The news from the European seat of war is confined
to a state- ment that General Gourko, with great labour and difficulty, arising mainly from the state of the weather, is forcing his way through the Etropol Balkan to Sofia. On the 31st of December he carried, after a sharp contest, in which he lost some 700 men, the fortified position of Tashkesen, in the valley of Sofia. He is now within twelve miles of that place, and although the extent of force with him is not known, it is believed that the Turks intend to abandon Sofia, where they have scarcely 25,000 disorganised men. By the latest authentic accounts, General Gourko had the greater part of the Imperial Guard under his command and other troops, in all about 35,000 infantry and 12,000 cavalry, but in such weather and at such a distance from his supplies he can hardly be advancing with this force. Once at Sofia, the road to Philippopolis is open to him, and can only be barred by an army. From Erzeroum we hear only that Mukhtar Pasha has been sent for to Constantinople, Ismail, the Kurd leader, receiving the command; and that the Russians are marching on Baiburt, to cut off the communications between Erzeroum and Trebizonde. The investing force is much harassed by the snow, which lies many feet deep on the Soghanli Pass.
