The New York herald., 1876-08-03
THE 7URCO-SERVIAN WAR.
SCENES ON THE FRONTIER.
The Servian Raid" Upon
Ak-Palanka.
FAILURE OF THE EXPEDITION.
Quarrel Between the Servian
Generals.
FAILURE OF THE EXPEDITION
uEADouARrERs, Army OF THE MoRAvA, |

being the headquarters OF the Servian armies, and
also the key OF defence against invasion by the Turkish
forces at Nisch. The busy hum OF warke prcpara-
tons combined with the occasional passage Of train
Of wounded going TO the hospitals in the INTERIOR
reawaken among tho hoary- headed old mountains Of
the Balkan the sounds of similar character which
they have echoed during the last thousand years.
when armed men have poured through the narrow
valley between these ranges of grim scntinels, to
carry destruction the countries destined to feel
their power This being tho only opening tho
southern and southeastern frontier of Servla IL has
been the highway for the march OF the legions Of
Greece and Rome, tho hordcs OF Moslems from Asia,
and the masses OF Ausrians and half wild Magyars,
who have poured down this valley during all the ages
since history began recording the events Of the world
to nothing OF tho ancient hordes who fought bled
and conquered this historic land ages before the pen
Of tho historian pointed to recount IN to be
enaced sentences, the deeds OF their contemporaries
Nisch, the Nissa Of the Romans, splendid
city ana the birthplace of the Emperor Constan-
tino the Great who adorned 1t with magnificent pal
aces and other public works 1t still further en-
bcllished BY the Emperor Trnan who built the famous
bridge over the Danube tho "Iron Gates" Not
one stono Of all these splendid constructions remains
to tell tho story OF tho magnAcence OF tho Roman En-
pre this half wild country. Tho BRIDGES site
was even disputed point until nine years ago, when
an low stage OF wafer the Danube
vealed tho foundations OF the that supported
the massive arches of that splendid structure. The
majority Of persons in America havo not stopped to
recall the fact that these semi barbarous provinces of
European Turkey oncc formed principal part OF tho
gigantic and highly cultivated empires OF Greece and
| Rome Nisch or Nssa was populous and splendid
city when London q wilderness. To-day IL is a
wretched Turkish town. possessing features OF in
terest archtecturaiy speaking, with a rambling old
fortress which Its origin the early days OF the
| Roman Empire. AS the spectator recalls all these
changes Of time he almost imagine grim smile
OF contempt from the gnomss OF these old mountains
as they look dswn upon the throngs of men who to-
| day engaged In the drama which these old
rders Of the frontier have often witnessed
past Who knows but the present struggle may end in
tho formation of strong Slavonian Empire that shall
restore this land to the cultivation and power
it enjoyed 100 years ago'
| STATE
The servians already talking Of re-establishing
the Empire OF Dushan the Great who ruled this land
az slavonan Power 900 years ago. 1t Is mighty
task, yet not impossible, and would be highly
| probable II tho various provinces would work har-
monousy together, sinking all jealouses in tho
common cause OF freedom, and the services OF
able generals foreign lands who really understand
| tho art OF war;
Tie Scrvan policy is evidently to endeavor reduce
Nisch In order to open the way to the rch fields of
Bulgaria But they are as conceited as they are
pucky and have blindly believed themselves capable
Of conquer,ng the Turkish Empire unaided This over
confidence has caused thom to neglect the obvious
cessity OF cutting tho railway between Sofia and Con.
stantnople as to prevent any reinforcomcnts
| ing up to the Turkish forces at Nisch
OPPORTUNITY.
This could easily have been done by force Of cav
| n nucle tn hA tad hv ha UuI-
garians, making sudden raids upon the line at differ
ent points body OF five hundred federal or Coucd-
crato cavalry would have utterly destroyed the ne in
three days after leaving Alexiuatz But tho scrvans
have shown very foolish jealousy Of tho Bulgarians
and have given them no assistance worthy of tho
name in the way Of arms and ammunition, and there
foro they suffering for the want OF the very
aid which the 3ugar'aus peculiarly fitted by loca
ton TO render them, namely, in preventing any sup.
Plies reaching Nsch. These people have idea what
of modern warfare, and the following account of
their Erst attempt to of Nsch will give the read
crs Of the HERALD an dca Of the character of tho
strategy likely TO DO displayed in this war; Tho only
chance the Siavonans have may remark in whis-
per- Is in the still greater ncompetency OF the Turkish
officers.
THE ACTION AT BABiSA GLAvA.
when General Tchcrnaycn crossed tho frontier into
Turkish territory, quito severe, but was not
|
evidently exaggerated and confused it IS useless
tempt any detailed description OF the affair AS near
ascertain the losses OF the servans about
100 killed and $50 wounded Tho Turks rctreated.
leaving thcir camp equipaee and somc horses. OF
tho Scrvans buried tho encmys dead and each
squad detailed for the purpose reported such cxagger
ated accounts Of the numbers they Inferred that
the total thus rendered wholly absurd The
Turks fought behind ntrcnchmcnts. and although out
nanked and routed they probably did not lose more
men than the Servians.
|
Immediately ancr the action at Babina Glava Cen
erai Tchernaye planned upon tho Turkish CON-
municat!ons between Nisch and Pirot tho road to
Sofa General StratamIrovich, tho cx-Austrian oacer
who won rank In the Hungarian OF '4s and 40
was selected to command the expedition with Colonel
! Dcspotovch dor twenty-five years member of tho
Imperial Guards OF St. Peersburg) a his second in
command Tho force consisted of G. 900 Infantry with
one battery OF six rncd twelve FOUNDERS. and another
of SIX smooth bore guns with two squadrons OF
cavalry II ordered to push on TO Ak-Paianka
| fisAkr means, white and 'Palankan vingel or the
"whtc Village from there TO PROT Here they were
to choose alternatives. either to push on
to Sofa possible, or they found tho enemy in too
great force OF to the left the passes the
Balkan and until the Bugsrians gathered In sum
cicnt around standards enable them take
the offensive again. The expedition started the
main body and took It's route down the dene seeking
to get below the position OF AK Paanka and attack
II in tho rear. By some mscalculation the column
reached point where cross-denio cnableI them ic
pass into the valley OF the Morava hour that
tho scrvians appeared before the Turkish position al
about three in the afternoon, instead OF concealinf
their advance under darkness and attacking
the Turks just before daybreak so as to make sud
den rush and take them by surprsc thus noutralzue
poesibe the demorazing effect Of tho Turkish
artillery upon troops. The commander chose tho
old fashioned method Of planting his artillery
ridge opposite tho Turkish position and attempting Il
dcatrov than bv shells which would have probabl,