The New York herald., 1875-08-27
THE THEATRE OF THE STRUGGLE.

The city OF Trebgue is located a southern anglo
of the Herzegovina, and is within few miles
Of the Montenegrn and Austrian frontiers TAX
ing up a map of Southeastern Europe IL will be-
observed that 1t is separated from the Adriatic by
thin strip Of Damatan territory, and is, therefore,
within easy reach of sympathzers with the nsurgent
Early in the present month the Herzcgovnians
laid siege to the place, and lighting Immediately
menced. The garrison consisted Of infantry reg
iment one battalion of chasseurs and half q
mountain battery. There also guns in po-
sition in the crenelated walls The Turks have made
repeated irutess efforts drive of the investing force
who, though having artillery determined to
make bold effort TO take the town at all hazards
Should the attack be made, desperate conflict must
ensuc for the Turks masters street fighting AMI
In defending houses They will barricade and contend
to the last and will probably neither ask nor grant
quarter. On tho other hand, II the insurgents ara
obliged raise the siege and retire before superior
Mosem army they in hour or two dnd refuge in
either Austrian or Montenegrn territory. Whichever
side holds Trebgne possesses most important sraegcaf
point, and the struggle for it must be furious Should
the Turks lose, they lose control OF large por-
tion of the revoted province. On the other hand il
the insurgents fail and pursued ground
the consequences will be serious indeed
THE HRADoUARTBRs ISsURRScroN
is the tableand of Nevesnye the largest the Herze
govina-more than twenty five miles long and three to
Eve broad-and lies 500 feet above the is well
watered and all sides of the plateau rise steep
tains which present magnificent aspect The country
is fertile and proportonately densey inhabited. The
population consists Of 500 families exclusively Chris
tians and agas Turkish tax gaherersl The latter
cupy the partly ruined citadel OF the little town Of
Nevesinye its Isolated towers. Immediately adjoin-
ing TO the east is another plateau Biea Doina $500
4kA
Musica River which falls into an abyss
at the foot OF the mountain few miles distant To tha
south are two other tableands one OF which is Dara
where a fierce encounter took place about q month
since, when the Turks badly beaten by the in
surgents Generally the heat in the valleys Is sunocat
ing but on the pateaus moderate The two southern
plateaus but sparingly watered and some OF thG
streams dry up completely in summer However ths
district contains much that a small army can
march from there to the town Of Bilek another inn
portant strategic point in the Herzegovina and which
forms the basis of all Turkish military operatona
against Montenegro Bilek, 1t is understood, remains
in the hands of the insurgents who cannot be easily
dislodged from the position.
THE INSURGENTS ADVANTAGES
Tho insurgents from the nature Of their country,
enjoy decided advantages the troops Of their Mos
lem masters War; It is said good authority, is carr
red on under far greater difficulties in the Herzegovina
than in any territory in Europe. The rivers by their
powerful ABRASION have for themselves deep beds
in the rocks having perpendicular banks OF mmense{
height sometimes more than 900 feet while manyi
rivers disappear suddenly in the abysses the foot OF
mountains The brooks and streams dry up so enreyi
during the that not drop Of water Is 10
be seen The consequence is that large bodies on
troops can be assembled only at certain points and
those often sraegcally unavorabe; that the direction
and extent Of their marches must depend entirely,
upon those places where and beast can nnd
water. Tho Turkish troops, when operating in
the field, must carry the latter in leather bags,
and at every spring bloody conflict takes
place. To this s added the want Of roads, The brdl9
paths are most tolsome; down hill the rider must all
ways dsmount and lead his horse for the desccnts ara
almost perpendicular. The paths rise in countcss
short turns. In tho mountains often found round
slopes, three 10 six inches Deep which formed BY
each horse planting his foot in the deep dent OF hiss
predecessors hoof In order 10 find nrm footing In thai
smooth stone In order to reach the scene OF nsurrec-
ton the Turkish troops have been obliged to pass nu-
merous denes, and TO climb many mountain chains BY
paths In which, IL is stated at the most, two
could march abreast and where some dozen snarp
shooters, concealed behind the rocks could cu down
whole regiments. The Turkish territory wnere ina
fighting has been going on forms narrow strlp De-
tween Serva and Montenegro that II tho nsrfgenta
had taken advantage OF their position they might havo
cut on the sultan troops in the denes or while climb
ing the mountans Whole divisions or the Turkish
army would in such an event have h4an d~~yroyed