Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-01-24
DEATH OF OSMAN PASHA.
Turkish "Hero of Plevna" Expires in
ConstantinopIe

ConStantInopIe.
In Constantinople, April 5, Ghazi
Osman Nubar Pasha, the hero OF
Plevna, died. Up to the appearance of
Edhem Pasha. with whom rest the
laurels of the Graeco-Turkish war of
1897, Ghazi Osnan Pasha was regard
ed as easily the greatest Turkish gem
eral
He was the great reserve force Of
the sultan. Indeed, the retirement in
which he had passed the greater part
of his life since the Russo-Turkish
war, in 1876, was said to be due in a
great measure to the sultans habitual
suspicious attitude toward those who
had rendered the greatest services to
his throne.
Abdul Hamid, however, from time to
time paid him marks of regard. The
hero Of Plevna," who inflicted on the
Russian invaders the greatest check
they suffered in the campaign, was
made chief of the imperial guard and
marshal of the palace. For a time he
held the position Of governor general
of Crete. and in 1873 was minister
of war, when he introduced many re-
forms into the Turkish army.
Three years ago, when the Greeks
had gained temporary success at the
Melouna pass, in the north of Thessaly,
the sultan, impatient with Edhem
Pasha, ordered Osman Pasha to take
the chief command. The general who
xIyoC CT W. n 60 4.
the rapid development of Edhem
Pasha's plans leading to the fall OF
Pharsalia, decided the sultan to leave
the direction Of the campaign in Ed.
hens hands and Osman returned to
Constantinople, where he afterward
lived in seclusion.
Il compliment you on your defense
of Plevna. 1t is one of the most splen-
did military feats in history" This
was the greeting of the Grand Duke
Nicholas of Russia to Osman Pasha as
he met him after the surrender Prince
Charles of Roumania and General
Skobeloff as warmly acknowledged the
gallantry of the defense The Turkish
general had on the fiat clay fields
created fortress which for a time
seemed impregnable. By the intrench-
ments he caused to be thrown up he
arrested for four E3onths the advance
of the Russians.
In three pitched battles he over
came the finest troops Of the cars
armies. On July 1, 1876, he inflicted
loss of 5000 killed and wounded on
his assailants. The next battle cost
the Russians ITO officers and 7,136
men, and the three days stubborn as
sault of Skobe1off later, when the
Russian grenadiers got within 500
yards of the trenches, but failed to
pass the fatal fire zone, ended in a
Russian loss of from Is, geo to 10000
men.
1t was resolved to starve out the
army of Osman, which originally num-
bered about $4,000 men, and an army
of 10000 Russians completed the in
vestment.
At length, As days after the close
siege had been established, and 144
days after his own arrival at Plevna,
Osman determined on a desperate at
tempt to cut his way through. The
struggle was of the fiercest sort, but
many hours bayonet fighting ended in
the Turks being driven back, and the
defender of Plevna" surrendered with
the hOnors of war.
The title Ghazi (the Victorious) con-
ferred on Osman by the sultan had
not been bestowed on a Turkish SUBJ
ject for nearly 800 years. In his per
sonal appearance, though not much
above middle stature, Osman Pasha
was of athletic build, with a superb
head. He was Turk among Turks,
| taciturn, energetic, with an iron will.
He never wrote dispatches, his reports
| to Constantinople consisting merely
of few words. His uniform con-
sisted usually of a jacket, with broad
| facings of dark cloth, long waistcoat
of the Louis XIV. style and tight fit
ting trousers, with knee boots, the
dress presenting a contrast to that Of
other Turkish generals Generally
he wore loose blue cloak, with no APP
parent mark on it to designate his
rank, and q red fez. In camp he never
wore a sword, but invariably had
| pair of field glasses swung over his
| shoulder.