At the end of July, Abdul Kerim, the Turkish commander-in chief was superseded by Mohammed Ali, who decided to attack the Russian forces under the Tsarevitch (XI., XII. and XIII. corps) on the river Lom. Mohammed Ali had two army corps for his offensive, not to mention five divisions at Shumla and two at Ruschuk, but he carried out his movement with little skill, send ing his left wing against the Russians standing on the Yantra, which brought about two engagements at Ayazla on Aug. 22 and 23. The Russians retreated slightly, and a week later the XIII. corps was attacked at Karahassankioi, but no serious result was gained by this move. On Sept. 5, another engagement occurred.
but though the Russians retired across the Lom the Turks were unable to march further west. The intended plan to unite the forces of Mohammed Ali with those of Suleiman at Trnova failed, his advance producing no effect on the Russian forces assembled around Plevna, which were by that time considerably reinforced (two Russian and three Rumanian infantry divisions, together with a Russian rifle brigade). On the Rumanians joining the Rus sians, it was agreed that Prince Charles of Rumania should be in nominal command of the forces grouped around Plevna, which were now known as the Western army. But the authority vested in Prince Charles was small, as the Commander-in-Chief, the Grand Duke Nicholas, was living in the vicinity, not to mention the Tsar himself and General Milutin, the War Minister. By this time the Russians had mobilized a huge army.
Meantime Suleiman Pasha was ordered to join Osman, but he was instructed firstly to capture the Shipka Pass which he at tempted to do Aug. 21. Severe fighting took place for several days, but Radetsky, being reinforced, maintained his position, beating off every hostile attack. Suleiman in five days having lost io,000 men, a quarter of his effective strength, decided to fall back on Kazanlik, leaving detachments by the pass. Hearing that Suleiman had been forced to give up momentarily the attempt to capture the Shipka Pass, the Russians began to fear that he might endeavour, by using the Rosalita and Trojan Passes, not only to turn the Shipka Pass, but by moving via Lovcha to get into com munication with Osman Pasha, who might at any moment make for Tirnova. For this purpose Prince Imeretinsky was ordered to drive a Turkish detachment from Lovcha, which he forced to re tire into Plevna. Leaving a brigade to guard the town, Imeretinsky fell back on Bogot. The Allies now decided to assault Plevna again, for which purpose they assembled about I oo,000 men.
Three Rumanian divisions were to advance from Grivitza, four Russian from Radishevo, and a division, having a brigade in re serve under Skobeleff, facing the Green Hills. A long artillery
preparation took place Sept. 7—I but the allies failed to make any proper reconnaissance, for which they had to pay a severe penalty, thousands of lives being sacrificed in vain. They ad vanced on the IIth, but failed to break the Turkish circle of defence. The Rumanians captured a redoubt at Grivitza, but were held up at Radishevo; Skobeleff on his part established himself on the Green Hills, but was thrown back the next day by Osman Pasha, who used his reserves for the counter attack. A serious crisis now arose among the Allies and a council of war was held. Many of the members, including Milutin, the War minister, urged that the army should recross the Danube and renew the advance the following spring with increased forces. This opinion was over-ruled, the Tsar showing great determination, and it was decided to invest Plevna, entrusting all operations to General Todleben, the heroic defender of Sevastopol during the Crimean, War. With his arrival, the Russians gained confidence and re newed energy, one and all feeling they were at last being led by a masterly head, that chaos was replaced by order. The Guard Corps, on arriving from Russia, was sent to cut the Turkish com munications and the enemy was driven out of Gorni Dubniak and Telish by General Gourko, Plevna being thus cut off from the outer world In the middle of Nov. the Russians stood as follows: 12 divisions around Plevna, 6 on the Lom ; 3 by the Shipka Pass; 21 on the Plevna-Orhanie road.
Suleiman, now commanding the main Turkish army, took the offensive, crossed the Lom and attacked the Russians at Mechka and Tristenik Nov. 19 and 26, but both times sustained a repulse. Vessil Pasha, who now in place of Suleiman stood facing the Shipka Pass, had been considerably weakened through sending reinforcements to aid Mohammed Ali near Sofia, and he could only muster 20,000 men. Meanwhile Gourko, hearing of Moham med's preparations to relieve Plevna, urged that the Russians should advance boldly on Sofia, thereby depriving the enemy of the initiative. This plan being agreed to, Gourko, at the head of 30,00o men, drove the Turks out of Entropol, forcing Mohammed to retreat to Araba Konak Nov. 23. Gourko disposed of too small a force to be able to pursue the enemy, and so took up a position near Orhanie. Meantime in Plevna Osman's provisions were get ting shorter every day, and ultimately he attempted a sortie, hoping to cut his way through Berkovitza to Sofia. After several hours severe fighting, however, Osman was convinced of the im possibility of breaking through, and surrendered with his whole army, about 40,000 men, on Dec. io.