The Eastern Imbroglio.

Southland Times, Issue 13737, 26 April 1897, Page 2

The Eastern Imbroglio.

VARYING FORTUNES. EDHEM PASHA SUPERSEDED. THE LION OF PLEVNA TO THE FRONT. HEAVY REINFORCEMENTS FOR THE TURKS. ■ United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. London, April 23. Severe fighting continues along the Greek .line of retreat from Maluna. Tho Turks have captured Nezeros and Raphaui, north of Larissa. The Greeks have retreated upon Maklycholi, half way to Larissa. The bombardment of -Katerina by the Greek'squadton caused such large losses of Turkish stores and ammunition that Edhem Pasha has detached 10,000 men to defend the Turkish rear, fearing an attack in that direction. The Turkish infantry find a difficulty in attacking the Greek fortified position at Kratiri, owing to the fierce artillery fire that is maintained continuously. The second Turkish squadron, which recently sailed with sealed orders, has joined the first squadron in Nagara Bay. April 24. The Greek eastern squadron is bombarding Karaburnn, a town ou the Gulf of Salonica. The western squadron is bombarding Agiri, on the coast of Epit us, opposite the island of Corfu. The reported sueeessos of the Greeks at Damasi and Reveni,-to the northward of Larissa, are not confirmed. Later reports show that the fighting was apparently of an undecisive character. The Greeks, under the Duke of Sparta, repulsod 3000 Turkish cavalry at Mati, disabling 500. The Turkish forces on the frontier are to be reinforced by 50,000 redifs or secondreserve, which is composed of men who have served four years in the regular army and two years in the first reserve. Izzet Bey, degraded for resisting the war, was the Sultan’s chamberlain and second secretary. The Sultan, irritated at the obstinate defence of Timovas by the Greeks, has decided to replace Edhem Pasha in the command by Ghazi Osman Pasha. He has appointed Shaad Eddin, the Turkish commander in Crete, to command the troops acting against Janina in Albania. [Osman Pasha was born atTokat, in Asia Minor, in 1832. He began his education in the preparatory school in Constantinople, under the supervision of his brother, Hussein Effendi, who was professor of Arabio at the institution. Osman passed in due course into the military school, and quitting the latter in 1853 with very high certificates, at once entered the army as a lieutenant; being appointed to the general staff in Shumla shortly after the outbreak of the Crimean war. His gallantry inaction, and general soldier-like qualities, led to his rapid advancement, and at the ‘ termination of the campaign ho was appointed a captain in the Imperial Guard at Constantinople. Before long he was promoted to the rank of major, and, as such, took part in the lighting in Crete, from 1866 to 1869. Returning to Constantinople after the suppression oi the insurrection in the island, he was promoted to tho rank of colonel; and on attaining the rank of he was appointed to the I command of a division in the Sth Army Corps. In the Turko-Servian war Osman Pasha commanded the division of the Turkish army assembled at Widdin, and for his conduct in the campaign he was promoted, by an Imnerial irade, to the rank of Muschir, or Field-Marsha>. When the war between Russia and i Turkey broke out he still remained at Widdin, but | h's command was increased to sixty-eight battalions, ■ sixteen equ-v.lrons, and 174 guns ; and it was with the i greater part cf this force that he appeared at Plevna in July, 1377, and turned the tide of war in favour of the Turks. He defended that place with such gallantry, t hat in October he received from the Sultan the title oi “Ghazi,’’ or “Victorious,” and the decoration of the Osmanie in brilliants. At last Plevna surrendered (December 10, 1877), after Osman had made a desperate attempt to break-through the Russian lines. Osman Ghazi Victorious surrendered unconditionally the gallant army with which he had held tiiis famous stronghold for so long, with which he upset the whole Russian plan of campaign, and with which he defeated, in three pitched battles, Russia's liuest armies. For some time Osman was a prisoner of war, bur, shortly after the conclusion of peace in March. Is7B, he returned to Constantinople, and was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Guard. On Juno-10 he . was appointed Jtarshal of the Palace, at, the same time retaining his command of the army for the defence of Constantinople. He was next appointed Governor-General of tlie island of Crete and Minister of War in the administration formed, in .December, 1878, and he elaborated a plan for the radical reorganisation of the army.]