The New York herald., 1877-09-13
INCESSANT CANNONADING.
Russian Troops Bury Two Thousand
Two Hundred Dead Turks.
MUSC0VITE OFFICIAL REPORTS.
SerVia Wants to Explain Her
Position.
icy CABLE TO THE HERALD.1

LONDON, Sept. 13, 1877.
despatch from correspondent before
Plevna, dated Saturday, September 8, de-
scribes the situation at that date The tele-
gram gives good idea of the great difficult
ties which the Russians have still to over
come. The attack upon Plevna resembles
siege more than anything else. So far
there does not seem to have been
single shot exchanged by infantry on the
Russian right and centre. The fire of the
Turkish redoubt Of Grivica does not appear
to have slackened in the least despite the
enormous number Of shells thrown into it
yesterday, and, although we can see earth
flying into the air in the middle of the
redoubt, the Turkish guns reply regularly
As clockwork.
NO TURKISH GUNS DIsMANTLED.
1t is evident none of the Turkish guns
have been dismantled. It is very probable
chat the Turks have not many men
in the redoubt. They are hidden in
trenches and low places in the ground
outside. few only are kept in the
redoubt for the management of the
guns and as fast as they are killed are re-
placed by others. The fire of the Turkish
batteries in the hollows between Grivica
and Plevna is less steady and not so we'll
sustained as yesterday. Probably some Of
their guns have been dismounted
MORE RUSSIAN ARTILLERY NEEDED
I must say do not believe much in the
effect Of the Russian bombardment. There
were to be mounted altogether 400 guns
bearing upon the Turkish positions, but SO
far not more than one hundred or one hun
dred and twenty seem to have been brought
into position, and the effect to the present
is very slight. They will have to come to
much closer quarters.
The same correspondent, in a later despatch, re-
ports the continuation OF this artillery duel OH sun
day and Monday, during which the Russian batter
ies gradually pushed forward, as described in the
pficial Russian kilograms, in front of Radizcvo
Four guns in the Turkish redoubt were dsmantlcd
on Sunday but replaced during the night They were
on Monday replying to the Russian fire, but making
sadly slow work in the midst of the shells poured
into the redoubt. Every now and then the Turks
suspend fire Tor many minutes though the re-
doubt had been silenced; but after the pause come
back a shell or two
sKOBELOFF's GALLANT CHARGE.
The correspondent also describes from personal
observation the attack on Saturday by column
headed by General SkObelof from the Russian left
flank, near the LOvatZ and Plevna road, against one
Of the redOubts the southern side OF Plevna. In
this attack the Russians drove the Turks from
their outlying positions, but they neared the foot
OF the slope the Turkish fire became terrible. From
the parapcts of the redoubt poured forth steady
wave Of fame and the rcdoubt was hidden in thick
white smoke.
TURKISH sORTIE REFUSED.
The roar Of this tremendous fire was simply fear
ful: never heard anything like it. This lasted
about twenty minutes, when the Russian skirmish
line began TO withdraw. The Turks then made
sortie from this redoubt which was repulsed
by the Russians in their turn, as was d
second Russian attack the redoubt, although
1t was this time supported by the fire OF the Rus
sian batteries and made with large renforccments.
PLEvNA VERY STRONG.
The following is general view of the situation:-
ut is obvious that the fortidcations have been
much strengthened since the last battle The
longer one looks at the place the more thoroughly
does one feel the toughness of. the Russian task
The position must be attacked as u whole
and taken as whole. If the northern ridge,
tf.<
trail swell would not be materially impaired. Sup.
pose lodgment was effected on the central swell,
that lodgment would be commanded by the north
ern ridge and the rcdoubts on the south OF the
town.
THE RADIZEvo RIDGE
All that is wanted to make the Turkish position
virtually impregnable IL the fortincation of the
ridge in front of RadiZevo. Probably this was not
undertaken owing to the force available no, being
strong enough to hold so wide an area.
BATTLE EXPECTED on TUESDAY
According to the foregoing telegram an assault
was fixed for Tuesday. The Emperor and the
Grand Duke Nicholas slept at Poredin on Monday
ulght, so as to be near ut hand to witness II.
RUSSIAN INSURGENTS SURRENDER TO TURKEY.
1t is announced from Ragusa that the majority Of
the Russian insurgents have submitted TO the
Turkish government ut Bosna-ScraL
RUSSIAN ACCOUNTS or FIGHTING.
The following dispatches refer to the lighting
before Pcyna:--
RUSSIAN HEADQUARTERS,
POREDiN, Sept 10-l0:40 "A. M.
'Our batteries cannonaded Plevna all Sunday
The Turks made considerable sorte against our
lett wing, but were repuscd, losing heavily. The
Roumanans made a bold reconnaissance of the
encmy's redoubts which opened heavy hre but
were silenced by concentrated fire from our bat
tcrcs The position of one OF our siege batteries
was changed Oh sunday evening, to enable 1t to
rannonade the fortified Turkish encampment
leavy cannonading continued through the night
and has increased In extent and activity IRON five
o'clock this morning All is quiet at the other
points of the theatre OF war
FEARFUL LOSSES AT IOvATZ
At the capture of Lovatz we took two Turkish
standards and a quantity OF arms ana ammunition
We buried 200 Turkish dead. Large numbers were
sabred by our cavalry during the pursuit Our loss