The New York herald., 1877-09-21
BEFORE PLEVNA.
Russian Dead ROtting on
the BattlefiieldS.
TURKISH BARBARISM.
The Roumanians in Bulgaria
Bulgarian Civilization.
PoRApry, HEApouARTRRs OF GENERAL ZoRToPF,
BEFORE PLEvNA, August 10, 1877.

PoRApIy HEADQUARTERS OF GENERAL ZoKToPr,
BEFORE PLEvNA, August TO- 1871
Some English and un American correspondent were
little surprised early yesterday morning on re-
ceiving polite intimaton from General ZortoG's chief
Of stan he had very interesting expedition In
view in which he wished them TO take part Weary OF
waiting long they greeted the with
accamations OF joy, and leaving thor breakfast OF
black bread honey and tcha half nnished. proceeded
without delay to the Generals headquarters. They
found Colonel Novtzky tho chief Of stan. apparently
expecting them. lie said he was happy to see
them all, ard asked them TO be seated 'Yes-
tcrday," commenced the Colonel, "His I'm.
peral Highness, the Commandcr-in-Chief sent
General ZortoG letter which he had received from
a Turkish prisoner inIerned IN Russia, giving
assurances to his friends at homo OF the kind treat
mcnt which he ana his companions were receiving At
the hands OF the Russians. This letter the Grand
Duke comm anded should be sent without delay. by the
hands OF u parliamentaire, 10 the Turkish commander
ut Pevna, with the further communication from His
Imperial Hghness that he hoped Russian prisoners
would receive similar treatment in their captivity
among the Turks At the same time His I'm.
peral Hlghncss mad commanded tnat permission
should bc corr,eously requested Of the Turks
for the Russians to bury their dead, which
since tho Inst baltic have been left unburied,
matter OF course, an unbearable stencil Colonel
Novitzky told the correspondents that attempt had
made carry out the Grand Dukes behests, but
1t had failed. Stan Captain Peegrin he said, accom-
panied by two buglers two hussars and doctor who
spoke Turkish, had been despatched with whito flag
the purpose OF pareying with the Turks and carry
ing out the suggestions OF the imperial Commanded
inChie. Captain Pelegrin, to whom the correspond
ents introduced then said that he had proceeded
with his little escort to the vicinity OF the village OF
Griwz and respectful distance from the outposts
he waved his 0ag, the bugles were sounded aud
he waited anxously the result answer
quickly sent him; not. is usual in such cases, by
uu officer being out to meet him, but by sharp
discharge of bullets some of which whizzed past his
head in dangerous proximity. Captain Pelegrini
dcrcd tho trumpeters sound two further calls, and
then, seeing the utility OF further exposing hmscIf
retired. Now, said Colonel Novzky tho General has
thought over this As the Imperial Command
in-Chief's orders Imperative and tho Turks
to take such delight in firing at Russian parliament.
aires. lie thinks that If you English gentlemen would
undertake this duty OF delivering the letter and the
messages you would be doing invalu-
able service the OF humanity at large.
There would be no danger, for the Turks, you know.
have vast admiration for you. We WILL however,
excuse American friend here who possibly, II the
Turks got hold Of him, might suffer serious bodily
injury. Now gentlemen, what do you say9 Are you
willing to undertake this mission for usp There
pause both sides, for the correspondents were TO
tell the truth, somewhat dumbiounded There was o
Humanitarian mission to accomplish, there pos
slby iamo and to be in day, there was
the brilliant Cross of ST. George almost within grasp
and yet no one responded joyously to tho call
After the correspondents had recovered somewhat
from thor surprise they replied that glad they
"a q a q
many they had at the same time dutios to perform
their Journals which duty was, first Of all, to live
and to send accounts Of battle and bloodshed but not
10 die or place themselves unnecessarily In danger.
and thus deprive their employers OF their services
Tho Colonel saw naturally enough the force of the
argument, and invited the correspondents take
at headquarters at ater hour Unfortunately heavy
thunder and ram storm prevented them from leaving
their quarters during the evening" and the rain is st
falling eighteen hoursof incessant pouring down,
making us all inexpressibly uncomfortable and
happy. But discomfort is, suppose only tithc
of tnat of the sodicrs, many of whom are camped
in the valleys, which, alter this heavy rainfall,
must have been transformed into vast swamps.
The condition of the corpses the battle field will
presume, alter the ram, be something horrible, un-
less dogs the and the vuures have by this
time done their work, which, however, Is not prob
able taking into account the largo number of tho
dead. Imagine, II you can, even thousand dead hav-
ing roting in the sun for nearly fourteen days.
and the decompos parts now being washed away by
this drenching, pouring, unceasing rain, and your
mind will be filled with deep gnaon at the barbar-
ism of the Turks who arroganty disregard tho
versaI custom OF civilized warfare and permit
pestilence to breed under their very eyes
Hitherto the Russian army has been
markably free from disease. Cases of dysen-
terry have hitherto been very raro but who
toll after rains, and the bloody struggle has
TO fought these sinking fields OF corpsos what
terrible diseases may not be developed Perhaps Is
a part OF the Turkish commanders plan to spread
pestilcnce tho ranKs OF the invaders by means Of
their own rotting dead! The Russian troops
wron when they hear OF the atroctiesthat have been
committed their wounded when they learn that
their dead still unpured on the battle fields and
they have that in the coming struggle they VIII
give quarter.