The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-11-09
Description Of Turkish Battle.

The correspondent of the London Daily
Telegraph at Alexinatz gives the following
account of the battle between the Turks
and Servians on the Morava:
"Then opened such fire as can never
be described. 1t was the meeting of des-
perate men-of Serbs urged forward by
reckless Russian leaders, of Turks long
ing to strike their enemy. The question
was which could be reinforced the longest
and the quickest. Fresh Servian battal-
ions were coming into action every mo-
ment, and extending the line of attack;
fresh Turks were coming down the slope,
and, gaining the shelter trenches which,
as | have before remarked, the Turks,
with admirable forethought, had con-
structcd.
"At first the men could not be per-
suaded to lie down; they wanted to 20
forward, and expected every moment to
see them charge with the bayonet. But
they were gradually prevailed upon to
avail themselves of cover, and hence the
great disparity between their loss and that
of the Serbs. Amongst these latter we
could see that great slaughter was taking
place, for their line, although continually
fed, did not appear to increase; while, in
addition to the rifles of our infantry, our
guns were able to throw whole volleys of
shells in among the blue coated soldiers.
with what yell went those terrible
missiles On their way! They seemed to
break, everyone of them; exactly where
wanted, and to strew the ground with
dead and dying every moment. The
rifles, quickly seconding them, added to
ley. I will not pretend to say whether
the Servians actually crossed the bridge
over the Morava; by some who we're on
the spot it is denied, by others admitted.
thought at the time that they did. More
over, as the fight progressed our lines wav-
cred as the Servians in increasing num-
bers were hurled against our left flank
But this was only for while; the men
were simply borne back, not disheartened,
and fresh troops were hurrying up to sue
cor them, Hafz Pasha himself being
amongst the foremost in that gallant fight
1t was fearful struggle truly, and
seemed to extend all along the line at this
moment; indeed, it is believed that sixty
Servian battalions were at that moment
engaged.
"But all to no purpose the steady cour-
age OF the Turks prevailed against the
newly found bravery of the Serbs, and
was making itself more and more appar-
ent every moment. How admirably the
Snider acted then, as always! The ground
was covered with disabled Serbs, and still
that astonishing roll of musketry main
tanned itself along the Turkish front, the
men firing each five or six shots minute
At length the crisis came. The Servians
made one more great effort, there was a
tremendous crash, fearful roll as of
thunder, and then the enemy began to
give ground. With wild shout the
Turks rise and pour volley after volley
into their retreating ranks. Our guns fire
shell, which burst over their heads, in
front of and behind them, dealing death
and destruction all around every moment.
The Servians turn and fly; their effort has
| been in vain; they must seek the shelter
of their guns, or be killed to man.
"Without further delay they rush to
their haven of comparative safety, leaving
their dead and dying on the ground, and
the Turkish forces alone in their well.
earned glory"