The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-08-31
FOREIGN.
The Turco-Russian War.
TIE BULGARIAN CAMPAIGN.
The Situation at PIeyua,

The Situation at Plevna.
LONDON. Aug. 30-The Times military cor
respondent at Bucharest telegraphs that for the
moment interest is concentrated again on Plev.
ma, where Osman Pasha is strongly reinforced
by men from Suleiman Pasha, and guns from
Widdip. He is now credited with two hundred
guns and ought to make good defence; but il
he is defeated the Turkish loss will be irrepara-
sian cavalry, Osman Pasha's defeat would more
ever immediately give the Russian forces
enough even without the coming guards, tC
push again over the Balkans.
Losses in the Bulgarian Campaign.
A correspondent at the Russian headquarters
telegraphs that the losses up to Monday are nc
less than 100000 on both Sides Gabrva is full
OF the wounded. 1t is rumored that Gems Ro-
detzky and Demtrasky are wounded.
Bebrava has been burned by irregulars from
Rasgrad
Volunteers for Suieiman Pasha.
ADRIANoPLE, Aug 3O-Troops are pouring
in to the front at the rate of 5000 per day.
These battalons come from Batoum. A large
number are Albanian volunteers, arriving to
join Suleiman Pasha. They have exchanged
old guns for Martini Henry rifles. There will
be no decisive action at Shpka Pass until the
arrival of the endorsements.
The Fighting at shipka Pass.
CoNsTANTINoPLE, Aug. 30.-Suleiman Pasha
telegraphs August Goth: We continue to
blockade the enemy and threaten his retreat by
the Gabrova road. There has been some ar
tilery firing today. Our outposts have ex-
changed musket shots with the enemy. A re.
connoisance in the vicinity of Gabrovo shows
that the Russians occupy Ehilagatch, three
hours march this side of Gabrova.
The Daily News correspondent telegraphs
from Shipka pass, 18th inst, giving detailed
account of a Russian attempt to capture the
redoubt which the Turks constructed to sweep
ia in Sc
still untaken and it constitutes great danger
to the Russians as it gives the Turks possession
of ridge running parallel to that of which
the road winds 1900 yards distant The redoubt
enflades the road in several places and the
Turkish infantry, by extending along the ridge
which is thickly wooded, can practically render
the road impossible. 1t was on this road that
Gen. Drakomiroff was wounded, and that to-
day Gen. Dragetsky was killed at point fully
a mile on our side Of the summit of the pass
The men are picked off by the Turkish skirm-
ishers twh miles behind the pass 1t will be
seen therefore that the Russian position still
remains most critical in spite of the reinforce
ments. Gen. Radetzky informed the COM
mandant of Gabrova, the day after his arrival,
that he had better warn the inhabitants to be
ready to fly at moments notice.
Gen. Radetzky, it appears from the News
telegram, on the 25th attacked the Turkish
redoubt from the direction of the pass and also
from the Gabrova side. There was continuous
musketry and artillery fire for hours The
Russians advanced under cover of the trees,
which were, however, too small to afford good
shelter. In short time they reached within
so yards of the redoubt. Here they found the
Turks had cut down the trees around the re.
doubt, making an abattes over which it was
almost impossible to pass. They gathered
around the edge and suddenly made rush for
it, but were driven back with fearful loss The
soldiers became entangled in the masses of
brush wood and trunks and limbs of the trees
oyer which they were obliged to scramble,
while the Turks poured in terrible fire upon
them. 1t this short distance it moved them
down like grass. Of the first assault against
the redoubt in which one company was en-
gagged, very few got back to tell the tale.
Gen. Radetzky sent reinforcements and the
attack began again, but dispositions were made
to place a large force in such positions that it
could pour heavy fire into the redonbt to COW
er the assault until the assailants were almost
I'D to the parapet. This attack seemed almost
on the point of success, for the colonel in COM
mand said that if the reserves were given to
him he could take the redoubt The officer in
command of the reserves let them go, but they
were nevertheless repulsed..
The next assault was made under the eye of
Kdetzky and part of his staff. Gen. Dimitriaf-
SKY, chief of staff, placed himself at the head
OF the storming batteries, although he had to
De supported by two men, as he had just preVi-
ously been stunned by earth thrown up by an
exploding shell. The Russians advanced steadi-
~. Ihey rushed over or through the Abattis.
They even got into the redoubt and actually
held it for few seconds, but were driven out
again. Ihey surrounded the place on all sides,
pouring into it terrible fire, but were again
driven back. In the meantime the Turks to
support the defence began in their turn to at
tack thu Russian positions in the pass from the
front and rear.
The Russian losses must be very heavy, for