The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1877-08-30
THE EUROPEAN WAR.
Reported Expulsion of the Russians
From Shipka Pass.
Conflicting Accounts of the Result
of the Flight.
Victorious Encounters of Osman
Pasha With the Invaders.

THE FIGHTING AT sCHiPkA PASS.
LONDON OFFICE OF THE Missouri Re-
PUBLICAN, No. 8 PALGRAvE PLACE,
STRAND, August %, 4 A. M.-OperatiOns
in the Balkans just now monopolize public
attention, although news from there is ex-
tremely scanty, owing TO the fact that all
the special correspondents have returned to
Bucharest, and we are thus dependent up.
on official kilograms which are always
meagre and unsatisfactory. Thus, this
morning it is reported that no less than
forty battalions of Turkish troops under
Suleiman Pasha attacked the Russian posi-.
ton at Shipka Pass on Tuesday, while a,
the same time a body of Turks from Os-
man Pasha's army advanced from Lotcha
THESE MOVEMENTS,
if they had been conducted with any degree
of energy and cooperation must have seri.
ously threatened the troops left by Gen
Gourko for the defense of Shipka pass. II
is probable, however, that they were made
without previous understanding, and only
happened to occur the same day by mere
chance. 1t is to be expected that there was
no concert of action. This is shown by the
comparative ease with which they were re-
PEELED by the Russians Suleiman Pasha,
who seems certainly alive to the necessity
of closing ,mmunication with Mehemet
Ali, will make strenuous eXertions TO push
the bulk OF his troops through the Balkans
by the
PASS OF THE IRON GATE,
which lies about thirty miles eastward from
Shipka Through this defle runs a road
which leads from Adrianople by Elena and
Eski Djuma to Shumla, and affords COM
paratively easy route OF passage for the
army. The Iron Gate is not as far as known
held or even watched by Russian detach-
ments, and Baker Pasha is with brigade
of cavalry at Eski Djuma ready to cover
the head of Suleiman's columns As they
emerge from the mountains.
Latest information from Bucharest tells
us that the Turks have brought heavy guns
from the parapets of Widdin and mounted
them on the works of Plevna. This would
seem TO indicate an intention on the part of
Osman Pasha to hold firmly the position in
which he already has repulsed two Russian
assaults and again there abide anattack with
out making any endeavors to effect a juno
ton with the troops of Suleiman Pasha or
the army of Mehemet Ali. Ii such is his in
tention it does not betoken the highest Or
der Of strategy. At Plevna there cannot be
more than at the outside
FIFTY THOUSAND OTTOMAN CoMBATANTs.
These however, even fOrmidably en-
trenched, cannot hope definitely to hold
their ground against Russian troops; hold
off for an attack on this point when the lat
ter have been reinforced and strengthened
by reserves, which should begin to arrive
towards the end of this month. Nor is this
the only danger to the Turks at Plevna.
Although the Russians at present
contemplate no attacks, the
troops of Osman Pasha are reported
suffering from want Of provision. Undoubt-
edly final attempt will be made on the
part OF the enemy to surround Osman
Pasha. Ii is probable that any
FUTURE FRONT ATTACK
will be subsidiary to flank attack and that
some of the achievements coming up to
strengthen the Russian army in Bulgaria
will cross the Danube somewhere in the
direction Of Ravhcva, and moving on the
lska, threaten the rear communications.
Senator Morton Steadily Improving.
RICHMOND, Indiana, August 24.-By re-
quest Of the representative of the Associated
Press, DIR. Bliss, Senator Morton's Washing
ton physician, made the following written
statement at 10 o'clock tonight: The
Senator has been steadily improving since
yesterday, making rapid and satisfactory
recovery from the attack of indigestion
which occurred on Wednesday" He is
cheerful and hopeful, occupying his easy
chair several hours to-day, reading and dis
cussing the more prominent topics of public
interest. His physicians feel warranted in
pronouncing him out of danger, and should
no unexpected complication occur, that
sra1y raonvar,, all L. .,.,l