The New York herald., 1877-12-11

ridges Over the cres. of the central ridge runs tho
main road from Sistova TO Sofa. and which passes
through Plevna Hence the road was en-
tirey barred to the Russians long as os-
man Pacha held his own. There was no
way OF approaching PIevna, except along this main
road, or that leading northward from Lovaz- There
lore an attack from the eastward became necessary 10
break The Turkish hold the place. especially as the
Russians had not yet crossed the Vid In any force
The slopes Of the rolling land that surrounded the
Turkish position had been cultivated as corn
neids aud vineyards, and these, with tho
peculiar conagura,on OF the ground. completely
masked Pevna itself, which was buried In the
hollow. Hence when tho Russian divisions
arrived near Gravitza aud Radlchevo they could see
nothing but the bald crests OF the wave-lkc ridges,
crowned by the newly erected works oil the Turks
The assault as stated proved disastrous failure lor
the Russians. 1t had another result in tempting the
Turks to hold the place permanently ana thus, az
osman Pacha seems to have intended, paralyze the
whole Russian army by forcing It 10 surround and
watch Plevna
THE PoRTIfcATioxs.
With this view Osman surrounded his position with
number OF enclosed works and redoubs, besides the
intIcnchments already In existence since tho great
victory over Kr1dcner and Schakotskoy. First in
importance the famous Gravitzl redoubs
constructed north of tho village OF that name,
and which was captured by tho Rouman-
Ian forces August 80. Southward Of
Gravitzs was the RadIchevo redoubt, another
enclosed work which commanded all the approaches
from the southcas,ward ana eastward the south
side OF the So6aSistova road. II performed tho
function in tho defence OF that section the eastern
front OF the position Fort Gravitza did tho
tion north OF the main road and Fort Bukova did
the northern 'front.' The latest description OF tho
Turkish and Russian works at Plcvna. as given by 4
special correspondent with the Russian army,
follows:-
''Starting from point on tho PIcvna Bica road,
about 900 yards west OF Gravitza, the her
limo OF works aud right under the guns OF three
Turkish redoubts connected by galleries and infantry
trenches, defending the approach to Pevna Dy tho
chau.see, the only means OF reaching the town from
the east northeast or southeast. us the rivuet
the map running from Tutchenl,za through
Plevna courses through M impossible ravine,
with perpendicular sides OF rock. The line
then southwest ABOUT a thousand yards west OF
Radchevo and in the same direction until It
reaches the ravine above mentioned On the western
side Of this ravno start from the point where tho
Lovatz road bends 10 the eastward thence westward
between Brestovec and Kirshine to point 2, 900
yards from the Lova.z road; thonce northwest be-
tween Blag,vas and Ocagas to tho river Vid.
Crossing the vid we 90 due north to point in
front aud east OF Etropo, thence northeast to tho
vid, just beyond Oponclz, and from this place
pass north OF Bukova, and southeasterly to the
starting point on the Gravtza chdnssee. From the
Gravitza ridge round 10 the position between Bresto-
vec and Kirshinc tho Russian lines arc higher than
the TURKISH From this point TO the vid the latter
higher but in . very slight degree. while from the
ish intrenchments are generally moro elevated
There are between twenty and twenty.nv
closed redoubts on the Moslem line, with In
Vulnerable riho trenches, batteries and covered
ways. The allied lines nave been gradually advanced
and 10 those OF the Turks and with each
advance a line OF intrench ments has been con-
struccd that all the intervening spaces between
tho first the present allied lines Is brsting with
parapsts. There Is no place the line where close
siege operations have been carried on. except
Ing at the Gravtza redoubt, where tho Rou-
manians have sappcd up 10 the ncghboring
Turkish earthwork. The lines within close riflc
range at other parts OF the crcumvala.ion and tho
gradual exhaustion OF Osman Pachas supplies s thus
awaited flie lios OF alatfon arouud Plevna
is fully thirty miles In length, but the conformation
Of the ground is such that 1t necessary to have
the divisions IN actual contact az all points Tho
guns OF the allies mounted generally en- barbette
those Of the Turks all in embrasures. The
Roumanian ear;hworks present more technically
correct appearance than those OF tho Russians, the
lines and slopes Of tho former conforming strictly TO
the drawings laid down 10 works on military cngi-
ncering. Their parapets also have a much higher
command than those OF the Muscovites Enough
spade work has been done around Pievna to build
many miles Of railway cmbankmcnt, and iron enough
thrown away to furnish tho rails.n
PLRvSA AND osMAN,
It will be remembered that Plevna was scarcely con.
sidered In general plan OF the Turkish campaign
until the l4th of July last The Grand Duke Nicholas
gave General KrIdoner orders 10 occupy tho town,
but he failed TO carry out the oriers. Osman Pachs
arrived from Widdin twenty hours In advance
Krldener with thiry-six batialions and forty four
guns and at began to iorty tho place. He placed
barrier against the Russian advance, for tho PIevna
army, had It been supported might have cut the
Russian communications from both the and tho
east. Five Gays after Osman had occupied Plevna
Krddeners advance guard entered tho town, and un.
aware the presence OF the Turkish troops began
dsarm and seek quarters for the night. Krldener
had wandered into the place Just as Osman had
Osman's troops madc a dash against Krudcncr's two
weak brigades hurting them Dack In confusion and with
serious loss Kruacnor reported his surprise and was
back, "rhe town Is occupied by 900 men and
strongly intrenched." The order TO tako tho town
was repeated The responsibility rested with the
chief OF staff General NepokoitchtsEy. Krddencr re-
cevcd his orders how to advance. Ho had only four
regiments and two brgadcs 10 attack two points, each
SIX miles apart, with centre heavily fortified.
THE CRUSHING DISASTER.
The crushing defeat which tho Russians under
Kradener and Schackoskoy suffered at the hands OF
Osman Pacha on the 31st OF July last Is too
we'll remembered 10 need moro than "A passing
notice The number of infantry compatants on
tho Russian side about 81 1000. with 100
field cannon and three brigades OF cavalry,
while the Turks wero found to have fully
40 600 infantry behind well constructed earlhworks,
erected at points OF their own choosing Tho actual
cause OF the defeat appeared to have that Kr1d
ncr and schackoskoy acted independently OF each
other Baron Kr1dener the right with the
whole OF tho Thirty-0rst division in his lighting line
and thrcc regiments OF tho Finn division In reserve
Prince schackoskoy on the left, with two bri-