The war news received during the week is chequered. The
Russians have been twice beaten on the Lom, and have had a victory in their turn. But they have not followed up their success, while the Turks, though very falteringly and tardily, have done something towards following up theirs. On Thursday week the Turks from Eski-1)Juma advanced against the Russian position on the upper Loin, and drove them over the Loin. And it was then supposed that a general advance of the Turkish armies was to take place. Nothing serious, however, happened till Monday, September 3, when the Russians, in their turn, on the upper Osma, attacked and took Lovatz (or Lovtcha) by assault, but from accounts sent by the Times' correspondent as late as Tuesday night, it would not appear that the Turks had been driven effectually from all the surrounding heights, since "a heavy force of Turks was on the hill to the south-west of Lovatz, and artillery and infantry fire were going on." It is clear that very heavy fighting has taken place between Lovatz and Plevna, of which neither the Turks nor the Russians had furnished their respective publics with any connected accounts. Last Thurs- day, again, the Turks from Rustehuk and Rasgrad advanced against the Russian posts on the lower Lom, and were said to have gained a victory, which would endanger the Russian position at Biela and on the line of the Jantra generally. Altogether, it is clear that the generalship of the Russians is very defective, and that unless General Skobeloff—who captured Lovatz—or some other man of ability, comes to the front, the contest with the Turks will be a very prolonged and serious one.
