The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-08-16
THE CONFLICT IN THE OLD WORLD

| and are being interncd on islands in the Ad-
rlatlc. The Russians are concentrating in
great force on the Lom river. An attack on
Rasgrad is thought imminent. It has been
officially reported that the. Russians are no
longer on this side of the Balkans. According
to official news from Constantinople, Mehmet
Ali intends to convert Rasgrad into fortified
camp. The forces concentrated in the
neighborhood consist of forty eight battalions
OF infantry, fifteen: battalions and 50 squad
rons of cavalry, altogether 10000 men. It is
rumored that Austria, with the consent of
Servia and Russia, Will occupy the westerns
part Of Servia. The Dobrudsclla is believed
to be completely clear of Russians.
Various specials state that on August
9th, five thousand Turkish infantry attacked
the Russians between Lascar village near
Plevna, and the river. The Russians, who
occupied fortified lne and who now out
numbered the Turks, rcpulsed them without
difficulty, but made no attempt to follow, Us
the Grand Duke Nicholas does not wish to
waste the energy of the troops in partial
engagement. The Porte has informed the
English embassy that after two days. hard
fighting at Lovatz the Russians had suffered
severe defeat The Russian troops around
Plevna have been reinforced, and now mum.
Der 10000. The Roumanian army, number
ing $4,000, is now passing continually to Nj
kopolis, and will form the extreme right of
this force.
Great numbers of troops continue to
arrive from Russia, as also wounded from the
Danube. The Russians arc in force at Kahn
Boghas, where a battle is imminent unless
they abandon the Balkans. Two army corps
from Odessa and the Crimea are already on
the march to the Danube. Gen. Krudener has
received 15,O00fresh troops and some artillery.
The Seryian government has taken all necess-
ary steps to place forty thousand men on a
war footing before the 10th inst. The force
will be entirely directed to the southeastern
frontier. Foreign officers are again allowed
to enter the Servian service. It is said the
czar is on tour of inspection in the czaro.
witch's army.
A correspondent at Bnla says his es-
innate of the serious effect of the Russian de-
feat at Plcvna formed on the battle field is
fully borne out by the Russian appreciation of
it. The Russians stand waiting for the neces-
sary reinfOrcements and are thankful that they
are not assailed in their defensive positions
The Russians have virtually abandoned the
expectation of pressing the war successfully
across the Balkans. It will suffice them, if
during the three months still available for
fighting, they can sweep Bulgaria north of
the Balkans clear of Turkish armies. The or
ders are to withdraw from all trans Balkan po-
sitions. This is from no direct pressure of
Turks beyond the Balkans but because of the
risk attending unsupported advances. On
this side Of the Balkans, the paralysis caused
by the Plcvna rcverses still endures. One
hundred thousand men are wanted and are
forthcoming but will have to be waited for
The first brigade of reinforcements is expected
to cross the Danube in a day or two. It is
hoped after that a brigade will cross daily
The offensive will doubtless be recommended
before all the rcinforcements are at hand, but
large proportion of them are Indispensable
Omar Pasha must be struck decisively. At
present he can only be watched.
Grand Duke Nicholas displays remark
able energy in moving rapidly from place to
place, inspiring.confid in the troops every
where. Although Gen. Krudner is nominally
commander-in- chief of the army before Plevna,
the Grand Duke himself will take supreme
direction in the forthcoming attack. In
Russian Poland all males from 18 to IS wears
Of age are being registered, preparatory to
calling out the remaining classes of the gen.
eral levy. Russia experiences serious Difficult
ty in filing the ranks of the Landwelr, in con-
sequence Of the reluctance with which men
come forward. With a view to obviate this,
the government has issued notice that men
will not be required to 60 to the 'front.' but
merely to take the place of home reserves and
garrison troops. The manner in which the
Landwehr is constituted legally precludes
their employment out of Russia. Under the
present call the city of Moscow is formieg a
volunteer legion, which it proposes to support
until the end of the war. Marines continue to
be sent southwark from Cronstadt to join the
fighting army.
Sulieman Pasha, taking the offensive,
has marched through Ferditch, Balkan pass,
and sent strong reconnoitering force as far
as the Karatem, on the opposite bank of which
the Russians were found in considerable force.
Grand Duke Nicholas admits }l.at his troops