The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-09-22
FOREIGN NEWS.


| llcsuay (lltnD ucclueu 10 llldhc Si"'", W.
pirate attempt to carry the Turkish works b.
assault. On the north the attack was conceI
tntcd on the GravitZa redoubt, and on III
south on various redoubts intended mainly 10
tie protection of the Turkish communication
between Plevna, Sofia and the southwest. In
assault on the north, in which combined fore
OF some $4,000 Russians and Roumanians tool
part was under the immediate direction OF tn
Grand Duke Nicholas; ON the south Genera
Skobclotf was the leader, with $4,000 Russians
The days work is said to have included min
desperate assaults with six bloody repulses
ending, however, in the Russians on the nortl
gaining possession of the Gravitza rcdoub'
and in Skobeloif carrying three redoubts OF
the south.
On Wednesday Q9th) there was again heav.
fighting, consisting of desperate attempts OF
the part of the Turks to regain what had beer
lost on Tuesday. With all their furious at
tempts, however, that day and since, they fail
ed to regain the Gravitza redoubt; but were
more successful on the south, succeeding il
dislodging Gen. Skobeloff from the three re
doubts he had taken with so much loss the
day before. In short, SkObelotf having los
5000 men to take the redoubts, lost 5000 more
in vain attempt to hold them, so that his di
vision Of 5000 men was virtually demslished
Since Wednesday of last week. except per
sistent attempts of the Turks to recover the
Gravitza redoubt there has really been nc
fighting at Pevna except Il desultory artillery
duel, and the Russians are so little encouraged
by the success of their grand assault, that they
seem convinced Plevna can only be taken by
the slow process Of sapping and mining or Il
regular siege.
Meantime the Russians are impatiently
awaiting the arrival of the Imperial Guards as
a reinforcement from Russia, while all atten-
ton is directed to the movements of Mehemet
Ali, who is working his way to the relief OF
Osman pasha before the Russian reinforce
ments arrive. Mehemet has but so miles to
90 to reach Plevna; but between him and that
point is the army of the Czarowitz, drawn up
on the river Jantra. Mehemet is said to have
sc, 900 men, while the Czarowtz is not believed
to have over 10000, and should the Turkish
leader defeat the latter, the situation of the
Russians would be critical indeed. They
would not only be compelled to abandon the
attack on Plevna, but would have hard work
% defend their communications across the Dan
abe, while their Sth corps, defending the
Schipka pass against Suleiman pasha, would
DC hemmed IN front and rear and be compelled
o surrender.
A battle between part of Mehemet's forces
md the army of the Czarowitz is reported to-
AVE taken place on Monday at Serankeny, in
he LON valley, the Russians attacking. They
we're driven back, however, with great slaugh-
er. There are no details of the fight, and the
are 1t was mere skirmish.
As to the report that on Monday Suleman
lad taken fort st. Nicholas the principal Rus
ian work in Schipka pass the truth about it
5 that the Turks, by sudden assault early on
Monday morning, surprised the Russians and
lrove them out of the fort, but being speedily
the Russians returned and retook
he work, driving the Turks back with great
laughter.
The only other fighting during the week,
Except as above noticed was a reported defeat
# the Russians on Friday by a portion of Os-
nan pasha's army at Dubnit, on the road
rom Plevna to Sofia, the Russians having at
empted, by taking possession of that road, to
ut off Osman from his source of supplies. Since
hen Safvet pasha has advanced from Sofia
With 10000 new Turkish recruits as a rein
orcement to Osman pasha at Plevna.
The fighting on Tuesday and Wednesday OF
asst week is conceded to have been more de-
tructiye Of life than all the other fighting Of
he war put together. The Russians admit a
Dss of $1,000 men, while they think the Turk
,h loss must have been still greater. Indeed
With these casualties and with sickness and
,ther causes, the Russian loss since they cross
d the Danube is said to foot up $4,000 men.
While dispatches both from st. Petersburg
nd Constantinople utterly scout the idea that
ither Russia or Turkey will listen to overtures
f peace until there is decisive victory on
ne side or the other, an ominous meeting takes
lace quietly between Bismarck and Andrassy,
he German and Austrian premiers, at SAILS
urg, and in spite of protestations to the con-
rary. the universal belief is that the object of
he meeting is to hit upon course of media
ion to be undertaken, in conjunction with
England, to stop the present dreadful expendi-
ure of blood and treasure, and to come to 4
NAL understanding in regard to the eastern
question generally.
England.
1t is stated that ID. ID. Spencer, the Chicago
avings bank thief, did not land at Liverpool
rom the steamer Circassian.
The market reports continue discouraging
$ to the English and Scotch grain crops, and
While the arrivals of wheat from abroad are
efficient to prevent rise in prices, Ameri-
an wheat sells freely at 90 and 63 shillings per