‘The Russo-Turkish War. 1877. Operations in Europe.’ [‎24r] (47/66)

18th Infantry Division.—Lieut.-General JSarbutt; Chief of the Staff, May 187
Colonel Mikhijew ; head-quarters, Kiev ; consisting of:—
1st Brigade ; head-quarters, Kiev.
69th (Riazan) Regiment.
70th (Riajsk) Regiment.
2nd Brigade ; head-quarters, Pultusk.
15th (Schlisselbourg) Regiment.
16th (Ladoga) Regiment.
Artillery Brigade ; 18th of Field Batteries ; General Bogdanow.
Don Cossack Cavalry Division.—Lieut.-General Schamchew; Chief of
the Staff, Colonel Ivanow ; head-quarters, Doubno ; consisting of
1st Brigade ; head-quarters, Douhno.
15th and 16th Regiments of Don Cossacks. ^
2nd Brigade ; head-quarters, Kamenetz-Podolski.
17th and 18th Regiments of Don Cossacks.
Horse Artillery ; 17 and 18th Batteries of Don Cossacks.
IY.
MOVEMENTS OF TROOPS, STORES, WAR MATERIAL, &c.
The latest intelligence of the week announces that the Russians are
establishing batteries at Giurgevo, hut it is possible that this was being done
by the Roumanian troops. In any case it was telegraphed from Rustchuk on
the 10th that batteries were being constructed to command the forts and town
of Rustchuk and the station of the Varna railway.
The march of Russian troops round the town of Bucharest in the direction
of Giurgevo was proceeding steadily. The passage that day of a Cavalry
Brigade of two regiments and a battery of Artillery is mentioned in news
from Bucharest of the 11th. On the same day two Roumanian batteries left
Bucharest, one going west and the other in u an opposite diiection, probably
towards Giurgevo. . ^ _
It was stated before the end of the week that there were 10,000 Russians
at Giurgevo, and that they were moving westward up the Danube towards
Simnitza, opposite Sistova, and Turnu-Margureli, opposite Nikopolis (at the
confluence with the Danube of the Aluta river that forms the frontier of little
Wallachia), and Russian Cavalry are again said to have been seen still further
west opposite Rahovo. .
Later intelligence seems to confirm this information. As, however,
Giurgevo is the head-quarters of a Roumanian Division it is probable that up
to the end of the week the force there was mainly Roumanian, and that the
Russian force was concentrated at Banjassa, between Bucharest and Giurgevo.
The Emperor of Russia has made a present to Prince Charles of Roumania of
2,000 horses and 36,000 rifles. #
Russian officers are reported as having arrived at Tumu-beverm.
Intelligence from Bucharest, dated the 9th of May, mentions the encamp
ment, at the time of writing, of a large Russian force in the neighbourhood, at
Banjassa (not the same as "the place above mentioned). Amid the conflicting
intelligence respecting the strength of the Russian armies of operation, it is
desirable to note such accurate information received from time to time,
as may serve for a fresh point of departure in making the calculations necessary
to estimate the correctness of the different reports. I rustworthy information
from Odessa received this week, sent during the early part of last month,
estimates the total strength at that time of the six Corps of the active and
coast armies at not more than 270,000 men. Out of this number, 70,000 were
absorbed by the two Corps then on the coast and in the Crimea.
Three Russian gunboats left the Pruth on the 10th for Braila.
With reference to this statement it is possible that these boats may be
three out of some eight or more stated on reliable intelligence to have been
seen at Kischincv in April, loaded on railway wagons, and described as about