OSMAN AND HIS OFFICERS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 572, 2 March 1878, Page 2

OSMAN AND HIS OFFICERS.

<, IJerr Victor Lorie, tlio correspondent of tin.; Frankfurter Zeibuui, at Plevna, lias published a .series of interesting letters describing his experience during the siege of that town. Osman Pasha's tent was. he says, the point at which most of tile Russian shells were directed, and it was dangerous to approach it, but the tent itself was never hit ; the shells usually fell from (50 to 100 paces short of it. Osman once asked the correspondent, why lie had not left Plevna with his colleagues, and He it Lone having replied that he had neither a good horse nor sufticient money to pay for an escort being, in fact, a " Bashi-Bagoiik ) uke Press"--the Marshall said : " Vous sere?, bien am: nous," to which Tevfik Bey, the chief of the staff added : <; Ft nuii faime Ivs artistes.'" Discipline was very strict in the camp, and Osman sometimes chastised the refractory officers himself. Herr Lorie once saw two such officers, a captain and a lieutenant, brought before the Marshal to be punished for cowardice before the enemy. The captain was a head taller than the Marshall, and very strongly built. Both stood in an humble attitude, with their heads bent and. their j eyes fixed on the ground. Osman first spoke in them gravel}' and in a low tone. He then suddenly sprang on the lieutenant; lifted him in the air with his left hand, and struck him with Ids right fist on the head and chest, and dashed him to the ground. He next ; turned to the captain and gave him also i a good thrashing, <s lt was strange,"

says Herr Lorie, "to see this man, usually so calm and reserved, leaping about with the agility of a cat, his eyes flashing and his face glowing, gnashing his teeth and .accompanying every blow with an exclamation of disgust and contempt." EDUCATION" OF TUB OFFICERS. Speaking of the Turkish officers generally, Herr Lorie observes that many of them speak French and German, liavo received a thorough education, and aro great lovers of art. "We (Jcrmims at home have no idea that there are in the Sultan's army a great number of such officers—real Pinks and Mahommedans—who in scientific acquirements and distinguished manners aro quite equal to the most eminent and accomplished of the Prussian officers. As for the Turkish .soldier, I can .say from personal inspection that lie is the best in the world." The. busiest place in Plevna (hiring the siege was a handsome marble fountain at the southern end of the principal street. The Rashi-ISa/.ouks and Circassians here used to sell their plunder to the regulars or to Spanish .lews, who afterwards sold it again at a largo profit. High boots, clothing, and especially warm Russian cloaks, were in great demand. Thousands of Turkish soldiers in Plevna wore the Russian uniforms which they thus obtained, and they were only recognisable as Ottomans by the fez on their heads. Many blind beggars, too, were clad in Russian uniforms which had been, given them by the charitable officers.

If; seems (states (lie Austrian correspondent of The Times) that at Plevna there were repeated communications, not. only between headquarters, but between the commanders at the front. Indeed, if we may trust a letter in the .1 ii'jshiayer AUtjoneute Zeiiainj, from Deniirkot, north of Plevna, this mutual intercourse must have assumed quite a chivalrous character. According to this writer, (ionoral Gourka sent a most courteous letter to the gallant defender of Plevna, accompanied by several numbers of 'IIn: Times containing reflections on the inevitable fall of the town, and on the necessary surrender of the beleaguered army. The brave Osman,. on his part, while returning his best thanks for the favor, acknowledged the importance of being made acquainted with the peril of Plevna by a journal of such: wide renown as The Times, adding that, if he was not too much engaged, the copious matter contained in its columns, -voiild afl'ord him welcome reading for the: long winter evenings.