SURRENDER OF THE ARMY OF PLEVNA.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2824, 4 March 1878, Page 3

SURRENDER OF THE ARMY OF PLEVNA.

"A white flag was seen waving from the road beyond the bridge; and a long loud shout went up from the Bussian army. General Skobeloff rode forward, and with iwo or three other officers wared white hankercbiefs. This signal was answered by the waring of a piece of white muslin, about two yards Bquare, attached to a flagstaff. Then two. horsemen came forward, each carrying a white flag, and announced that Osman himself was coming. There was a flatter of pleasurable excitement, and when the group^ of Bussian officers stood waiting, the praises of Osman were sounded with chivalrous pride. -' He is the greatest general of the age,' said Skobeloff, 'for he has saved the honor of his country. I will proffer him my hand, and tell him so.' All around the wounded lay in stolid fortitude, uttering not a sound, while the Bussian doctors hurried to and fro to their aid." I follow here Mr ft£'Gahan's account, which I can do little more than abridge, preferring the words of eye-witnesses, which cannot b« made more vivid. "At last there were shouts of ' There he is ! He is coming!' . I rode forward," says the correspondent, •'again to the point of main interest. Two horseman were again approaching with a white flag, the bearer of which was apparently merely a common soldier; He wore a fez, a long dirty brown cloak, and very ragged footgear. The other horse man wore a bright red' fez, which set off the officer's blue cloak. He was clean and natty, and had on fresh gloves. He was comparatively young, with a round, rosy face, clean shaved, light moustache, straight nose, and blue eyes. He did not seem over 35 years old. ' This cannot be Oaman Pasha,' was the general exclamation. In fact it was not he, but Tefik Bey, his chief of staff.;. Was it possible that this boyish-looking fnce belonged to Osman's right-hand man, who must have played so great a part in the organisation and maintenance of Osman's mighty defence P It seemed strange,- but it was true. Every one on our side saluted as he rode up. He halted for a moment and was silent. He then spoke in French with good accent, but slowly, as if choosing his words. He said,' Osman Pasha' •—then stißwed fully 10 seconds before he proceeded^-' is wounded.' This was the first intimation we had had of this occurrence. All expressed their regret. ♦Not severely, we all hope,' exclaimed General Skobeloff. 'I do not know,' was the answer, with a pause of a second between every word. * Where is His Excellency ?' was the next question. 'There,' was Tefik Bey's reply, as he pointed to a small house overlooking the road just beyond the bridge. Then there iras a pause while we scrutinised our strange visitor and he surveyed us. 1 The pause became embarrassing, and was also critical, for both armies were watching the group not more than 600 yards apart. The generals in command pressed towards the little house where Osinan lay. The terms of capitulation were easily arranged. The Turkish leader consented at once to an unconditional surrender. He well knew that in concentrating his army on the Vid for a last blow, he had already surrendered all the positions by means of which he had been able to defy the Kussians. Osman Pasha got into a carriage and drove to Plevna. The Grand Duke Nicholas with * his staff arrived a few minutes afterwards, and spoke a few words to the grenadiers, which were received with the wildest acclamation. The scene had now changed. JNo more armed Turks were to be seen. The interview with Osman Pasha had taken place about two o'clock. It was now three, and the Turks had all laid down their arms. They had obeyed the injunction literally* and each man had simply laid his rifle down

in tho mud where ho was standing when the order reached him. The ground wns littered with arms, the s-mie PeabodyMartinis that had wrought such destruction in (lie Russi'in ranks in July nnrl September. The ro;ttl lay thick with them, and we rode on r lhem, trampling them under our horses' tVcl, and spoiling hundreds of them."