CABLE MESSAGES.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 149, 21 December 1877, Page 2

CABLE MESSAGES.

(Reuters, P&b. Press Agency.) London Dec 4. The condition of the Pope has changed for the worst. The Pope is not expected to recover. Dec. 15. The Pope's condition is alarming. His death is frequently announced. Dec. 10. The Russian loss up to Nov. 17 was 74,858. According to an unofficial Turkish report, Plevna is amply provisioned for a siege Several Russian attacks, were repulsed. Dec. 11. Plevna has surrendered after severe fighting, the garrison having been reduced to .starvation. Osman Pasha was severly wounded at the last attempt to break through the Russian lines. By the fall of Plevna, Bulgaria and the country north of the Balkans are opened to the Russians. There was great slaughter'at Plevna. The* Turks were compelled to surrender, after an heroic struggle. Forty thousand prisoners were taken, besides the loss of 20,000 of the garrison, who died of cold, hunger, and wounds. Dec. 14. At a Cabinet Council to-day, in consequence of the fall of Plevna, it was decided that Parliament be prorogued to Jan; 17. Early peace is considered impossible without British The Turkish Supreme Council of State has.resolved to continue the war to the last extreme. . Dec. 15.. Thirty .thousand prisoners, with 14,000 sick and "wounded, were captured at Plevna, -beside, a- large number of guns

The Turks under Sulieinan have ~*fl captured Tirnova, Popkoi, and Keoropa, \ j fl The firewood at Plevna being exhausted H .Osman Pasha with his whole army, on ■ the' morning of Dec. 10, attacked the ■ Russian Grenadiers on the left bank of I the Vid, attempting .to force his way . * through the trenches and batteries. *, He found he was unable to break through, and tried to return to Plevna, which meanwhile another Russain division oc- - cupied, and assaulted the Turkish rear and flanks. After five hours' desperate ' i: fighting Osman Pasha surrendered his". ' sword. He was slightly wounded, and was received with marked attention by ■■ the Russians. The Russian staff were aware of the mtented sortie three days J beforehand, a spy having informed General Skobeloff. The Turks made . , two feigned attacks westward with great •* fury, nearly destroying a grenadier \i regiment. An epidemic in Plevna has- -sJe tened Osman's sortie. He had thr% -qiM weeks' provisions, and a thousand cattle 7; 9 bnt no forage or.fuel. ." »