The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10
FOREIGN NEWS.
The Eastern War.

The Eastern War.
The efforts of the Russians during the past
two or three weeks have been concentrated on
cutting off the communications between Plev-
ma and Sofia, Orchanc and the southwest The
capture of Dubrik was the first important
success in that movement. Then Chevket
pasha took Il position commanding the juno
ton of the Plevna, Orchanie and Lovatz roads,
but from this he was compelled to retire by
the Russians occupying Dae Tctewcn, north
east of Orchanic upon which Chevket fell
back on the last named place. To further
complete the investment of Plevna the Rus
SLAMS have cut off Osman's line of retreat
across the Vid; which is held by the Russians
with strong force Besides this, Russian re-
Inducements continue steadily to arrive from
the north and are echeloned on the line from
Sistova to Tirnova, ready to move in any di-
rectiOn as needed. Against this formidable
array of Russian power and success, all the
Turks havs to offer is, lst, that Chevket has
been reinforced by 90 battalIons at Orchanie
and will attempt to reopen the road to Plevna ;
and second, that Plevna is abundantly provis-
toned for half a year at least and is impregna-
BILE. The general European belief however, is
that the Turks have no outside force now suf-
ficient or within reach to relieve Plevna, and
that the fortress will be starved INTO surrender
within month or two. The Car and Grand
Duke Nicholas have removed their headquar.
tiers from Parodin to Bago:, eight miles south OF
Plevna
The news from Asia is still more discour-
aging for the Turks than that from Bulgaria
Last weeks dispatches briefly announced the
occupation of Kaprikoi on the 2Sth ult. by the
Russians, upon which Mukhtar and lsmail
pasha fell back on the Erzeroum road to Has
san Kaleh Here they were attacked by the
Russian cavalry at midnight on the I'd and
driven back to Deve Bayoun, within 10 miles
of Erzeroum Here, on Monday, the Russians
made an attack along the whole Turkish line
and after 10 hours fighting broke their center
upon which, Mukhtar pasta himself tele
graphs next day to Constantinoplc, "our troops
fell into disorder, we withdrew and are here
The Russians of course lost no time in pushing
forward next day to Erzeroum. The lates
dispatches at London say Mukhtar and lsmai
were for standing siege but the people oppos
cd it, and the Turkish forces withdrew, upol
which the Russians occupied Erzeroum. /
this news is confirmed, the Turkish power il
Asia Minor may be considered as at an enc
and the surrender of Kars and Trebizond cal
be a matter of but few weeks more
1t is not to be wondered at, from this sum
mary of the situation, that the powers at st
Petersburg are counting on the close OF thu
war before new year, and discussing the term
of peace RUSSIA is to offer. The least Russii
can ask, it is maintained, is the free passage o
the straits for Russian war ships to the Medi
tcrranean, the independence of Roumania, ant
the autonomy of Bulgaria under German
prince. England, however, will object, ant
Beaconsticld is already announced as prepared
with IA speech putting his foot down especial,
ON the opening of the Dardanelles to Russian
war vessels. The London Journals also lool
Iupon the success of the Russians in Asia a
even more dangerous to English interests in TIT
East than would be the opening OF the Dardi
nclles.