The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-09-10
FOREIGN.
The Turco-Russian War.
TIE BULGARIAN CAMPAIGN

The Cars Forces i'm a Critical POSI-
fion-The Victory at Lovatz Exaggerat-
ed.
LONDON, Sept. S.-The accounts of the FIGHT.
ing at Lovatz, sent from Bucharest by special
correspondents is, turn out Ito be pure fctons
Roumanian imagination. for the fact is the
Turks never attacked at all, nor is the Russian
success of such proportions as at first repre-
scented.
Loyatz is an open town in valley important
chiefly as covering the roads to Franian and
Seoiz. The use the Russians will be able to
make of the position must depend on their
driving off the force of Turks on the northwest
of Lovatz. Within the range of whose guns the
correspondent OF the Times had to pass on the
9th, when returning from Lovatz to Poredin
Undoubtedly the capture of Lovatz must be
regarded rather as part of an important sys-
tenn of operations than as an Independent
achievement.
That this is the Russian view of tie situation
IS shown by the fact that they brought the over
whelming odds of $4,000 against 1000 to make
success certain. This view is further confirmed
by reports of continued fighting in the direc-
ton of Lovatz and Plevna. Perhaps the Rus
slams are trying to finish with Osman Pasha
before it becomes indispensable 10 meet Mehe-
met Ais advance. 1t seems beyond doubt that
the Czarowitch's army has been greatly weak
eDed and that after several important successes
Mehemet Ali now threatens the libe of commu-
Pasha, operating from Rutschuk, threatens not
only the new bridge at Rysogos, but even the
Sistova crossing. That the Russians permit
these operations to 60 forward is the strongest
support to the repeated assertions of the cores
pondents that every preparation was making
and every nerve would be strained to bring
complete destruction to the Turkish army at
Plevna.
Change of Base of the Rustchuk Army
Bombardmento of PIevnn Begun.
LONDON, Sept ga telegram dated Bucha-
rest today says: The whole Russian Rustchuk
army has taken up fresh and less extended po-
sitions. Other dispatches show that the posi-
tions are probably in the neighborhood of Bic
Ia The official bulletins from the Russian
headquarters at Poredin give details of the ope-
rations against Plevna as follows: At dusk
Thursday the troops of the western column ap-
preached PlevDa, and working all night unob-
served by the Turks. erected batteries on the
heights surrounding the Turkish Notifications.
Our siege batteries opened Friday at a. m. a
cannonsde which continued all day. The COM
mandant of one of our batteries was killed and
two officers wounded. Our loss Friday was not
large. A few shots were exchange during the
night. The artillery engagement was renewed
Saturday morning with great vigor and contn-
ued all day. In the evening our left wing sue.
ceeded in occupying the heights to the south of
the town with a loss of 500 men. The village
of Uschitscha was also occupied. The centre
and right wings have approached within 1900
or 400 yards OF the Turkish Notifications
Their losses on the whole are not great. The
cannonade lasted all Saturday night and in
creased in violence on Sunday morning.
despatch dated Bucharest today says gen.
eral attack on Plevna will be made today. 1t
is said 10000 Turks who were marching to Os-
man Pashas assistance have been intercepted
below Niski. The Russians have erected new
monster gun at Slobasia, which has silenced
the three Turkish batteries before Rustchuk.
The Daily News correspondent, telegraphng
from Porcolin, gives the names of the various
corps and brigades composing the army before
Plevna, showing that there are 80 900 infantry,
including $4,000 Roumanjans. The cavalry
number 10000, including 1000 Roumauians,
with the addition of other arms of the service
There is compact, well equipped army of
about LOG; 600 men with 250 guns, including
siege artillery. The greater part of the army
has the advantage OF having already been un-
der fire. There is some indication of turn
ing movement which was suggested when
Prince Meretnsky took Lovatz, but the sug-
gestion was deceptive. The course of the at
pursued on the previous occasion.
The News correspondent carries his account
OF the cannonade down to Friday evening,
when be describes the situation as follows:
The formidable Turkish redoubt at Grvca
holds its own and nowhere does the Turkish
artillery seem in the least degree dominated
The village of Radzevo is blazing Not
rifle has been fired today. All the work has
Ueen cone Win artlllery. Ihe Russian loss is a
mere handful and probably the Turkish is not
much. In every material sense Plevna is as
far from being taken as ever.
LONDON, Sept. 9.-The Daily News CORES
pendent writing on Thursday explains the po-
sitions OF the contending armies at Plevna as
follows: Grivica stands in the toe of the horse
shoe formed by the Turkish positions around
Pievna. Opposite it stands the Russian 9Th
division, which will fall in after artillery prem
arations. The line is prolonged on the left
flank by five divisions, extending as far as
Bogoto. Opposite the horseshoe is the Russo
Roumsnian centre The Russians have the
gryund to the left which was occupied by
Prince Schackoskey in the previous battle Of
Plevna The Roumanians have a section
of the environment to the right of the
centre, being the ground on which
Gen. Krudner then fought The front of each
section is about equal in extent. The Turkish
positions opposite the Roumanian section are
the stronger, but as there are $4,000 Rouman-
ians to $4,000 Russians it seems logically to
follow that the function of the Roumanian is
Intended to be chiefly of demonstrative char
acter. They will do good service if they hold
the Turks confronting them while the centre
and left are delivering blow upon blow on the
weaker sections of the Turkish front.
Prince Meretinsky from Lovatz has detached
one brigade and sent it south to Traian to
guard against trouble from that region, and
today Thursday has marched north along the
road in the direction of Plevna with three bril-
gades,