The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-12-14
"REMINISCENCES OF TURKEY.
IN TWO PARTS
Part |. The Turk as a Soldier.

looking house, and left standing in its
hall-under guard, of course. After [
had waited there fully an hour, was
taken into a room which had no
furniture but bed, table and several
chairs. Before the table sat an officer
in undress uniform without any in
sigma of his rank, who was reading my
papers. The officer was of medium
height, wore dark full beard, was
slightly bald, and did not appear to be
possessed of great intelligence; much
less Of any extraordinary courage. AS
1 stood before him in my shirt sleeves
he smiled, and then shouted something
in Turkish, whereupon my coat was
brought into the room and handed
back to me. The officer kept on look
ing me over, till something on my
person attracted his notice. Then he
got off his chair and, touching ribbon
which I wore in my buttonhole. he
asked in German: "Das Eiserne KrewzP ?
Ich grstuliere" He then changed his
language into French and commenced
to ask questions about the Russian
arrangements; but gave up the attempt
when told him did not care to answer
While we were still talking, an aid
de-camp came in and announced some
one, whereupon a pasha in full uniform
was ushered in, saluted my interro-
gator, and awaited bis address. Then,
of course, knew that the Insignificant
looking man behind the table, whom I
had taken to be captain at the most,
and whom had treated as such, was
no less person than the redoubtable
Osman Pasha, the "Lion of Plevna," J"
and the greatest position defender of
modern times. Unnecessary to say, 1
quickly assumed salutlng position
which retained throughout the inter-
view, notwithstanding that Osman had
offered me chair. After his business
with the other pasha was ended, Osman
told me that, as had been taken into
his lines, he could not permit me to
leave town, and he added courteously,
that I had to consider myself his guest
; as long as he remained in his present
position which, he thought, could not
last very many days longer. He then
/ gave me in charge of quartermastel
who was German by birth, with in.
, structions that was permitted to walk
anywhere in town and within the two
!. inner lines of defense. Thanking the
l pasha for his courtesy, bowed myself
' out of the room. During the next ter
days met the pasha frequently in the
| street and on the ramparts. He wa.
Q always on foot and never paid any
f attention to my Tor anybody else's
J, salutes. He spoke harshly to th'
Q officers, but occasionally very cheer
o fully to the common soldiers.
o On the morning of Dec. 10th, 1877
Il when he had rations for only thre
9 more days, Osman Pasha with his en-
y tire army, numbering then about 43, ,OO
# men, broke out of Plevna an,
g threw himself with irresistible fore
t, against the left Russian wing, througl
Z which he broke at the first onslaught
y However, he was quickly resurrounde
n by vastly superior forces of the enemy
It as the lack of horses had made it i'm
n possible for him to bring his army t
!, any point from which further SUI
q cessful resistance could be made. Th
10 Russian commander then sent an al
e, to Osman under flag of truce, wh
le informed the pasha on his honor ths
N the Shipka and the other InOuntai
D. passes leading to the south wei
ID already in possession of General Cork
~ That left Osman no choice betwee
is surrender or annihilation of his arm
le and he chose the former eventualit
If as it would have been crime again
r. his ragged and half-starved soldiers. {
~ well as against his sovereign, to dool
the brave troops to certain destruction
Id Two years afterwards l was with Il
to Austrian troops of occupation
ID Bosnia and the Herzegovina. In th
n, case the Austrians had not to conteI
n with the Turkish army; but only wit