"الحرب الروسية-التركية، ١٨٧٧. العمليات في أوروبا." [و‎‎٢‎٠] (٦٦/٣٩)

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the former about midway between Buzeo and Bucharest, and the latter on the Ma y 187
road to Kalarasch, opposite Silistria. It would appear proboble that these
reports may be all due to the active arrival of Russian troops at Ursicini; as
from this latter point a road runs through Slobodzia to Gura Jalonitza, on the
Danube opposite Hirsova, while another road diverges from it at Slobodzia and
runs south to Kalarasch.
The official notification of the blockade of the Russian coast of the Black
Sea as far on the European side as the Kilia estuary, is dated Constantinople,
May 3rd, the blockade to have effect from the 1st. The last news of any im
portance up to the 5th of May is of an engagement taking place on the 4th
between a Turkish monitor and the Russian batteries below Reni, which were
covering an attempt to throw a bridge across the Danube between that point
and Isaktchi.
The Turks in evacuating the Dobrudscha and retiring behind a second
line were said to be making arrangements to lay waste the country behind them,
and to burn Toultcha.
In general terms, the Turkish movements, as reported this week, seemed
to imply a withdrawal from both flanks, the Dobrudscha and Widdin, and a con
centration towards the centre about Rustchuk. The Turks were still said to be
50,000 strong at Widdin, and still in force at Toultcha, but were under orders
to evacuate the latter.
II.
MOBILIZATION OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY.
The mobilization is officially announced of the 21st and 38th Infantry
Divisions, thus completing the mobilization of the entire regular army of the
Caucasus.
Reliable intelligence from St. Petersburg, dated the 23rd of April,
announces that before leaving Kischinev, the Czar had ordered the following
details of mobilization :—
1. The 2nd and 3rd Divisions of Infantry with their Artillery.
2. The 4th Army-Corps ; made up of the 16th and 30th Infantry Divisions
with their Artillery, and the 4th Cavalry Division. These were to be ready in
three weeks, and were intended to reinforce the European Army of operations.
3. The tfth Artillery Brigade of Parks; destined to supply the Guards, the
1st Army-Corps and the above 4th Army-Corps, and 2nd and 3rd Infantry
Divisions.
4. 10 Reserve Battalions; formed of fortress troops, intended for duties
on the line of communications; to be composed of two fortress battalions of
Bender, two of Bobruisk, and six of Dunaburg.
5. Twelve batteries of complementary troops.
There still remained immobilized in Russia, 21 Infantry Divisions at the
date of this news.
All the Don Cossack regiments of the 1st and 2nd part were mobilized
(40 regiments of Cavalry).
Additional field hospitals had been formed.
The siege train was in immense strength. Unofficial intelligence announces
that the mobilization of the Guards Corps, and the 1st Army-Corps—both of
which have their head-quarters at St. Petersburg—had already been decreed.
Of 16 newly formed Army-Corps, 11 have two Infantry Divisions and the
remaining five have three. The latter five corps are the following:—
The Guards, and 1st at St. Petersburg ; the 2nd at Wilna ; the Grenadiers
at Lublin ; and the 6th at Warsaw.