"الحرب الروسية-التركية، ١٨٧٧. العمليات في أوروبا." [و‎‎٢‎١] (٦٦/٤١)

41
men. The first torpedoes were laid in the river on the night of the 28th of Ma y 1877 -
Banjasa is mentioned in early May intelligence as occupied by Russian
troops, and it was announced that a large force would he concentrated there.
This Banjasa is about three miles north-west of Bucharest, near the point
where the two lines of railway converge, from Jassy, and Krajovo; hut there
is another town of the same name, also said to have been reached by the
Russian troops, on the railway line between Bucharest and Giurgevo.
There is an absence of accurate information as to the bridging operations
being carried on by the Russians. An immense quantity of bridging material
is collected about the mouth of the Pruth, and two bridges are spoken of as in
process of construction—one up the river between Turnu and Nikopolis, and
one below Reni, to reach the southern shore at Isaktchi.
As regards the former, beyond a vague rumour of Russian troops being
seen marching west of Giurgevo, there is no confirmatory intelligence of their
presence at Turnu.
Large working parties of Russian troops were employed in repairing and
improving the roads about the position on the Lower Danube.
The floods in Roumania, by damaging the railway bridges had brought
several trains of troops (15 engines and 200 carriages) to a stand still. The
passage of troops this week over the Barbosi bridge is given at five military
trains per day.
The earliest May intelligence announced that the passage of the Pruth by
the Russian Army, about the 24th April (a fortnight earlier than was
originally intended), took Prince Charles by surprise.
The news of the withdrawal of the Roumanian troops from Jassy was
simultaneous with that of the arrival of the Russians there.
A proclamation by the Grand Duke Nicholas to the Roumanian people,
announcing the passage through Roumanian territory of the Russian Army, is
dated the 24th of April.
Immediately after the news of the evacuation of Jassy by the Roumanian
troops came that of the simular evacuation by them of Kalafat and Galatz,
and of the concentration of the troops of the principality about Bucharest.
Subsequently the Roumanian troops re-occupied Kalafat, and the Rouma
nian Army became the right wing of the Russian active force.
It is announced that orders have been given for the moblization of the
Roumanian Militia, and that the entire Militia force will be called out. Each
district in the province was to contribute a battalion, and the city of Bucharest
a battalion.
A Roumanian gunboat was stationed off the mouth of the Sereth.
Servia continues neutral.
April, and the following week they were down along the whole line from Braila
to Reni. It was also rumoured that torpedoes had been laid below Reni to
the mouth of the river.
y.
RAILWAYS, ROADS, BRIDGES, &c.
VI.
ROUMANIA, SERVIA, &c.
M