River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-12-20
RUssra.s WAR WITH TURKEY.

Special advices from Bucharest put
the number OF Turkish prisoners taken at
PleYna at 1000 and the number Of guns cap
tured at 400. The ground which was the
scene Of Of the sortie, was literally strewn
with dead and dying. osman P4sha himself was
wounded before he would consent to surrend
er. His valor, which is described as desper-
ate is everywhere the theme Of conversation.
The sufferings Of the Turks in the beleagured
| town we're actually awful Cold, disease and
famine deeimated the ranks and reduced the
soldiers 10 living skeletons. TO aggravate the
sufferings there was no doctor, and no medi-
cine could be obtained.
The Russian official account of the cap
ture Of Pleyna confirms the details already
telegraphed. 1t says that the Turks fought
like lions. Seven Pashas were captured. The
counting Of prisoners and trophies is not yet
completed. The emperor was present on
the 18th at thanksgiving service held on the
site of the former headquarters of Osman
Pashs A grand council was held on the 18th
at the war Office in Constantinople. 1t is
saidit was resolved on war to the last ex-
tremity
According to official returns, the Rus
4
tender Of Pleyna were ten officers and 1S2 men
killed, and forty-fye officers and 1207 men
wounded. The Turks lost 1900 killed and
wounded, and the prisoners inclndc ten
pashas, lbs staff officers, 1000 officers $4,000
infantry and 1,2OO cavalry. Seyenty-seyen
cannon were also captured. The first batch
of prisoners, numbering 10000, have already
started for Bucharest.
The London Times correspondent at
Plevna telegraghs; Grand Duke Nicholas
told me Osmun Pasha reported his force at
| % 900. At the same time the Grand Duke
seemed doubtful if there were so many
A J't sixty cannon aud many hundred wag-
ons were among the trophies. 0sman Pasha
had three weeks provisions still on hand, and
ten days rations in his transport train for the
| whole army. The immediate cause Of his
abandoning the entertainments was the
breaking out of an epidemic among the
troops. There were forty or fifty dead bodies
\ 4 day in Plevna. There were no men availa-
/ bic to bury them, and the mortality was in
creasing. Eight hundred sick and wounded
are in the hospitals.
A correspondent at Pleyna telegraphs
concerning 0sman Pasha's reception by the
Il fkuSsldHo. Inc uTtlU Duhe NlCUOldS IOuc UP
to Osman's carriage, ard for some seconds the
two chiefs gazed into each others faces with
out the utteranee of word, then the grand
duke stretched out his hand, shook the hand
of Osman Pasha heartily, and said, 81 compl
ment you on your defense of Pleyna. II i:
one of the most splendid military feats in his
tory Osman smiled sadly, rose painfully tC
his feet in spite of his wound, and said some
thing which / could not hear. He then re
seated himself. The Russian officers al
cried "Brayo, bravo,n repeatedly, and all sa
luted respectfully. There was not one among
them who did not gaze on the hero o.
Plevna with the greatest admiration and
| sympathy. Prince Charles, of Roumania, who
arrived, rode up and repeated almost every
word OF the grand duke and likewise SHOOK
hands with Osman who again rose and bowed
this time in grim silence. He wore a loose
blue cloak with no apparent mark on it tC
designate his rank, and red fez. He is larg,
strongly built man. The lowerp of his face
is covered with a short black beard without I
streak Of grey, and lie has large Roman most
and black eyes. II IS a grand face exclaimed
Col. Gaillard, French military attache. | wa
almost afraid of seeing him, lest my cxpecta
ton should be disappointed, but he more
than fulfilled my ideal. 1t is the face of
great military chieftain. Said young Skobe
left, II am glad to have seen him. Osman
Ghazi he is,and 0sman the victorious he vii
I remain in sDite of his surrender "