The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1877-11-13 00:00:00

THE WAR.

THE PROGRESS Or EVERTS.

The impreasirm grown sitrongey that a catastrophe in
Imminent at Plevna. There in absolutely no com-
munication from Osman Pacha, a fact which makes it
obvious that the Russian line around the place in com-
plete, and at present impenetrable. One of the con-
!sequences of the complete abwence of authentic in-
formation from the Turlciah camp is that we are
dependent solely on conjecture. Some attempt at !
relief iv poiliably intended. At all events, it is
announced that Mehemet Ali has arrived at Sofia, ,
where he is forming a strong carry of troopn, who are
joining him from Bosnia, Sehipka. and C..nstantinople.
Some anxiety is lvegin ll ill g to be felt as to the where- !
abaue...4 Cherket l'acha, who has not been heard of
for soul., days. It is even Raid that he has been cap-
tured and hanged, thou;h the latter in, we shonhl
samisow, an unlikely fate to befal a soldier. The
Itugsians are etnntnicting yet another bridge over the ,
Danube, and the Turks are said to have male another
attempt to invade Roumanian territory, but they were
defeated wi•li the usual "great slaughter." In Asia,
Mnichtar Pasha's army is declared to be much
demoralised, and the menewhat feeble announcement
I. alt., made that the '' l'orte has sent him nioney to
buy provision," ifervish Paella reports that for
several days the Ritvsiann have lseen attacking
Datoims, log AS yet without result.
Special C..rrespondents Intore Plevna send telegram,
deseritong the posture 4.1 ado,: in the liossian c imp. 1
One .4th- correlotsidents, dating from 1..1ny Dohnik, ,
en the S din road, the bed important position taken hy
the Russian: le-tore Mesita, gives an wroont of the line
of investment as it has ors been outwitted. Every part
of the line is now ins...pied by infantry. From Ilriviea
(or Grivitztl rowel to the l iftrlia r.w.l the line is just
whrre it WA- when the order to assault, Pleyna was given
on the memorable 11th .4 September. On the I..ifte)ta
road itself the Turkish 'tuition ho been much strength-
ened sinee General Skoheled took, and tort, three
Tiokidt red. .• there. Tip. Turk:, havirut Itsoi tatight
by him the weakness of that point- have cotrdructel four
more r... 100105, u, that the general has now seven to mane
visio The Tork. at Pievtia, AS the besieged, have one
decided advantage Ml' the Rossians h'siegers—they
have to nef end a less exten.ive front The Roxsian line
of investment ix thirty miles in circumference ; the
Torkish line of defence is only twenty iniles in extent.
If we take the Arenzth .4 the Itue.hin army at 1:11,11110, as
• rorresp..ndent does, the bedegers have 4,160 men for
every mile of their own line, 6.0011 for every mile of the
Turki4h line We so.pect, however, thatin rating the
Ito -si an strength at 11,1,000, the corre spotplent has inchilled
tr.tips which in tumt computations are aasigned tt General
eirk. O.A 1...rp,
Ittivonting the supply of provisions, a r .rrespolulent
makes, statement which will be highly .atisfact wy to
the well-wisher. .4 the Tiirks. Within the last few illys
the Ittisdans I. lye beemue aware of the existence of a
herd of some it,, thousand e vttle, through the heasts
having been driven out to graze on the hill, Osman
Fiche has put his troops up ni short rations, two and a
hall pounds of meat been divided between ten .I.lMrs
daily. It asmine.: that he ha, 15,010 men, so that the
cattle seen by the Ito.,..ians •1.0111.1 allow an ox to every
111.111 men. flow bing that number of men would be
convoluting an animal at the rate of four ounces a day,
seivone to vy
In the RU•SiAII rant) a belief ',meads that the capture
of Plevna would conclude the war, and it i.I intended to
reamin there until the place falls. The soldiers have
built for thmuselves very comfortable huts all along the
line of positions.
The use which the Russians are making of their cavalry
LS shown by an official telegram announcing the capture
of the important town of Vratsa, about three-and-twenty
miles went of the Orkhanie road at YenikoL liere •
cavalry detachment soddenly appearing before the town,
drawn up in infantry formation for the purpose of attack-
ing the Turkish ponition, took the place, although it had
Me infantry and :itkl eireassians for its defender.. Several
thousands of waggons, laden with storm and provisions,
were taken by the RUSSiIIIS, the loss of the attacking
party being stualL
A slight rqpewal of activity is reported from the Shmula
army.