The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-08-17
NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE WAR IN THE EAST.

The Russian Gen. Gourka has retreated from
his position in the Shipka pass, and there are
now no Russians south of the Balkans. This
movement, it is said, was rendered necessary
NV the concentration which the Grand Duke
Nicholas is carrying out in the valley of the
Jantra.
severe battle was fought between the Rus
SLAMS and Osman Pashas forces at Vladina, on
the River Osma, on Tuesday, the 7th inst.
The Russians made repeated charges upon the
Turkish intrenched position, but were unable
TO withstand the enemy's terrible artillery
and infantry fire. The battle ragged furi-
ously through the whole day, the Russians
hurting themselves repeatedly, with desperate
courage, on the intrenchments Of the Turks,
and as steadily being repulsed, every assault
leaving its CHASTITY contribution to the dead and
wounded. Only at the close of the day, when
the Russian line staggered before the Turkish
fire. did Osman Pasha give the word to at
tack. and from firm and steady defense
the Turks assumed the offensive upon their
foes with overwhelming force and audacity
and at night Osman Pasha was victorious along
the entire line of battle. The loss on both
sides was fearful, the Russians suffering the
worst. .
A cable dispatch announces that Achmet
Pasha, who surrendered the fortress of Nikopo-
lis to the Russians, has ended his life by sui
eide. -..-- 4
The Russian army in Bulgaria is beginning to
suffer in health. In the Dobrudscha, where
steaming swamps poison the air and water
alike, malarial fever and dysentery are playing
avoc with Gen. Zimmerman's army.
The cable reports panic throughout Russia.
Additional troops are being hurried pell-mell
to the Danube. The religious communities are
hastily packing and sending their valuables to
Austria, fearing that they will be confiscated
in the general variety for money, and there is
an increasing feeling of uneasiness in Russian
Poland. Nevertheless, there is much enthu-
sasm at Moscow and at st. Petersburg
for war. The suburbs Of the Rus
sian capital are studded with tents and the
CITY itself is full of martial sounds incident to
the warlike preparations. force of $4,000
landwehr is nearly ready to start for the front,
and there is every indication that Russia is de-
termined to justify the general belief in her
ultimate success.
The chief of Gen. Krudener's staff has been
cited before council of war to explain the
failure at Plevna.
Charges and counter-charges of atrocities
continue to be made by Russians and Turks,
and both seem to contain the elements at least
of truth. There is no doubt that this is the
most cruel war in the history Of the world.
Reprsals are made ruthlessly by both belliger-
ents.
A dispatch from Gabrova says Bulgarian
fugitives estimate that from $4,000 to $4,000
Christians have been massacred by the Turks
in the Eski-Saghra and Tschirpan districts.
Soldiers were posted along the road from Eski-
Saghra TO Kazanlik, with orders to shoot
everybody passing. When the Russians evacu-
ated Eski-Saghra, the Turks ordered that all
Christians, men, women and children, should
be shot as they left their houses Those who
remained were burned alive. The order was
given to burn down and destroy every particle
of Christian property. The hospital, contain
ing 800 sick and wounded Russian soldiers,
was burned"
Further accounts confirm the reports re-
specting the terrible outrages committed by
the Turks at Eski-Saghra. After the Russians
evacuated that town the terrified inhabitants
endeavored to follow the Russians, but the
Circassians occupied the road to Kasanlik, and
the Turks sent guard round the town so that
none might escape, and then began the scene
of iendish cruelty. Neither age nor sex were
spared Notables who had fled before the
Russians and spent the interval in nelghboring
villages with bands Of Bashi-Bazouks now re-
appeared and sought out and slew the dwellers
on their own farms. The hospital was burnt,
with all the Russian and Bulgarian wounded.
Only few inhabitants escaped, and it is be-
heved that in the town and neighboring villa
GEES. one Of the fairest and richest spots in Eu-
rope, the number of peasants and townsfolk
massacred amounted to as many as all the
Russian killed and wounded in the late great
battle.
The Roumanian army will not cross the Dan
ube until the Russian reinforcements reach the
front, and then perhaps the assistance of the
Roumanian army will not be needed.
Gen. Krudener, who commanded at Plevna,
has been succeeded by Gen. Latoff.
The Turks have achieved another important
victory. portion of Sulieman Pasha's COM
mand attacked the Russian columns guarding
the Rsala and -Bogoz passes through
the Balkans, routed them with great slaughter,
and regained possession of the two passes.
The loss Of the Russians was 500 killed and
1000 wounded