WAR NEWS BY MAIL

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 497, 1 December 1877, Page 2

WAR NEWS BY MAIL

A Russian official despatch announces that on October the 9th a Turkish steamer crossed a line of torpedos laid on the previous niglit. An explosion followed and the steamer sank, a Russian cutter hauling down her flag. Sixty thousand of the Imperial Guard have reached Bulgaria fit for service, replacing a similar number of Russians killed, or placed /ions cle combat. _ English Surgeons in Armenia declare that fsmail Pasha and other Commanders refuse to assent to operations on wounded men, in all cases pleading that it is better the men should die than live to become pensioners on the state. A similar policy is pursued in Bulgaria, and in consequence the mortality in. the Turkish hospitals is fearful. The Moslems conceal the facts.

A Vienna despatch <>f October 24th, states that Russia has ordei'ed tlie mobilization of all Cossacks nut on active service, amounting to 91 regiments. On October 18th, a fight for the possession of the second Gravitza redoubt tooiC place. A Russian report says the Roumanians were repulsed in the first attack be'fore the main redoubt. On the second attack the three formost battalions leaped the trenches, but were unable to carry the works. They .remained one hour in the trenches, and then withdrew with the loss of two officers and 200 men killed, and 20 officers and 700 men wounded.

The Russian reconnaissance of October 21st is thus described by Sulieman Pasha in a despatch to Constantinople : —Twelve batallions, with cavalry and artillery, at-

tacked the works at Ruschuk. A Turkish sortie compelled the Russians to retire on their works at Pyrgos. They lost 450 killed and wounded. Four Russian divisions attacked the Turkish line on the Lom from Foraneitlem Kossemra on the right to Salenk on the left, and were rer pulsed with-a loss of 800 and some prisoners. The Turkish loss was 100 killed and 60 wounded. A Russian official despatch of October 25th, reports a desperate engagement between General Gourka's cavalry command and a detachment of the Imperial Guards with the Turks on the previous day. The battle lasted ten hours, and was a complete victury for the Russians. Strong positions of the Turks between Gurnji Dubrik and Telereba were captured, and Gourka then posted himself on the Sophia road, constructing additional entrenchments. Achniet Pasha and his stall, .3000 infantry, 4 cannons, and a quantity of ammunition and ritles were captured. Chefket Pasha admits that Gourka established himself at Dunbrack, cutting the telegraph lines, but claims that the attack on Teleecha was repulsed. Tcleecha is situated west uf Plevna, near the junction of the roads to Sophia and !Nissa on the Servian frontier. Gourka thus cuts oti' communication with Plevna on the south and west; Prince Charles completely shutting out Osman Pasha on the other side.

A special despatch from Bagot, eight miles south of Plevna, states that the attack on Telecha was simultaneous with the capture of Eubrack, who was repulsed with the loss of 1000 men.

The Imperial Guard were engaged at Telecha for the lirst time. The casualties among officers was unprecedented. Every brigade or regiment had its officers killed or wounded ; 2500 officers of the tirst families of Russia were put hor.t de combat.

Telecha is surrounded by one cavalry and two infantry brigades of the Imperial Guard, and one brigade of Cossacks. It was bombarded for two hours with 72 guns. The number of killed and wounded was small. The Turks surrendered ; one pasha, several officers, seven companies of infantry, and three cannon being captured. The Russians occupied the post. A Russian official despatch, dated Bagot, November 2, says General Kanzell" announces the capture of Dactchidu, north-east of Orehanie, in which were seven large and 30 small fortified positions. The Turks left upwards of 1000 dead upon the field. Our loss is insignificant. We seized a large quantity of provisions, tools for entrenchments, cartridges, and a herd of cattle. \ esterday the Grand Duke Nicholas inspected the positions occupied at Gorny Dutriek, from which the Turks, on the approach of the Russians on the 31st nit., withdrew during the night to Plevna ; thus this important point lias passed into our hands without lighting. The same day we advanced from Dubrik two versts towards Plevna, and are now entrenching in a new position towards Orehanie. Our infantry have occupied Lukauitza, and our cavalry have made a further advance. Chefket Pasha is returning without lighting towards Orehanie. Mehemet Ali is at Salonika, en route to the new command of Herzegovina. Our head-quarters are at Novi Bazar, at tiie southern angle of Bosnia, whence operations may be commenced against Servia and Montenegro. iS'ovi Bazar is two days march from the terminus of the Salonika railroad. The Prince of Montenegro is in the field, and the bombardment of Pakovitza will be commenced immediately.

Ti ic Militia from Constantinople have been sent to reinforce Mehemet Ali.

Under date, Constantinople, November 2, it is officially announced that 12,000 men are to be immediately called out on active service. The majority belong to the Reserve. The draft levies are vW,OOO registered members of reserve ; 8,000 regular troops, all that were left in Constantinople, have been ordered to the front.

The Russians are concentrated in considerable force at Hain Raghas Pass. The passes of the Balkans will soon be all commanded by the Russians. A London telegram, dated November 2, says that Silistria is threatened with investment. It is strongly fortified, fully armed, and commanded by Selim Pasha, a very able general.

An official return of the Government gives the killed, wounded, and missing on the Russian side, from the commencement of hostilities to the 27th October, as 60,942 ; the losses during the week preceding the 25th October are not included. The losses at Dubrick were 1872.

A correspondent at the Russian headquarters at Ivarajae, on October 15, gives details of a battle at Aladjao, fought on the same day. General Tabraff was previously despatched with 27 infantry battalions and 40 guns from Karajae to turn Muklitar Pasha's position behind Aladjao. Tabraff turned Mukhtar's flank on the 14th October. On the morning of the 15th, he telegraphed from Bajadajik for assistance. Mukhtar Pasha is before him with superior forces. The Grand Duke Nicholas ordered an attack on Mukhtar's position in the front, and after a heavy cannonade, the Russian left wing, with the Alajad batteries, made a serious assault on Aliva's Hill and redoubt. At noon, the Caucasian Grenadiers, commanded by General Fiermaii, carried the held and took tlu; redoubts by storm, capturing three Krupp guns. The victorious regiments stormed Alajad, capturing the Turkish camp. The Turks retreated in disorder. The Turkish army was utterly destroyed as a fighting body. Mukhtar Pasha reported that the attack was made on four sides of his position, which admits that he allowed himself to be surrounded. Mukhtar Pasha had 40,000 men engaged, fourteen battalions having been drawn from the garrison at

Kars. The Ottoman field army lost a third of'its army in killed and wounded in the battle of the 15th. A few battalions are still available to cover Erzoroum and join the Kurds, Ismael Pasha's corps, and tho troops from Peru ok. Learning of Mukhtar's defeat, Ismael hastily retreated, avoiding General Labarofi', and outstripping General Tergnkassoff in speed, succeeded in joining Muklitar at Koprikoi on October 27. Mukhtar took up his post at Zenikoi, west of Loghauludghaft. After leaving Kars, ho again retreated on Koprikoi before tho Russian advance, shirking the high ground somewhat. Afterwards tho Russians attacked Kurt Aliing, beforo Kill's, but were repulsed. A correspondent, who was an eye witness, telegraphs as follows from Erzeroum "As the Turks were evacuating Nassau Kaleh on Tuesday nigH. the Russians surprised their rear j'U.inl, taking two battalions prisoners. Tin' Russian loss was insignificant. The Turku are now occupying a formidable position at Devehoynni (the last defensive ]>• within), east of Er/.eroutn. Twenty battalions of Turks are there posted. II las been a running tight since the defeat at Alajadagh. A Russian corps from Ardahan is advancing by way of Oltis to turn Erzeroum, while Mukhtar and Ismael are at Beoboyum in front of the city at Vigitkoi. On November 2, after almost unresisted occupation of Kaprikoi, Ismael Pasha's guard hastily retreated to Hassan Kaleh. The Russian cavalry continued in pursuit for two hours after midnight, ; they attacked the enemy's bivoune, and after a short skirmish cut down 100 men, and compelled the others to take flight. The pin-suit continued for six versts, when it was abandoned because of the extreme fatigue of both men and horses. At livo o'clock in the morning our cavalry occupied Hassan Kaleh. In the meantime other cavalry arrived near Kurudjuk, eighteen versts from Erzroiim. On November 5, Mukhtar Pasha telegraphed to Constantinople from ErzeriHiin :—We have had an engagement at Deve Royoum, after which we returned here.

A special dated Constantinople, November <">, announced that after some resistance 1o the Wussia.li advance, Mukhtar Pasha, finding his position in Devo Boyiiiiiii seriously compromised, abandoned it, and is failing back on Eizurouni anil Trebizonde. The Russians have occupied Erzeroum. A special dated Erzeroum, November (!, contains the following Mukhtar Pasha desires to stand a siei/'\ but ilninhabitants object, fearing a In "iliard inent. Everybody is lea v in:/ burt.

The tight on Novembi r •> n sulh d in a general rout. Many prominent dignitaries hav. ■, says a despatch dated Constantinople, .November <>, been arrested by order of the Grand Vizier.

It is said a conspiracy on the pari of the party of ex-Sultan Murad wan discovered on November 7.

A correspondent says the Turkish retreat upon Kara was tlie wildest rout. He states that the condition of Kara is almost hopeless ; it has few provisions, contains 4000 sick and wounded, and lias absolutely no firewood. A correspondent at Russian headijudrters telearaphs, under date November 4, that (Jeneral lleymann is within oannuii shot of Mukhiar Pasha's position. A despatch dated Constantinople, November 4, states that the Russian march by Olli upon Kizeroum was impeded by a snow storm. The division retired.

The Sultan, according to a Constantinople despatch dated November 4, is likely to change his Ministry. It m thought flint liadyah and Sefkut Pasha will form a Peace Ministry. Roumaniu grumbles at her losses in (lie war. There is no army reserve, nearly all the ollicers are killed, and the army is disorganised. After an engagement «>n the 1 9th, at the second Cravitza redoubt, the Roumanians threatened to mutiny if led again to certain death.