NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE drift of the news from the two seats of war is favourable, but there is not a great deal of it. In Europe, the Russians in seizing Dubnik and Teliche appear to have completely invested Plevna, which must now be relieved by an army acting on the offensive against entrenched positions. Failing the victorious 'march of such an army, which is not yet in existence, Osman 'Pasha must either break out of Plevna—that is, fling his army against fortified points chosen by the besiegers—or surrender at discretion from starvation. The extent of his supplies is not yet known. According to deserters, there is plenty of flour, but no fodder, and the troops are on strict rations, but deserters always make the worst of everything. On the other hand, the quantity of food required by sixty thousand men is enor- mous; the stores in Plevna weeks ago were so exhausted that the Ministry at War made desperate efforts to get more in, and there is great anxiety in Constantinople at the .closing of the Sophia road, It is most probable that Osman Pasha will in a week or two be compelled to choose between surrender and a rush, will choose the latter, and will be defeated. It must be remembered that winter in the South of Europe, though it greatly increases the distress of the troops, does not stop operations. Mud doubles or trebles the waste in haulage, but it does not absolutely stop cannon.
