, 1877-08-02
DISASTROUS DEFEAT.
Our Correspondents Ac-
count Of the Furious
Battle Of Softcha.
Repulse Of the Russians with 5000
Killed and 5000
Wounded
Another and More Disastrous
Reverse Encountered ut
PloynA
The Invaders Overwhelmed
and Routed in Regular
Bull-Run Fashion.
DisOrgnniZed Bodies Of Rus
si;sns Flee Across tho
Danube.
Causing a Panic and Pell-
Nell Retreat from
Sistova.
The Russian Dead and Wounded
Estimated at Several
Thousand.
Russian Rcinforcernenta Beinq
Pushed Forward in Great
Numbers.
Our Correspondence Impress
stOns on Visit to
Sfst0vn.
Life in 0dessa---The Blockade the
Merest Farce.
Parliamentary Obstruction Run Lad in the |
British Commons.
Our Correspondents Impress
BiOnB on n Visit to
Sfst0vn.
Life in 0dessa---The Blockade the
Merest Farce.
Parliamentary Obstruction Run Lad in the
British Commons.

lily Cable 10 7As Chataao TFiount.l
LONDON OrroE OF TnE CHICAGO TRIBUNE,
sA1BuunY 6rnEET, W. O., Aug. 1.-The
bucharest correspondent Of Tus CHICAGO
TnnuxE telcgraphs That o great battle ia
still going on at softoha- Tho blow struck
at the Ninth Corps by 0sman pnsha at
plcvna on tho 10Th Of July waa 20 severe
that the Eleventh Corps, which Ind reached
the River Lom on the outskirts Of Nustchuk,
compelled counternarch and to move
as rapidly as possible seventy miles
wcst, where they were reinforced by
tie bcaten divisions aouth Of Nikopolis.
Meanwhile the Roumaninu division Was eeut
to garrison Nikopolis. thus setting froo Gen.
schildcr's troops. It was not until yosterday
TINT the Russians were fully prepared to
renew tho engagement. At that timo tho
cntiro forco Of Tho Russians conaisted Of
about G5,00o, embracing tho Ninth and
Eleventh Corps. They wero drawn up in
three columna, on tue plain beside tho
River Vida, whore the troops wore cxhorted
by Gen. Ksudencr to DO brave and ret1iovo
thoir previous loases. Tho order was thop
given to
ADVANCE on so1ToHA,
where Osmnn Pasha, with $4,000 men, was
intrenched behind hastily thrown up earth-
works, having rejoinod tho division under
Adj Iasha At that place. The correspondent
says: II accompanied Gen. sclilder, CON-
manding tho Ninth Division. Rain was
dropping dismully upon the already wet
roads, and great embarrassment was caused
'y tho tardincss Of tho artillery train. which
could only 10 dragged through the
.mud with tho greatest difficulty.
A halt was made on tho heights
overlooking Softcha, mud, riding ont upon
the spur jutttng from the ridge, one could
SEQ lilo white tents Of tho Turkish army
herlod by tho river side beyond tho town,
while long, black, low.lying' atreaks marked
tie secently-constsucted dsfensea. Certainly
NOT \ rLxAaAkr-1oo11so POSITION
to attack, and, indeed, that opinion was cx.
pressed by Gen. Krudener whom he can,o
gal!oping up whero I wa standing,
followed by Don Cazlos, Col. slan.
god, and Gen. 8chiidcr. Dat the attack
was decided on at al hazards, and the A.
tillery Wa brought into position. The first
roar Of cannon vs promptly echoed from
the Turkish intxenchmenss Then began
TIE MOST FURIOUS AaTu1xar pux1u
from which our troops did not escape un-
harmed, for tho 6sysnteea aud Eighteenth
Regiments Of infantry Of the Avant 0srds
wero swept through aud through by iron
missiles, piling \ dead and wounded In
nckenIug heaps together. In tho midst
Of this the order was given TO storm tho no
sitions, ia accordance with tho usual Russian
tsctics Calamity the 8olmas Cossacks Of
ths Ninth Corps rushed to tho attack, speed |
Ing down tho road under shelter Of Z cloud |
OF smoke, For SOME time WAS unable 10 |
distinguish anything In tho direction OF thu
town says the white 1nlnazets upon the hill.
QUE INFANTRY
advanced with solid front, md yolleys Of |
mu&ketry, added to tho noise Of tho cannon,
making dsafeain2 and continual thunder.
The lighting was for long tina almost hand
10 hand, The Tuska making frequent sortiea
from behind the aheltar Of Tho red csoas.
The attendants wers unable to carry on 7he