THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

Clutha Leader, Volume IV, Issue 174, 9 November 1877, Page 7

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

The City of Sydney arrived at Auckland on .Saturday, ; bringing 1 the New Zealand portion of the iSnglish, Con- T tinenral, and American mails. The following 1 is the telegraphic summary of the WAR NEWS. Montenegro has gained a series of important victories over the Turks, capturing several fortified towns and fortresses, and taking* many prisoners. The Monteregrins control Dug'a Pass, and the whole of Montenegro to Fortscha. 12,000 Turks are concentrated at Mostar. In the ktest engagement a large force of Bashi-Bazouks were cut to pieces. Prince Milan, with the Czar, has gone to confirm the conquest of Mon* teneg'ro in Herzegovina when peace is made. German army soldiers have volunteered for the Russian service Germany declares its intention to call the Porte to account in more pointed terms for its violation of the Geneva Convention, by the mutilation of the Russian wounded. There are Lcontinuous operations at Schipka Pass. .Snow began to fall on the S-Ath September, and fell for several days. The Russians intend wintering at Schipka. Radefzky is supposed to have 25,000, and Sulifitnan 110,000 men for operations in Eastern Bulgaria. Mehemet All's army continued their vigorous advance on Eastern Bulgaria. The Czarswitch fell back upon a new position, with the view of concentration and defence. Up to the 24(b September, owing to the failure to isolate Plevna,- the Czarewitch would not risk a battle, the Turks having" a superior force at any point of attack in Bulgaria ; besides Osman had fortified almost irnprej^nably a position at Vartzri, on the Rabova road, upon which to retire, if defeated at Plevna. llev.ce the caution of the Russian left. Reinforcements arriving were sent to strengthen the Czarewitch. Tho Ozarewitch's>>smonfrom Jantra to Rtinica Lorn is cut up into ravines and g-nro-es, strengthened by formidable earthworks. The country is admirably adapted for defensive warfare. The Lorn keeps communication with Tiraova and Sistova open. Such was the position of the "Russian left September 20, when Mehemet Ali attacked the Ozarewitch. The fig-ht was renewed on the 21st. After five assaults the Turks retreated. Mehemet Ali telegraphed a great victory, but the fact was established that the defeat t.ppears to have been faint and wjis turned into a general attack, which failed. The Russians held the earthworks to the close of the engagement. The loss on both sides did not exceed 6000. On September 24 the Turks retreated to their former position on the Lorn. Great dissatisiaction exists in the Russian army concerning* the incompptencv of head quarters St;iff-general S. Robeloff, one of the youngest generals, who has seen more service than any other, was nominated to the second command at Plevna General Todleben, of Crimea fame, is at Plevna making a tour of inspection. The. Russian gunb oats at Kiba, at the mouth of the Danube, were attacked by a Turkish ironclad, and one Russian ship was destroyed. The butcheries in Roumelia by the Turkish authorities, beggar description On October 4, the Czarfiwirch voluntarily resigned command of the' Left, and takes command of the Imperial Gu=ird. General Torlleben has been appointed chief of Prince Charles's troops at Plevna, and directs the singe operations, which are methodically and untiringly prosecuted. Prince Hassan, commanding- the Egyptians, is wounded. Preparations for huts for 150,000 mon, and hospitals for 15,000, are being made for the Russians wintering in Bulgaria. One hundred and eight y miles of railroad have been constructed, and the Danube is to be kept free from ice by steamers like the Hudson Perry boats continually moving- on it. The Russian loss to September 31, since the war commenced, is stated to be 50,000 killed and wounded. The Russians attacked Mnkhtar Pasha's rear guard on October 1, near Alexandropol, with eight battalions of infantry, supported by cavalry and artillery. Mukhtar reports that he repulsed the Russian?, after five hours' flu-linns', with serious loss. Another attack by five infantry batallions, with three regiments of cavalry, on the right of the position, was made at thfe same time, and rppulsed. The Russians claimed to have carried the centre of Mukhtar's position, which was weakene.i to support the flanks. They pursued to the Soupatan, when nig-bt stopped the pursuit. The Turks were everywhere demoralised, and fled. On the 21st then* was a great battle along the whole line. This "was anticit pated,on the-. 4th, andiev.ery,* effort wis made ro cut qfl? Mukhtar fromUrs base. Over 2000 Russians, wer,8 f reported !mis-sing-j The- truth! seems to bVth'at fi'g-ht-in«r with,,,yariojiss -resii.l ts^took place j ■ , Th e T Grand T)ulce h^s t generals -appe% _^ » in ~O V 6 n Vft ri T. ■It l > i&iitvl W3 f?&f&ißii%i<Stl'ii V- 1 i it ft fejiJuHfi.

Kars. These attempts h-.wn hitherto iaited. The Russians admit retir.ng-oirrhe 4th, after the battle, for want of wat«r. '■ The Turks estimate the attacking: force at 35 battalions of infantry and 9 rpu-im^nts of oavalry. The battle lastpd \ to October 10. Mukhtar estimates the Russian loss at -10,000 in three days' fighting-, and the Turks ac 2500. This is doubtful. The army of Imperial Guards is ; massed to the rear of Osman Pasha, j and the besieging army is sapping close the works Ihe allied losses before Plevna on September 24, are estimated at 25,000 killed and wounded. Colonel Wellesley, the British Commissioner, visited Skobeloff and Graviea Redoubt. Later he reported that it i* 'crammed lull of dead Russians and ftoumanians, and is so dismantled as to be nearly untenable. On September 25. all the troops at Orcbani were ordered to relieve Plevna. They are commanded by Chefket Pasha, author t>f the Bulgarian massacres. The Turkish losses before Plevna were as heavy as those of the Russians. 4000 wounded remained in town, and the Turks were unable to remove them. Rain has rendered the roads nearly impassable, and there is a great deal of sickness among the Hussian troops. The wounded from Plevna crowd the hospitals. ' There were 24,000 sick soldiers at Odessa.