The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-10-13
FOREIGN NEWS.
The Russo-Turkish War.

The news from Tie scene OF strife in Bul IA
ria during the past week has been very dull
and meagcr. The weather is bad-wct and
cold with two feet of snow at Schipka, so az
TO impede movements on account OF the
mud, and to add greatly 10 the discom.
fort and sickness of the troops. Yet il does
not look rs if the hostile armies intended to
settle down quietly for the winter. Russian
achievements continue to arrive at Blcla and
the mobilization of another corps in Russia
has been ordered. These rclntorccments are
not needed if the intention is to sit down for
the winter for the present Russian forces are
in no danger from sori6 from Plevna nor
from an attack on the lines Of the Czarcwitcli
in front Of Bicla. Yet it is said that Suleiman
Pasha, who having superseded Mehemet Ali
on the LON, arrived there on Monday, is al
ready mancuvcylng in a way to indicate al
immediate attack on the Czarewitz's left, in
which case great battle on the Lower LON is
liable 10 occur any day Suleiman, both by
his operations in Montenegro and Schipku
pass showed that, unlike Mehemet Ali, he is
not afraid of losing men, but relies greatly on
sudden, hard knocks and carrying things by
storm.
The activity of the Russians, also, in push
ING their parallels before Plena, coupled with
the continued arrival Of rcintorcemcnts from
Russia, certainly not needed if the intention is
to 90 into winter quarters, locks as il one
more supreme effort WIS 10 be made before
winter sets in to Dust Osm&n from his strong
hold; or if that fails, to coop him up and
starve him out and to this end it is said Gen
Gourko, the dashing cavalry officer, has been
sent with large force beyond Plevna to cut
off Osman's communications with Sophia and
the southwest But as Chevket pasha arrived
at Plevna from that direction on Monday with
90 battalions as rcntOrccments and provisions
enough to carry Osman's army through the
winter, it don't look as if the Russians had
much to hope for in that direction.
The most exciting news during the week ha,
been from Asia Both the Turkish and Rus
sian dispatches report heavy battle in front
Vi MUS COnllllClCCu VII L ucSuiN anu cHtiIuS
on Thursday of last week. The Turkish
works consist of a,scries of fortified hills IN d
semi-circe in front OF Kars, with great and
little Yaqui on the right, Kiziltepc in the cen
ter and Ami on the left. On Tuesday morn
ing the Russians made bold and it seems by
the Turks unexpected attack on Great Yaqui
and after two hours hard fighting drove tho
Turks out The Russians then made an at
tack on the whole Turkish line--the battl,
raging all through Tuesday, Wednesday and
up to Thursday evening. The Turks clam tc
have repulsed the Russians at all points with
heavy loss--ndeed Mukhtar pasha telegraph,
TO Constantinople that the Russians lost $1,000
men to his 3000-and that on Friday the Rus
sions retired, beaten and discounted, to Oko
zalet, Is miles northeast of kars On tn,
other hand the Russians claim to have taker
a snumber Of the Turkish positions, and tC
have occupied them until Monday, when they
abandoned them and fell back to their ole
camp at Karaial, on account Of the severity o
the weather The Russians admit Il loss o
5000 killed and wounded, and are certain tho
Turkish loss is double that figure.-However
as the Turks hold their own and the Russian.
gained nothing, it looks much like pretty
severe Russian defeat