_The Aluta Attack._--The fifth attack was made on the 30th of June, 1877, on a Turkish monitor off the mouth of the Aluta, in the river Danube. This attempt, like the last, took place in broad daylight. Four Russian boats were sent forward, but in spite of the captain of the Turkish vessel doing all he could to run the boats down, none of them succeeded in getting sufficiently near the vessel to enable a torpedo to be placed in contact. The captain of the monitor took the precaution to rig his lower booms out, and so managed to keep the enemy's boats at a respectful distance, they imagining that mines were fixed to the ends of the booms. After two hours of this dodging about, the Russians, finding the case hopeless, abandoned the attack. The Russian account states--1st, that the captain of the monitor was an Englishman; 2nd, that the vessel was protected by nets and torpedoes lashed to the extremities of her booms--both of which statements are radically wrong. The torpedo boats forming the attack were the _Choutka_, Midshipman Niloff, and the _Mina_, Sub-Lieutenant Arens, both armed with the spar torpedo. Unless indeed the Russians acted up to the old proverb which says "Discretion is the best part of valour," it is difficult to understand how four small easily handled boats could have been for one hour endeavouring to strike a ship (which ship was at the same time being manoeuvred with a view of running them down) without either effecting their object or being sunk or damaged in the attempt. The Russians, though unsuccessful, behaved gallantly. Midshipman Niloff was severely wounded, but no mention is made as to the number of the crew that were killed and wounded, or of the damage received by the boats. Niloff received the 4th Class of the Cross of St. George, and Arens the Order of Military Merit. The Turkish captain, Ali Bey, behaved most pluckily and skilfully. The only wonder is that both the boats were not sunk by the monitor's fire. 6TH AFFAIR. _The Soukoum Kaleh Attack._--The sixth attempt was made on the 23rd-24th of August, 1877, on a Turkish ironclad, the _Assari Shefket_, at the time lying at anchor off Soukoum Kaleh.[U] Four torpedo boats composed the attacking force, viz. the _Sinope_, Lieutenant Pisarefski; the _Torpedoist_, Midshipman Nelson Hirst; the _Navarino_, Lieutenant Vichnevetski; and the _Tchesme_, Lieutenant Zatzarennyi, the latter officer being in command. These boats had been brought to the entrance of the harbour by the _Constantine_, and were despatched on their mission of destruction about half past ten. An eclipse of the moon occurred on this night, and, taking advantage of this fact, the four Russian torpedo boats dashed into the harbour at full speed and made for the Turkish vessel.