SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 213, 8 September 1877, Page 2

SAN FRANCISCO MAIL NEWS.

Before the end of July the Russians had concentrated 100,000 troops near Plevna, and had completed the inrestment of rßuatchuk, adyanciug near enough to throw shells inside. The bombardment of Silistria, fired the town. ■ ; , On the 3 1 3t July the Russian right wing, 40,000 strong, attacked 50.000 Turks under Osman Pasha, who occupied a strong horseshoe position around. Pie va&. The Turks opened a heavy bombardment, the Russians suffering terribly, but they drove the Tarks from their outer works, and attacked the position immediately .covering Plevna. No impression was mads on the position, the Turkish cannonade mowing down the infantry in the open, and the Russians were compelled to fall back. At sunset the Turks made a continuous forward movement, and, despite the desperate stands made by the Russians, retook all lost positions, scattering and completely routing the Russian troops. The Bashijßazouks took the Russian field, slaughtering the wounded, whose cries for mercy were heard during the night. The panic spread asfarasSistova. Stray Cossacks arriving there declared the Turks were closely following, and this caused a great panic, the whole population rushing across the bridge. The attack on Plevna was renewed on the following day, with further reverses to the Russians, whose loss in killed and wounded was 24,000 men. Osman Pasha did not follow up his victory, but awaited reinforcements. This defeat completely disarranged the Russian plans. On the same day the Russians attacked Raouf Pasha at Eski Saghra, driving the Turks back. Sulieman Bey arrived with reinforcements, and recaptured Eski Saghra, inflicting heavy loss upon the Russians, and capturing several guns. He then advanced to Kezaulik, the Russians falling back and strongly fortifying Shipka Pass.; The Russian advance in the Caucasus placed 6000 Turks at Tchambchiva in a critical position. Hobart Pasha's fleet removed [them under a heavy bombardment from the Russian batteries, thus completing the withdrawal of ;the Turkish military expedition to the Caucasus. Hobart Pasha has the entire command of the Black Sea fleet, comprising 20 vessels. Twenty thousand Turkish regulars have been ordered from Batoura to Varna. The Servian militia, numbering 30,000, are posted on the frontier. Austria has issued a loan of 30,000,000 francs, and mobilised 90,000 troops. Meetings have been held in Hungary favoring armed intervention to preserve the integrity of the Ottoman Empire. Mehernet All's army at Rasgrad, 40,000 strong, opposes the Russians, who hold strong positions on the river Lom. . Turkish Ministers issued a foreign circular charging the Russians with massacreing Mussulmans and burning refugees in churches. General Gourka telegraphed that he was compelled to scatter his troops to prevent the massacre of Christians. Russian reinforcements have been sent to Rustchuk aud Plevna.