THE RUSSO-TURKISH WAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5162, 8 October 1877, Page 2

THE RUSSO-TURKISH WAR

DATES TO 'SEPTEMBER 12. (By Telegraph from Auckland.) (per press agenct.) The Turks and Russians have been at each others throats in hard stern earnest during the past month, and at Plevna, and again at the Shipka Pass, the fighting has been of no desultory nature, but severe, prolonged, and bloody. At neither locality, however, have the battles been general field engagements between two armies. At the Shipka Pass the Turks and at Plevna the Russians have hurled their men against fortified positions after terrible ’ and heavy artillery encounters. Indeed, the part which cannon great and small are in future wars to play is now fully apparent. The particulars of the fighting at

THE SHIPKA PASS were first given in London telegrams dated August 25, which said “ Bulletins from the Russian General commanding at the Shipka Pass show that on August the 22nd the Turks erected two batteries of long range artillery, and made trenches through which they approached the Russian position. On the 22ud the Turkish fire commenced at half-past four o’clock in the morning, and lasted with great violence until noon. Meanwhile the Turks made several desperate assaults, but were repulsed. Our heroes did not yield a foot. At noon the firing slackened, and the reserves under Radetsky began to arrive. Our losses have been great.” Sulieman Pasha telegraphed on August 21 that three of his brigades ascended the heights of the Shipka Pass in spite of a shower of Russian projectiles, drove back the Russian outposts, and advanced to within 100 yards of the enemy’s entrenchments. There was desperate fighting for fourteen hours, and although the Turks retained the ground conquered, the enemy still held their fortifications and main positions, which were defended by fourteen cannon and a large force of men. The telegram concludes—“ To-morrow I shall bring up our siege guns and renew the struggle. We hope to be successful.” A Shumla despatch dated August 28, says : —“ Sulieman Pasha made an assault on the Russian positions at the Shipka Pass at nine o’clock this morning. The battle was sanguinary, and lasted until six o’clock in the evening. The enemy, who were assailed on both flanks, were unable to resist the attacks, and the Turks gained possession of all the earthworks at the opening of the defile.” A telegram to The Times from Shumla says :—“ Sulieman Pasha captured nearly all the Russian positions. The Russians lost 3000 killed and wounded.” On the 29th Russian advices from Gorney Studeni said:—“Allis quiet this morning. Our troops maintain their positions. The Turks remain under cover behind the neighboring heights out of range of our batteries. The number wounded from August 21 to the 27th was 2480, which included 95 officers. The number killed was unknown. As a result of Sunday’s fighting, the Turkish advanced batteries somewhat menace the Russian flanks. The Turks are constructing fresh batteries in the Tunga Valley.” A Bucharest correspondent states that the hills around Shipka are covered with Turkish bodies, that their loss already, has been as great as that of the Russians at Plevna. At Adrianople, on September 3, intelligence received from the Shipka Pass stated that Sulieman Pasha had gained a more advantageous position for his batteries on the heights surrounding Fort Nicholas. Russian reinforcements arrived during the night, and the road to Gabrova was being bombarded by the Turkish batteries. The Turks acknowledge a loss of 7000 men in the Shipka Pass, and 20,000 wounded reached Adrianople.

By a London telegram of September 4 we were informed that a Vienna despatch said: — “ The report that Sulieman Pasha w’as acting under imperative orders from Oohstantinople in pressing the attack on the Russians at the Shipka Pass, is emphatically denied. He received full credit in Constantinople for his eastern operations ; but in renewing the atattack at Shipka Pass over and over again he is deemed to have not .only made a useless sacrifice of excellent troops, but also to have acted contrary to his orders, according to which the operations on that side were to have been, at least in the first instance, merely a demonstration on a large scale to attract the Russian forces. An order has been sent to Sulieman Pasha to desist from his attempts for the present, and to follow in future more closely the instructions received from Mehemet Ali.”

A special despatch from Gorney Studeni says that the Emperor will present Radetsky with a sword of honor, the hilt set with diamonds, for his defence of the Shipka Pass. The Grand Duke Nicholas made an inspection of the Pass, and returned well satisfied with the strength and power of the Russian forces that hold it.”

• A correspondent describing a visit to the Shipka Pass says ;—“ Sulieman Pasha has abandoned his attempt on the Russian position, and is marching away from the neighborhood of Shipka. Some say he is still at Kesanlik, others that he is searching for another pass. My own belief is that he i* engaged trying to reorganise his scattered forces. There remain still confronting the Russians a few battalions of Egyptians, with some cannon on the heights, and a few more miscellaneous battalions in the village of Shipka. A large number of the Russian reinforcements were being marched back, and General Nepokostschitzky, the Grand Duke Nicholas, and the Chief of the Staff were returning from their visit to the Pass, quite relieved and satisfied with the position. The Russian officials estimate their losses at 1200 killed and 3000 wounded. The Russians have made a fine road up the Pass for the passage of a large army into Roumelia. New bridges and other improvements on the road are still being made. The struggle at the Shipka Pass was of course disgraced by

TURKISH BARBARITIES. The Russian Government sent a note to its Ambassadors abroad, saying that beside several cases of Turkish barbarities already published, the Russian troops on occupying the batteries at the Shipka Pass, found there a heap of heads belonging to Russian soldiers, whose jnutilated bodies were discovered in the neighborhood. Correspondents with the Russian army say that in the early struggles in the Shipka Pass not one wounded Russian who fell in the places afterwards temporarily occupied by the Turkish troops was found alive. Prom twenty to thirty of these unfortunates had been decapitated. Several bodies were found with the feet, hands, ears, noses, and other parts c«t off ; their breasts lashed with yataghans. Their heads had been carried into the Turkish camp, where they weije afterwards found by the Russian troops. The contraction of the muscles and tension of the members showed that the horrible tortures of mutilation had been inflicted while the victims were alive. One body decapitated, and otherwise mutilated, was extended on a litter where it had been placed when wounded, and not far from it the bodies of two litter-carriers were found also decapitated, each of whom bore the banner of the Red Cross.

ON THE OTHER HAND the Turks allege that they have suffered from tho barbarities of their enemies. The Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs has addressed a despatch to the diplomatic agents of the Porto abroad, saying that every day brings to light a great number of Mussulman women and children belonging to the district of Keaanlik wh» escaped from massacre. 2500 Mussulman women and children have been found barefooted and in a deplorable condition. A number of women and children could not be recovered, having been massacred by the Bulgarians. Of 12,000 Mussulman men, women, and children who fell into the hands of the Russians and Bulgarians, 2000 were rescued by the Imperial troops. Measures had been taken to deliver the rest,' but news was received that every Mussulman who remained at Kesanlik fell a victim to the Bulgarians. Women and children were made prisoners and taken to the Balkans. THE FIGHTING AT PLEVNA was of very desperate character. On August 31 Osman Pasha attacked the Russian entrenchment at Peliset with 20,000 men. The Turks crossed the valley under a destructive

fire, and rushed gallantly up the hill, reaching, ■within ten feet of the Russian trenches, until a storm of balls drove them back, the slope being covered with the dead. As the Turks were falling back the Russians charged them with the bayonet. On the 4th September the Russians from Poredin attacked the Turks. The skirmishers drove in' the outposts, and getting up to the main line, terrible fighting ensued, the Russians repeatedly charging the enemy’s position. The Turks bravely resisted, b it were forced back into their last line of entrenchments.

A telegram from Burchart, of September 9, says :—“ Official bulletins from the Russian head quarters at Poredin give details of the operations against Plevna: —At dusk on Thursday the troops of the western column approached Plevna, and working all night unobserved by the Turks, erected batteries on the heights surrounding the Turkish fortifications. Our siege batteries opened on Friday a cannonade which continued all day. The commandant of one of our batteries was killed and two officers wounded. The loss on Friday was not large. The artillery engagement was renewed on Saturday morning with great vigor, and was continued all day. In the evening our left wing succeeded in occupying the heights to the south of the town, with a loss of 500 men. The village of Eischitza was also occupied. The centre and right wing approached to within twelve or fourteen hundred yards of the Turkish fortifications. The losses of the whole were not great. The cannonade lasted all Saturday morning.

LOVATZ WAS CAPTURED by the Russians after severe fighting, the Turks retiring to.the westward. A correspondent describing the entry after the battle says ;—“ Up the slope, where the Russians had charged the redoubt, I was surprised to find so few dead, but this was accounted for by the Turkish fire having principally been aimed too high. Inside of the redoubt were the corpses of Turks and Russians thickly strewing the ground ; but at the western end, where the Turks had been jammed in in their efforts to escape, a space of 50ft. by 20ft. was covered with Turkish dead and wounded to a depth of five feet. The living and dead were lying on each other in a dense mass, steaming with beat and blood. Around this Moslem pile was a fringe of dead Russians, showing there had been fearful struggles on this fatal space. The Russian soldiers were standing upon this mass of humanity. I watched them working manfully to separate the living from the dead. In half an hour they had made scarcely any impression. The road was strewn with Turks, with here and there a Russian. Some of the Turks had been shot first, and then repeatedly bayoneted.” The correspondent estimates the Russian loss at one thousand. The masses were not exposed as at Plevna. Skill was substituted for brute force. General Raznimdaiff, who commanded the assault on the redoubt, was' wounded in the leg. A Russian official bulletin, dated Gorney Studeni, September 8, says that on the 4th the Turks attempted an attack on Lovatz from Inikre, but were repulsed after four hours’ skirmishing. An attack by a small Turkish force on Tohaia, near Elna, was repulsed the same day.

THE FIGHTING IN THE WEST. Of the Turkish movements on the west of the Russian forces we learn from a Russian despatch that on the sth the Turks attacked the Russian corps near Rustchuk on the whole line, directing thetr chief attacks against Kazelavo and Oblanowo. “The first attack was carried on by fifteen battalions of infantry and eighteen squadrons of cavalry, with 23 cannon. This force was further increased during the engagement. Our column at Kazelavo, consistingof five battalions of infantry and eight squadron of cavalry, with some artillery, maintained its position with great determination for six hours, but •was finally compelled to fall back on Gstreza with great loss. Our column at Oblanowo was also assailed by a large force, but repulsed all the attacks, and maintained its position. The Turks took the offensive on both wings of the Rutschuk line of defence, namely, iu the direction of Kadikoi and Papskoi, but it is still unknown whether this movement was a serious attack or merely a demonstration. IN THE BALKANS

at latest dates all is quiet. Sulieman Pasha is organising his arrny at Kesanlik. We lost 1000 killed and wounded at the capture of Lovatz. The Turkish loss was great, including 100 prisoners.”

OTHER ATROCITIES. It has been ascertained that simultaneously with the Kavarna massacre the Circassians committed atrocities in eleven villages of Eastern Bulgaria. Iu the village of Lutuk, inhabited by Greeks, one hundred and fifty houses were burned, and three hundred of the inhabitants were massacred. One hundred corpses of women were discovered at Samuela, A letter says these facts are verified by the Consuls. THE RELATIVE STRENGTH OP THE COMBATANTS. A correspondent of The Times at Bucharest writes that the Turkish forces now number 50,000 men at Rasgrad ; 40,000 at Osman Bazar; 40,000 with Suliemen Pasha, and 55,009 at Plevna and Loftcha under Osman Pasha. To-day they are faced by 200,000 Russians. Another estimate places Mehemet Ali’s army at 160,000. The Russians are now as strongly posted at Tirnova as the Turks were at the battle of Plevna. The Russians are preparing barraoks for 20,090 men in Bulgaria. THE WAR IK MONTENEGRO. Nicsio, with nineteen guns, surrendered unconditionally; but the garrison and inhabitants were allowed to withdraw to Gatscho. The surrender was necessitated by the Montenegrins having stormed positions commanding the citadels. The garrison which was originally 400 strong, lost 200 during the siege in killed and prisoners. GLADSTONE AND THE WAR. A most extraordinary rumor has been circulated concerning the ex-Premier. It is alleged “ that Gladstone has written to Greek merchants at Constantinople urging the Greeks to unite with Slavs and attack the Turics. An American correspondent says the statement causes much talk in England, and Russopholists assert that Gladstane is insane, and has been so for several months.”

CHANCES OF MEDIATION. From the commencement of the present struggle much has been heard of mediation, and the only doubt that ■ seemed to exist in regard to it was as to the time at which mediation would step in. But now the Deutsch Zeitung of Berlin states positively that Prince Gortchakoff has by anticipation declined mediation. THE WAR IN ASIA. Mukhtar Pasha telegraphs from Guedilker; —“ We have gained a great, victory, having carried the heights of Kezhepe during the night and repulsed three Russian attempts to retake them. 200 cannon were brought into action, and an engagementbecameagreat battle, lasting until sir o’clock on Saturday evening. The enemy were routed along the whole line, with a loss of 4000 killed and wounded. We captured an immense quantity of arms and munitions of war, and General Tchoutouwassoff, commanding the Russian cavalry, was killed. We lost 1200 killed and wounded, including fjgveral officers.” After capturing Kezhepe the Turks attacked the Russians entrenched at Kuradak, but were defeated. The Russians were persistently brave, and pursued their wellknown policy of reserving their fire until the attacking party was at a very close range, when, after each discharge, the Russians sprang forward and received their foes with the bayonet. Some portions of the Turkish line fought better than others. Desperate hand to hand fighting occurred. On two occasions the Turks attempted to outflank the right of the Rus-ian defensive position, but were repulsed in each attempt. General MelikoS commanded the Russians in person, and was enthusiastically cheered when he appeared.

EXPLOSIVE BULLETS. A Kurnkdara special says:—“The truth must be stated about one feature of the Turkish attack. I stood for an hour in the hospital this afternoon, and saw three explosive bullets cut out of as many wounded Russian bodies. Those infernal missiles had in these instances failed to explode, but they are so charged ae calculated literally to blow men to pieces.” A

despatch from Erzerum of September 3 states that advices from Kars indicated that GREAT OPERATIONS were imminent, and that the Turkish army is preparing to march on Adrianople. The Russians are acting on the defensive and preparing for resistance. After the fighting near Sukhum Kaleh the .Turks . abandoned and the Russians occupied the place. It is stated that the Grand Duke Michael, Commander-in-Chief of the Russian army in Asia Minor, assumed the command of General Melikoff’s corps in person, that officer having been removed far exceeding his orders.

THE FIGHTING AT SHIPKA PASS. After General Gourka was defeated at Eski Saghra, ■ south of the Balkans, he retreated north, fortifying Shipka Pass with a garrison of 3000 men and 40 guns. The bulk of the division, with the eighth and fourteenth corps, was posted from Gabrova to Tirnova, resting upon the Grand Duke’s army, separating Osman Pasha from Mehemet Ali, and acting as a wedge into the Balkans. Shipka Pass had been wrested by Gourka from the Turks, and he commanded the road from Kesanlik to Gabrova, whence roads fork to Tirnova, the pivot of the Grand Duke Nicholas’ army, and to Selva and Lovatz in a north-westerly direction, where Osman Pasha’s right wing was strongly posted. The Russian position was on the summit of the Pass, at a depression in the backbone of the Balkans, approached from both sides at a steep decline by a narrow winding valley overhung by precipitous cliffs. On 16th August Sulieman Pasha advanced on Kesanlik, driving the Russians from the village. The army marched along the valley of Tonga to attack Fort Nicholas. On the 21st August they stormed the outworks, carrying the position within a hundred yards of the entrenchments. There was heavy loss, the Russians exploding the mines. Fourteen hours’ hard fighting left the Russians in possession of the main works. The Turks by superhuman efforts got the guns up the ravines into position on the high ground covering the Russian works. Two long ranges of batteries were erected during the night, and opened fire at daybreak. The Turks swarmed along the wooded spurs, and kept up an incessant rifle fire. Battalion after battalion was hurled against the main works, to fall back shattered, and fresh men were brought up at each assault. The second day left the Turks in greater force on the high grounds, working gradually round the Russians. The third day the fight continued, heavy batteries playing on Fort Nicholas, the guns sweeping the road at the rear of the position, a perfect hail of rifle bullets decimating the ranks of the defenders of the Pass, who repulsed every assault. At night there was no respite. There was no water in the Russian lines, and the weather was very hot. The men were worn out with hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and had not a moment to prepare food for three days. The position was desperate. The Turks were ready to overwhelm them, when the Russian generals sent a telegram to the Czar, telling him the situation, and adding, should they be driven into the redoubt they would hold it till reinforced, er, please God, all would die. There wasa lull in the fight at 6 p.m. on the third day. The Russians lay panting on the bare rooks, swept by the Turkish fire. Some fought among the cliffs, but were forced to give ground. Turkish cheers echoed from every eliff. Heavy firing. in the rear heralded the arrival of reinforcements. General Radetsky fought his way ahead of the advance guard, the main body arriving, subsequently. The Russians then numbered 13,000, all told. The reinforcements suffered heavily. Radetsky went into action, attempting to clear the weeded spurs, the musketry battle lasting till 10 p.m,, when a lunar eclipse stopped the fight. General Doroschwisky,. commanding the Pass, was killed at the close of the third day. An attempt to dislodge the Turks iu the woods failed. At dawn on the fourth day the combat was renewed with greater fury. Radetsky threw men into the woods, who were repulsed by the Turks. A repetition of Russian attacks was repulsed at dawn. At midday, the Turks keeping a constant cannonade on the heights at long range, and working up to the entrenchments in front, soon changed the Russian tactics. Two battalions executed a flank movement under a tremendous musketry and artillery fire. When combined, an attack was made by the front on the flanks of the Turks. After five hours’ hard fighting the Turks withdrew the mountain battery. The right flank followed soon after the battery left. The woods meanwhile were cleared. The central position of the Turks remained. Radetsky led the stormers. The redoubt was very strong, and was surrounded by a tangled mass of trunks and branches of fallen trees. The slaughter was immense, but the redoubt was ultimately taken, and it was discovered that the Turks tortured and decapitated the Russians who fell alive into their hands. Thus the sun went down on the fourth day. Reinforcements poured in to both sides subsequently till the Russians were estimated at 30,000. From first to last, the Turks had 60,000 regulars, besides Albanians. Thefighting continued on Saturday and Sunday, and through Sunday night. On Monday Sulieman Pasha who had worked round again to higher ground, dashed his battalions against the Russian works ineffectually. Heavy siege guns were then got into position, and a regular siege began, varied by sharp musketry and bayonet fights, the interest of the campaign at this time centred wholly at Shipka Pass. If Sulieman carried the day, he would drive the Russians from Gabrova, and effect a junction with Mehemet Ali and Osman Pasha, and force the Russians across the Danube. In the Turkish plan of the campaign Sulieman’s army supplies the missing link in the Turkish line of defence from Shumla to Widin. Hence the importance of the Pass to Russia, and th* tenacity of the defence. On the 27th August Sulieman attacked both flanks from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., when the Turks captured the flanking-out works. On the 28th they were engaged constructing batteries out of the range of the Russian guns. These being completed daily battalions repeated the storming attack, but were repulsed. On September 3rd Sulieman Pasha, having wrecked a splendid army, abandoned the hope of carrying Shipka Pass. Thousands of dead bodies created an unbearable stench when the Turks abandoned the Pass, which commanded the road to Gabrova. The supplies only reached the Russians under cover of the night. The Russians report 1200 killed and 3000 Wounded. The Turks admit 7000 killed and 3000 wounded at Alexandrople, 4000 at Kesanlik and the hill sides at Shipka. - On September, Ist Suliema* was severely censured for exceeding orders. Mahmoud Damad Pasha has been removed, the War Ministry giving instructions to carry the Pass.

The Tsar presented Radetsky with a sword, set in brilliants.

The defence of Sliipka will be an ever memorable feat of arms of fighting at close quarters. Sulieman, at Kesanlik, is reorganising hi* army.

, GENERAL WAR NEWS. Servia has resolved on war. Her army is at Baghdad. 35,000 troops, recently arrived from Europe, marched towards Nissa, checking the Serbs in the Valley of Morava, and strengthening Osman’s left flank. The Widin garrison has been increased. 7000 Bosnian rebels keep the field. There have been frequent defeats. They ask for Servian recognition and assistance. Fighting continues on the frontiers of Montenegro. Sukhum Kaleh has been evacuated by the Turks, and the Russians hold undisputed possession of the Caucasus. •' Hobart Pasha reports that Sebastopol is impregnable to ships. The following is the position of the Russian Bulgarian army after the defeat of Plevna : The right rests on the river Vid, the left on Rustchuk, the centre near Tirnova, towards Osman Bazar. The Eighth and Fourteenth Corps are securely entrenched, and hang threateningly on the left flank of Mehemet All’s army, separating it from the western army of Osman Pasha. General Zimmermann with 50,000 men is at Dobrudscha. He holds the Kustendji railroad, and threatens Silistria, and prevents a diversion upon Galatz from

- Sulina. Timmerman compels the Turks to concentrate all defensive operations in Bulgaria. The Turkish line is longest at present in front of the Dobrudscha. The centre of the eastern Turkish army is at Sehumla, the central army at the west of the Osem Kiver . at Lovatz, the bulk of the force at Plevna. Strong garrisons occupy fortified places in Bulgaria and Roumelia. Rustohuk and Silistria are cut off from the railroad supplies. The Turks use explosive bullets, contrary to the Geneva Convention, against which Germany, Austria, Italy, and several Powers protest. They also protest against lurkish barbarities in the field. Colonel Wellesley, the British Commissioner denies the alleged atrocities. The Russians admit that little quarter was shown during the war. The massacres of Christians south of the Balkans, after the Russian retreat, beggars description, and the Bulgarians retaliated when they had a chance. England remains neutral, and subscribes liberally to the Turkish relief fund. The distress at the seat of war is extreme. There is a revolution at Crete, and strong repressive measures have been adopted. Is Greece preparing for war ? The Porte threatens to occupy Athens. The Hellenic Government sent a conciliatory note offering to co-operate for the suppression of brigandage in Thessaly. . , The Hellenic provinces in Turkey are unsettled. . , , , . The Khedive demands the right to form a navy as the price of supporting the Porte. _ There is great sickness among the Russian troops. . _ , ... Rediff Pasha and Abdul Kerim Pasha, with the ex-commandants at Scutari, Sistova, and Shipka,"and ten officers, are to be to Lenuoros until the close of the war. Ihe trial is postponed until commissioners are relieved from more pressing duties. On August 22 Mehemet Ali the Russians at Aghastar, taking their positions, and capturing cannon, &c. The loss was considerable ; 14,000 Turks and 7000 Russians were engaged two days fighting. On August 30 Mehemet Ali attacked the Russian line on the Lom from Rasgrad, driving them across the river. The operations extended over fifteen miles. The Turks and Egyptians behaved splendidly. Valentino Baker Pasha commanded the Turkish cavalry. Special mention was made of him, and he was decorated with the Order of Osmanli. The Turks call the battle Karassan. .A. successful sortie wus m&de from Ivustchuck at the same time. The Russians occupied the positions lost in the sorties, and claim to have inflicted heavy loss. On September 5 there was severe fighting before Rustohuk. the Russians bombarding the works from Stobgco. On September 7 Mehemet All reports that Eyoub Pasha’s corps attacked the Twelfth Russian corps, which supported the division beyond the Lom, driving them across the river, and capturing the fortified positions near Kechleowa or Kezilhepe. The Russians lost 3000 killed and wounded. English advices state that the Russians outnumbered their opponents ten to one. The Turkish loss was 430 killed and 1400 wounded. The result of a fortnight's operations is that Mehemet Ali has a decided gain. The Russians have abandoned the Upper Lem line, and withdrawn the right wing from Popskoi to a point where they can communicate with the force guarding the Osman Bazar road. It is reported that the Turkish column crossed the Lom and advanced into the neighborhood of Obertini. Another force crossed from Kara on the Lom to Palamarka. These corps, operating against Biela, the Czarewich’s head quarters” jeopardise the whole Russian campaign east of Jantra, besides perilling the communications with Tirnova. The first object of the operations was to relieve the pressure of Sulieman at Shipka, and latterly to create a diversion in favor of Osman, nesnmed in at Plevna. On September 11 the Daily News correspondent, who is with the Czarewich army at Biela, the headquarters, describes the Turkish occupation of Ablora. On August 5 they were attacked by the Russians, and subsequently retreated. The Turks went across the Lom. At the re-occupation of Ablora by the Russians the loss was 1000. There was an armistice on the 6th to bury the dead. During the armistice the belligerents fraternised for the first time during the war, and exchanged bread and tobacco. After the armistice, on the evening of the 6th, the Russians evacuated Ablora, having nine batallions against sixty. The Russians were in a contracted position around Biela. Russian reinforcements have been sent to°guard the crossing of the Pyrgos between Sistova and Rutschuk, which is threatened from the latter citadel. The Russian army centre is threatened on both flanks by Mehemet Alt. Had Sulieman Pasha succeeded at the Shipka Pass, the Russians must have retreated and given up the campaign for the winter in Bulgaria. On August 31st Osman Pasha, acting on the offensive, made a reconnaisance with 25,000 troops, and encountered the Russians at' the village of Peliset, five miles east of Plevna. The battle lasted from 9 a.m. to 4 n.tti. The Turks were repulsed. A Russian official reports 30 officers and 1,020 soldiers killed and wounded, and over 2008 Turks killed and wounded at Peliset, a fortified position of the Russian army fronting Plevna. The battle was one of the toughest of the war. The Russian redoubt was taken and retaken three times. The Turks charged three times the main Russian entrenchments amid murderous fire. The attack was well directed. The Turks are admirably drilled. The Russian head-quarters have been moved from Goanystuden to Poredin, preparatory to an advance on Plevna, and to relieve the army on the Jantra from the pressure of Mehemet Ali.

On September 2 Prince Heritnusky was captured at Lovatz, after a twelve hours’ stubborn fight. The natural strength of the place was greatly improved by fortifications. The attack was well planned and admirably executed, the Russians profiting by the experience gained at Plevna and Peliset advanced in open order, taking cover when the ground offend any. The defences were stormed and carried at all points. The Turkish commandant made a mistake in withdrawing early in the action cannon from the central redoubt, the key of the position, for fear the Russians would capture them, leaving the defence to the infantry. The Turks poured an incessant had of musketry from their repeating rifles. They attacked the front ranks, but lout ground. If the Russians had had sufficient force the Turks must have capitulated. They retreated westward, the only point open. The Russian cavalry behaved well. The final bayonet charge of the Russians was a brilliant affair. This shut off the retreat upon Sophia. The next day Osman attempted to recapture Lovatz, but failed. Two corps of the Roumanian army crossed at the rear of Plevna on 26th August. Prince Charles commands the Russo-Rou-manian army before Plevna. The Roumanianblock the retreat to Widin. Osman Pasha has upwards of 100,(/00 men and 200 guns strongly entrenched at Plevna.

The Eussian corps detached troops to guard the western passes of the Balkans. A division by forced marches reached Sophia to check the succours. Osman has prevented a possible retreat thither. On September i the Eussian left,wing approached Plevna in the dusk unobserved by the Turks, and erected at night siege batteries surrounding the Turkish works. The siege batteries opened a cannonade at 6 a.m, on the sth, lasting all day. The cannonade continued on the 6th of September vigorously. In the evening the left wing carried the heights south of the town, near the village of Usohitza. The centre and right advanced to within 1200 yards of the Turkish fortfchtions. The cannonade lasted all night, and on the 7th (Sunday) a corps of 20,000 marching to the relief of Osman were intercepted. It was reported from Sistova that Plevna was captured on Sunday night, the Turks retreating in great disorder, and the loss enormous. On September 10th it was reported that Suliemau Pasha's army had crossed the Balkans, hut everything was uncertain during tho last few days. There is, however, a general indication in favor of Eussian successes,

The Albanian tribes are expected to rise in consequence of the fall of Nicsic. The Slavs of Illyria are opposed to the Porte, irrespective of religion. On September 12 the reported fall of Plevna was not confirmed.

A Russian corps of 50,000 men is ordered to cross the Servian territory. The Servian Brigade of Belgrade marches to-morrow to the frontier.

The Russian Imperial Guard are arriving in Bulgaria, and an action is pending between Mehemet AH and the Czarewich to the west of Eski Djuma.

THE WAR IN ARMENIA. The Turks attacked the Russians in force at 3 a.m. on August 25, at the village of Kurakdara, twenty-five miles north-east of Kars, carrying the Kizdal tops, an untenable position, by a cavalry dash. The fight lasted from dawn till dark. There was a hand to hand contest throughout the combat, the Turks attacking the Russian lines, the Russians reserving their fire till at close quarters, and after delivering it rushing out to engage the Turks with the bayont. Mukhtar Pasha hurled his battalions against the Russians with great pertinacity. General Loris Melikoff, an Armenian by birth, comma ded the Russians. Both armies were splendidly handled, and fought well. The Turks retired. The Russian loss is estimated at 4000 killed and wounded by Mukhtar Pasha, who telegraphed that he obtained a victory. The Turkish loss is unknown.

The Turks had a slight success at Batum. The Grand Duke Michael superseded Melikoff for exceeding orders. Mukhtar Pasha is expected to assume the offensive by marching towards Alexandrople. The Archduke’s army is between it and Kars. The Russian have completely dismantled Ardahan.