Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-09-13
The Eastern War.

The Eastern war.
A dispatch from a correspondent before
Plevna, dated Saturday, September stb, de-
scribes the situation at that date. The telegram
gives good idea Of the great difficulties which
the Russians have still to overcome. Its prin-
cipal points are as follows:
THE attack upon PIevna resembles siege
more than anything else. So far there does not
seem to have been a single shot exchanged by
the infantry Oh the Russian right and centre.
The fire of the Turkish redoubt Of Grivica does
not appear to have slackencd 10 the least, de-
spite the enormous number Of shells thrown
into it yesterday, AID although we can see earth
Hgipg into the air 10 the middle of The redoubt.
the Turkish guns reply as regularly as clock
work. 1t is evident none Of the Turkish guns
have been dismountcd. 1t is very probable
that the Turks have not many men in the re-
doubt. They are hidden in trenches and low
places 10 the ground outside. A lew only arc
kept 10 the rcdoubt for the management Of the
By others. The fire Of the Turkish batteries 10
the hollow between Grivica and Plevna is less
steady, and not 80 we'll sustained IS yesterday.
mouoted. must say do not believe much 10
the fleet Of The Russian bombardment. There
were 10 be mounted altogether tour hundred
suns bearing on the Turkish position, but so
far not more than one hundred or one hundred
aud twenty seem 10 havo been brought into po-
stion, and the effect up 10 the present is very
slight. They will lave to come TO much closer
quarters
The same correspondent in 4 later dispatch
reports the continuation Of this artillery duel
90 Sunday and Monday, during which the Rus
sian batteries gradually pushed forward, as de-
scrbcd 10 the official Russlan telegram 10 front
of Radizcvo. -Four guns in the Turkish re-
doubt were dismantled On Sunday, but replaced
during the night. They were on Monday re.
replying TO the Russian fire, but making sadly
slow work in the midst of the shells poured
into the rcdoubt. Every now and then The
Turks suspended fire Tor many minutes as
though the rcdoubt had been scncc1, but after
| the pause come back q shell or two.
The correspondent also describes from per-
sonal observation the attack on Saturday by q
column headed by General Shobeloff from the
Russian left flank, near the Lovatz and PlcvDa
road, against one Of the rcdoubls ca tho south
crn side Of Plevna. In this attack the Russians
| drove the Turks from their outlying positions,
but rs they neared the foot Of the sopn the
| Turkish fire became terrible from the parapcts
of the redoubt. poured forth . steady wave OF
fame, and the rcdoubt was hidden 10 thick,
white smoke. The roar of the tremendous fire
was simply fearful. | never heard anything
| like it. This lasted about twenty minutes,
when the Russian skirmish line began to with
draw. The Turks then made sortie from this
redoubt, which was rcpulsed by the Russians
! H. 4 U,,, al
the r1doubt, although it was this time support.
ed By the fire oil the Russian batteries aud
made with large rcinlorcements.
The following is general view OF the sltua-
ton 1t is obvious that The Qualifications have
been much strengthened since the last battle.
| The longer one looks at The place the more
thoroughly does ono feel the toughneas OF The
Russian task. The position must be attacked
as o whole and taken as whole. II tho north
eru ridge wcro taken and occupied the position
of the central swell wonll not DO materially inl.
| paired. Suppose q lodgmcnt was effected on
| the central swell. that lodgncut would be CON.
mandcd by the northern ridge and the rcdoubts
90 the south Of the town. All that is wanted 10
| make the Turkish position virtually imprcgna.
| bic is tho fertilization OF the ridge in front Of
| The Radizcvo. Probably this was not under.
| taken, owing 70 the force available not being
| strong enough to hold so wide 40 area, Accord
ing to the foregoing telegram an assault was
| fixed for Tuesday. The Emperor and he Grand
Duke Nicholas slept at Paredin Monday Dight,
80 as to be near at hand to witness it,
The London Times Paris correspondent says
| it is announced from Ragusa that the maj ority
of the Bosnian Insurgents have submitted to
the Turkish Government at Bosnia Serai.
| The London Standards Vienna dispatch says
| that the Scrvian Government has prepared u
circular to the Powers, explaining its reasons
| for entering into war.
1t is reported again this time from Shums)
that Suloman Pasha has crossed the Balkans.
A dispatch from Ragusa reports that the
| Montcncgrins Tuesday, ut Joscro. defeated
HaGz Pasha, who was marching to the relief of
| Ncsics. Six hundred Turks were killed and
one hundred taken prisoners. -.
Tho pew bridge over the Danube at Niko-
polls was completed on Monday.
VIENNA, Sept. l3.-The Political Cores
| pondencc to-day announces that the united
Russian and Romanan armies have carried by
assault the heights Of Grivica, Osman Pasha' $
| strongest position.