalafat.
Tow ards the end of the week it w r as becoming clear that a Russian Corps
was taking up its position on the right of that already concentrated about the
Bucharest—Giurgevo line, and that the Roumanians were being withdrawn to
the extreme right. a # ™ a- j
The head-quarters of the Army moved from Kischmev to Ploesti, ana were
about to move to Bucharest, but at the last moment this arrangement was
postponed on account of the expected arrival of the Emperor ot Russia at
Army head-quarters, and the Grand Duke remained at Ploestn
The rumours of a Russian movement towards the valley of the limok
were becoming more pronounced, but there is no detailed or authentic intelli
gence to hand on the subject. „ • n r
At the beginning of the week there were rumours of a Russian Corps ot
Infantry, Cavalry and Artillery being engaged in the Dobrudscha with the
Turks. This intelligence was not confirmed up to the end ot the week.
The nucleus of fact at the bottom of it would appear to have some connection
with the Cossack reconnaissance recorded last week from Galatz to Khiasett,
which was supposed to denote an intention on the part of the Russians (and ot
which there is some further information this week) to make an attempt upon
Matschin. Potbashi mentioned in the account of this reconnaissance turns out
to be the name of an old channel of the Danube. Khiasett is a small fishing
villao-e on the banks of the river opposite Braila, in front of and a kind of out-
post^of Matschin. It is also called Potbashi by the Turks.
By the end of the week it appeared to be established that the village ot
Khiasett was in the hands of the Russians, who were entrenching it and were
about to erect batteries there.