The New York herald., 1877-12-11

then ordered. Krddener made little progress, ana,
although combined attack imperative,
schackoskoy did not come his aid. He. on the
contrary pursued the original plan OF battle. when no
must have seen that about to oc broken
me 'act discovered late WAS that kradener nad
penetrated between The two wings of the Turkish et
simultaneously the advancing Russians found them
selves exposed TO deadly musketry IRE on bo'h
TANKS and in front and checked
now THE LOST.
Led by valiant officers in person the Thlrty-second
division OF schackosKoy's troops rushed forward aud
entered tho Drst line OF intrenchments. They swept
everything before them, holding little village which
was their objective point. With this success Schac.
koskoy lest his head, and anxious, probably. to win
tho Grand Cross for himself left Krddener 10 his late
with the main body OF the Turkish forces almost
surrounding him.
PREPARING TO ESsSARE osMAs.
On tho llth Of September skobelen was ordered to
take the great redoubt ut Grvitza. He led in person
that memorable charge, carried the redoubt but Tor
want oil assistance was driven out and compelled 10
retreat. Alter this defeat 1t was generally believed
that tue Russians wero crippled Tor this year.
Tho aarmists predicted shame and con fusion to the
Muscoos. But the men OF Puilush and Borodno
were not SO easily discouraged. The capture OF
Pevna became absolutely necessary TO tho Russians.
the reverses to KrIdener and Scobeen induced eau
ton. The practical Gourka with his unring Cossacks
secured the country 10 the south and penetrated
through tho main pass OF the Balkan range into
tho lovely and fertile valleys OF the South,
alarming tho residents of Conslantinople, and
causing general stampede from all tho
villages north OF Adranope. Attention VAS
diverted TO him Tor time, while the Russians ss-
curod their supplies and material ana passed tho
main army across the Danube. Mchcmet Ali was to
drive the enemy back from the direction OF Lom
Palanka, while 0sman was TO rush out and complete
the defeat by lorcing the Grand Dukes own corps
back by the way OF Nikopols Osman Pacha ig-
no.ant Of the complete chain the Russians had mr.
ranged to place around his position, employed oil
his resources to torty Pevna BY tho Sd of Soptem-
ber he had arranged shelter for 100 900 men, Gradu-
ally the Russians surrounded The and cut OIL all
Osman's communications with the outside world.
From Poradn On the east opposite 10 the now famous
Gravilza redoubt, around 10 the north and west 10
Riben, Tirstcnik, DuLnik, cutting tho Sofia road,
therce to Cory Dubnik, where the road
cut again, thence to Tells and all tho positions
TO the south, TO Boso.. to the Orcbane Pass.
tho Pussians had osman completely In their power.
Every attempt to rcvictual plevna, the last being
made only a few days ago, failed completely.
Gourko, at tho head OF the Imperial Guards, and
Prince Carl the head OF the Roumanians, shut out
all help from Widdin nnd Sofa. Tho Shipka Pass
being held by the Russians no help could arrive from
the south. Tho circle was at least thirty miles, and
was held by about one hundred and twenty thousand
men ana Six hundred guns
osMAN cHAFIN0 THR BEsEIGED TOWN.
Osman Pacha has been respondent and apparently
without hope for the past SIX weeks. AS
Plevna Was completely invested he became silent,
morose and severe in his attitude toward his staI
Early in November ho was loud In his denuncia,ons
OF tho Ministry OF War at Constantinople. "Whiie
l was dong my best" said he, ''to render this
place imprcgnable and TO defend It against
tho repeated attacks OF q formidable enemy
a miserable drunkard, as cowardiy as no is
ignorant (Hakkl Pacha), compromises ell my plans
and impers the successes which have gained up to
this day. II may be fatality or simply want Of iudG
ment, but It would almost seem II some malevo.
lent spirit was pushing on our Ministry TO commit
blundcr after blunder" Tho General complained that
he had ask cd tor 10 be sent from Constant
nople They reached Plovna without a single article
necessary for the repair OF guns and had TO bo sent
back. He counseled the Ministry, instead
OF fitting out an expedition TO tho eau
casus, had been planned, to make So
na q grand central depot for stores, and
have the place garrisoned by an army Of 15o 900
120 900 men, After he had taken possession o
Plevna ne IorOsaW tn0 StTatcScu Importance OF Ine
position fortified It in such that Krddners
forces were utterly powerless, dashiDg themselves
against the earthworks only to be an initiated. he
opposed tho attack on Shipka, maintaining that q
force OF 10 900 mon entrenchod strongly at the en-
trance 10 tne pass quite sufficient to cheek the
Russian advance But the Ministry refused 10 take
his advice. Fifteen thousand sacrificed the
senseless expedition to Soukhoum Kaleh and 20 OOl
of the finest troops In tho Turkish army were
slaughtered trying TO drive the Russians from almost
imprcgnable positions.
DID soRcEREss RECOMMEND THE soRrrk9
II Is not wonderful, then, that "Ghazl osman'
Defender OF tho Fath) with all those bitter feelings
toward the Standardization, should have lost heart
The Turkish forces outside Of Pevna scattered
over space OF about eighty-dvs miles apparently
without either comprehensive rlun or head. Sofia
the point necessary tor successful issuc ut Pevna
had been left uncovered, the Russians had cut the
road and Is was 10 his mind, according 70
dispatches Just received, but question OF q
few weeks When the Pevna army must either starvs
fight or surrender the second alternative being almost
out OF the question. correspondent tells this story
OF tho .sGhaN:''-'A Jowcss OF q very advanced
age Is the only who amid the general constorna
ton manages to look after her own Interests and
profits by the occasion. She goes by the
name of Sarah and fortune teller.
The door Of hcr house is open from morning
til night and tho house itself Is filled
WITH officers and soldiers, many OF the former being
OF high rank, who come to consult her on their
future iot sho derives immense profit from. this
source, especially since nor pred ctons OF the death
OF otrccrse in two cases, and promotion one
or two other Instances, have been verified II
said that Osman Pacha himself not disdaine6 TO
consult the ancient Sarah, who has predicted Tor him
q most brilliant future provided be IS not made pris.
oner before the 18th OF December"
TnREArEss SHOOT HAKKI PAcHA.
Wien tho Russians sent word 10 osman Pacha that
they intended to send back the 900 prisoners they
had taken at Dubnik and Tells the Turkish CON-
u.cnief said that II they did send them back
no would mowlthem down with grapeshot, seize the
coward Hakki Pacha. VINO was with them, and nave
him shot on the spot. He told tho Grand Dukes
messenger in a somewhat bombastic manner that he