The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-06
THE LION OF PLEvNA.
osmati Pasiia, the Turk who Ter
rOrixed the Russians.
From the Plttsburg Dlspatoh.


From the Pittsburg Dispatch
Osman Pasha, the lion of Pevna, whose
death occurred recently, was born at To-
kat, in Asia Minor, in 1887, and was, con-
sequently. 50 years of age, says the Lon
don Daily Mail. He entered the Turkish
cavalry when a mere boy, and as sub
lieutenant fought in the Turkish contin-
gent in the Crimea, under Omar Pasha.
Here he distinguished himself so much
that he was promoted to lieutenant for his
gallantry. He made the campaign against
the Druses in 1860 became captain, fought
in the Cretan war of 1861 and in the Yemen
campaigns of 1871 and 1872, having risen
by this time to the rank of colonel.
In 1876, lieutenant general he was in
command of the Turkish army then oper-
ating in Servia and won two great bat
lies at Veliki-Igwor and Saitshar. For
this success he was at once created field
marshal. When the Russian-Turxish war
began in the spring of 1877 he was appoint
ed TO the command of 50 eco Turkish troops
in Widdin. He was the ablest the most
admired and most trusted officer in the
| Turkish army, and quickly proved his
competence upon the field of battle.
He started on July 10 upon a seven days
| forced march TO Plevna where he had de-
/ cided to fight. The heat was intense, the
| dust choking. and at times the troops had
! to march all through the night to reach
! their destination in time. They were short
of food and forage, and the country was
| desolate, but the object was accomplish
ed. Plevan was seized just in time, and
| the great Turkish generainset to work tn
make his dispositions for Defense Initne-
| diately upon his arrival he was attacked
| by the Russians under Schilder-Schuidner
| on July 90
The Russians in enormous masses threw
! themselves upon the Turks, who had hur-
| riedly occupied the hills to the northeast
of the town. They were received with a
murderous fire from the Martini Peabody
| rifles of the Turks, and after about four
! hours fierce fighting were completely re,
pulsed, leaving no less than 5000 killed
and wounded upon the ground, and re-
| treating in great confusion.
| Both armies were heavily reinforced
and a system of earthworks was thrown
up round Plevna TO defend the town on
July 80 and 81 in the famous two days
| battle, the Russians under Krudener and
| Schankowski again attacked. The fight
/ ing covered an immense area, and was
/ marked by the most desperate determin-
| alton on either side, but in the end the
4 Russians were repulsed with losses not
! far short of 10000. The terror caused by
| Osman's success in the Russian army NAV
! be seen from this message of the Grand
| Duke Nicolas, the Russian COMMANDMENT
chlel' addressed 10 the Prince of Rou-
| mania:
Come TO our help cross the Danube
where you like, how you like, under what
| conditions you like, but come quickly 10
| our aid. The Turks are annihilating us
The Christian cause is lost"
| The Russians were once more enor-
mously reinforced, and slowly closed In
round the town, though they could not as
| Yet invest it, On Sept T. under the
| Cars own eyes, the Turkish works were
| furtously bombarded; the bombardment
proceeded all the subsequent DAYS until
the 18th when fresh efforts to storm the
positions began. After two DAYS hard
| fighting these were repused with awful
l. 81 by the quick and accurate fire of the
| Turkish infantry.
After this terrible defeat the Russian
army sat down and invested the town II
held out till Dec. 10, 1877 when the whole
garrison made a desperate attempt to cut
its way out but was overwhelmed by
| numbers and captured. Thus ended the
ever-memorable defense Of Plevna. Among
the wounded was Osman himself; he was
hit by a shell splinter In his leg
In appearance he was handsome and
prep assessing, looking a bora leader of
men. Like Napoleon, he was always dis
| tinguished by the plainness of his mt
form. He had queer habit of always.
even in battle, carrying a pencil behind
| his ear, butt-end foremost He was tact
| turn, grave abrupt and disdaInful of
| forms and etiquette. He hated all foreign
ers, especially Germans, Russians and
English. AS for war correspondents he
enter aimed the utmost detestation of
/ them, whence the deeds OF his army were
never ehronicled as they should have been.
He had a strange hod OF dealing with
cowards-he would send for them and
publicly box their ears When really an
cry his rage was terrible.
After the sortie and the surrender he
was seen to be weeping tears Of rage and
shame. He was, it may be. a little touch
ed by the Car Alexander III, who came
up to him and said:
II congratulate you on your superb de-
Tense; 1t is one Of the finest feats of milf
tary history"
And that is the judgment OF posterity.
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