Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-12-20
sSiO-TurkiSh War.
PEACE TALK.

PEACE TALK.
A C,onstantinople dispatch, dated
Dec. 10th says the circular, dispatched
by the porte, to the signers of the
treaty of 1871, commences by the
statement that the origin of the pres
ent important events is perfectly
known; the Imperial government is
conscious of having done nothing to
provoke war; it has done everything
to avoid it, and has sought to discover
Russia's motive in her aggressive cam
paign. The Porte has shown desire
for improvement by reorganizing the
judicial system, and devising reforms
with the least inclination of race or re-
ligion, according to the constitution,
has everywhere been we'll received.
Partial reform is of no avail; the adop-
ton of the improvement in one part
of the empire only would be a premi-
um to other communities to revolt.
Any doubts as to the execution of these
reforms should disappear before the sol
emn declarations the porte now makes.
The state of war simply retards such
reforms, and is disastrous to the country
generally, destroying agricultural inter
ests, killing industry and running the
financial reorganizations. Indepen-
IDENTIFY of these arrangements of reform,
what reason can there be for continu-
/ ING. the war? Russia has declared that
she is not animated by spoil Of con-
quest. Military honor of both sides
must be abundantly satisfied. What
object can there be in prolonging con-
test ruinous to both countries? Me
! hemet Pasha arrived from the billiger-
ent powers to accept peace without af-
fecting their dignity. Europe might
now usefully interpose her good offices
since the porte is ready to
come to terms. The country is not at
! the end of its resources, and is fully
prepared to fight in its own defense. 1t
is ready, moreover, to sacrifice all for
the independence and integrity of its
fatherland, but the porte is desirous to
stop the further effusion of blood, and
therefore appeals to the feelings of JUS
! tice, which must animate to great
powers. They will receive these over
lures favorably.
A Plevna correspondent teleoraphs
that he believes the Russians will not
advance Immediately, but await the eff
feet Of the fall of Plevna at that place
The heavy guns on the Sofia road be-
tween, Plevna and the river Vid, have
been hauled back.
! OsMAN PAsHA's NOTE.
| A Bucharest dispatch dated Dec. Is,
states that Osman Pasha has sent
short telegram to the Porte, stating
that he had not received reinforcem ents
nor provisions, but, nevertheless, resist
ed as long as possible; finally, he made
an attempt to force q passage through
the Russian lines of investment, in
which the Turkish troops, despite their
valOr, were unsuccessful and himself
taken prisoner.
MORE FIGHTING.
| A London dispatch Of the 18th says:
A correspondent with Grand Duke
| Vladimir shows that the Metchka affair
was confined to skirmishes and cavalry,
with some field artillery practice. He
thinks the Turks may have lost !, 900
men altogether, as they were much ex-
posed, but the Russian loss was insig-
nificant The Russian force on the
field was three brigades. The Turks
were driven across the river LON; their
entertainments on the west bank are in
possession of the Russians.
sERvIA DECLARES WAR.
A Constantinople dispatch of Dec
10Th, says, NJ. Cristics, Servian agent,
has delivered to the Porte, Servia's
formal declaration of war against Tur,
key, and started for Belgrade
THE MEETING OF osNGAN AND NICHOLAS.
A correspondent at Plevna tele-
graphs under date of December
10th, concerning Osman Pasha's re-
eeption by the Russians, says
The Grand Duke Nicholas rode up to
Osman's carriage and for some seconds
the two chiefs gazed into each others's
! faces without the utterarce of a wood;
then the grand duke stretched out his
hand and shook the hand of Osman
Pasha heartily and said, II compliment
you on your defence of Plevna; it is one
of most splendid military feats in his,
tory" Osman smiled sadly; rose to
his feet in spite of his wound and said
something which I could not hear. He
then reseated himself. The Russian
officers all cried bravo bravo" repeat
edly and all saluted respectfully There
was not ore among them who did not
gaze on the hero of Plevna with
the greatest admiration and sympathy
Prince Charles, of Roumania, who had
arrived, rode up and repeated Willingly
almost every word of the grand duke,
and likewise shook hands with Osman,
who again rose and bowed this time in
grim silence. He wore loose blue
cloak, with no apparent mark on it to
designate his rank. He is large,
strongly built man. The lower part of
his iace is covered with a short black
beard, without q streak of gray, and he
has a large Roman nose and black
eyes. at is a grand face" exclaimed
Colonel Gaillard, French military at
tache. Il was almost afraid of seeing
him, lest my expectation should be dis
appointed, but he more than fulfills my
ideal" ''It's face of a great military
chieftian," said young Skabeloff, Il am
glad to have seen Osman GhaZi:" :"
PEACE TALK.
A London dispatch of the 10Th, says
that Paris correspondent announces
that he has received a statement from
what he believes to be a trustworthy
source, that Sever Pasha has informed
Mr.. Layard, British ambassador, and
Count Sicily. Austrian ambassador to
Constantinople, that he considered the
continuation Of war useless sacrifice,