THE SURRENDER OF PLEVNA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1891, 1 May 1890, Page 32

THE SURRENDER OF PLEVNA.

The interview with Osman Pasha took place about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and an hour later all the Turkish soldiers had laid down their arms. They had done this in the most literal seDse of the term, each man depositing his rifle in the mud where he was standing. "The ground was littered with arms/ says the Daily News corresponddent, " and we rode over them, trampling them under our horses' feet, 1 and spoiling hundreds." The Grand Duke Nicholas and his staff arrived shortly after the conclusion of the capitulation ; but by that time Osman Pasha had driven off to Plevna in a carriage sent him" by the Emperor. The Eussian Prince was received with cheers, and spoke a few soldierly words to the troops, who greeted them with acclamation. He then rode towards the captured fortress, and, while pursuing his way thither, was encountered by Osman Pasha, who, hearing that the Grand Duke was following, turned back in his carriage to meet him. The fallen chief was escorted by 50 Cossacks, and close behind were a number of Turkish officers mounted on ponies— nearly all of them very young men. " The Grand Duke rode up to the carriage," says Mr MacGahan, " and for some seconds the two chiefs gazed into each other's faces without the utterance of a word. Then the Grand Duke stretched out his hand, and shook the hand of Osman Pasha heartily, and said : • I compliment you on your defence of Plevna. It is one of the most splendid military feats in history.' Osman Pasha smiled sadly, rose painfully to his feet in spite of his woun3, said something which I could not hear, and then reseated himself. The Russian officers all cried ' Bravo ! Bravo I ' repeatedly, and all saluted. Prince Charles, who had arrived, rode up and repeated unwittingly almost every word of the Grand Duke, and likewise shook hands. Osman Pasha again rose and bowed — this time in grim silence. He wore a loose blue cloak, with no apparent mark on it to designate his rank, and a red fez. He is a large, strongly-built man, the lower part of whose face is covered with a short, black beard, without a streak of grey. He has a large Roman nose and black eyes. The face is a strong face, with energy and determination stamped on every feature, yet a tired, wan face also, with deep lines on it that hardly were graven so deep, I fancy, five months ago, and with a sad, enduring, thoughtful look out of the black eyes. •It is a grand face,' exclaimed Colonel Gaillard, the French military attache". ' I was almost afraid of seeing him lest my expectations should be disappointed ; but he more than fulfils my ideal.' 'It is the face of a great military cheif tain,' said young Skobeleff. ' I am glad to have seen him. 'Osman Ghazi he is, and Osman the Victorious he will remain, in spite of his surrender.'" Skobeleff has much that is chivalrous in his nature, and his recognition of the Turkish commander'smerits was generous and ample. — From Cassell's History of the Russo- Turkish War for February.