WAR NEWS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 242, 12 October 1877, Page 4

WAR NEWS.

\ Correspondent N. Zealand Times.}

A correspondent with the Russian army, at

THE BATTLE OP LOVATZ,

alter describing the artillery engagement and capture of the other redoubts, gives the following account of the capture of the last redoubt :— Mount Sous was within easy cannon shot of the position attacked. The attacking force was compelled to cross a plain half a mile wide before reaching the base of tbe hill on which, the redoubt was, constructed, under a musketry fire of. the Turkish infantry, securely eusconced behind their parapets. Along the road aud ou the left bank of the .Osma River were several low ridges of earth, high enough to coyer a man in a creeping posture. These places of refuge were resting places in the deadly race for the bluff. The cemetery through which the Russians also had to pass had a number of tali flagstones standing upright, and these were taken advantage of by the advancing soldiers. The attacking force contained two regiments named after the German Emperor, and some men of tho army corps which was at Plevna. It was commanded by Major- Genera! Razmindaff. At half- past two the order to attack .was given, and the men rushed across the valley amid a perfect hailstorm of bullets. In five minutes the ground was dotted with dead and wounded. The Russians advanced in open order with a rush, and the Turks kept up a steady stream of fire. There was not the slightest break in the rain of bullets, yet it was wonderful to see how small a portion took effect. Sometimes a single soldier would ruu across the whole space between the river and the bluff. I could see where every bullet hit around him by the dust which it threw up, and yet he generally got across unhurt. There were minutes when no Russian was under fire, yet the Turks never stopped. It appears they were lying down in the trenches, and were firing over the para pets without looking. The Russians declare they never saw even a head above the bank By three o'clock a considerable force had collected under, the bluff, and commenced working round to an angle of the redoubt, looking up the Plevna road, while another party, to distract attention from the first, crept up the face of the bluff and opened a scathing fire on the face of the redoubt towards Lovatz. Away to the northward of Plevna road a Russian force now made its appearance, with a battery of artillery, to cut off the Turkish retreat towards Plevna. Another attacking column is now seen advancing up the River Osma from our extreme right. They are scattered in open order and stealing along unobservei by the Turks to reinforce the party under the northern end of the bluff. Ail this time the Turks keep up ao incessant rifle fire, but the guns on tbe hills at tire back of the redoubt only fire occasionally, as our troops cannot be seen from that position. The Russian artillery thunder away very rapidly, and two batteries are now advanced down tb.B road nearly to the edge 2of the city. The Russians gathered under tde bluff now make a rush forward and secure possession of the trenches in front of the eastern face of the redoubt, within a hundred yards of the ditch. It is 4 p.m., and the decisive moment approaches. Men along the Lovalz front of the works open fire ond draw the bulk of the Turkish fire in their direction, when suddenly about 50 Russians ranks a rush upon the eastern face of the redoubt and appear within 50 yards ol the ditch. They are compelled to retire by a tremendous fire. After twenty minutes of desultory firiog the real attack is made up the slope facing tbe eastern side of the redoubt. The Russians rush up in opeD order, keeping a steady s ream of reinforcements following the advance. A perfect deluge of shells is poured upon the redoubt from our batteries aa the meu Cuu up the slope, while the Turkish infantry fire is inces.aat, and if it were well directed every Russian would ht.ve been shot down; as it is many fell Our artillery ceases firing as our meu leap into the uilcbo,, and clamber up the parapets, while another column ruahee along ihe Lovalz face of the redoubt to cleur tbe advance on tbe trenches. Tbo Tuiks in the treachos fly to the wesiwarujflriug »,s tbey go, and failing under the Russian lire in the redoubt. Iu- the wesiorn faca of the work ihe re is a traverso covering ibis gorge, and the Tuiks aro jumm A betweed the traverso and the western parapets. In a few seconds tho firing ceases, for the day ia ours, aad the Turks are in full retreat to the westward, where no force had been sent to cut off their flighting.

BEFO&E PLEVNA, A correspondent to the Daily News flaye: — Ou the 4th Sepiember. The Russians assumed the off_asive. Fight- . ing began in the moruiug about 10 o'clock. Ths advance bagan about (j O'clock in tbe morning bufc ih.re w_s considerable delay owing to tha inequalities of the ground. At the various points along eighteen miles of front the Turkish outposts wore encountered almost , immediately by ths Russian skirmishers' line, but they fell back without any hesitation after seeing that the advance was made in force, When the Turkish outposts had fallen back upon their main picket the line firia-' became brisk. The skirmishing line 61 the Russian army was at onco strengthened, aad engaged the enemy until the

artillery began to arrive. The regiments as they came up were immediately formed into line of barltie and at once became engaged. The artillery fire along the centre of the Russian advance was steady and destructive The Russian gunners by their rapid practice admirably covered the advance of their infantry as the latter pushed forward seeking a closer contact with the enemy. The Turks fought stubbornly, but entirely oa the defensive The fighting that ensuedn as soo as the entire movement had been fairly unmasked by the Russians was of a terrific character, both on tbe part of the Turks and their assailants. Almost every strategic point aiong the line of the positions was the scene of desperate charges by the Russians. In nearly every instance when the Russians reached the Turkish positions they succeeded in carrying them despite of the irregularity of the ground occupied. The Turkish positions, through in the main well chosen aud on hilly ground were, stormed with an impetuosity that swept tho enemy before it, though in many instances at heavy loss in killed and wounded. The defence of the Turks waa determined and desperate ; but they were unable to withstand the onslaught of their opponents, and were compelled to retire suddenly from position to position. Before uooa the Turks had been drifen into their last line of intrenchraents. Meanwhile, bavin j; be^n informed by spies of the existauce of a by-road on a sort of sp'ir on the m?.in thoroughfare between Biela and Plevna, the Grand Duke ordered a division of cavalry to make the detour necessary to reach it, and to attempt a flank movement from the northward. This operation is now beiug exeouted. Aa I wrote the last sentence a courier dashed iuto camp. He has reported that the troops of the left wing were doiog good work before Loviitz, and that the towu would certainly be taken before dark. A staff officer high in rank said to me a moment later, "If that be true, we shall enter Plevna to-morrow morniog." I can only say th^t everything seems to indicate such a result. The battle still continues, an j from the artillery firiug which I hear off in the distance to tho northward, it seems probable that the flank movement has been discovered. Up to the moment that the courier departs with this despatch the Russians have not suffered any serjous check, and it seems very probable tbat the prophecy regarding Plevna may prove truii.

A correspondent telegraphing from Poredia gives the uamoa of the various corps and brigades comprising the army before Pievua, showing that there are 80,000 infantry, including 28,000 Roumanians; cavalry, 10,000 including 4000 Koumauians. With the addition of other arms of service there ia a compact well equipped array of about 100,000 men, with 250 guns, including seige artillery.