The New York herald., 1876-10-20
A FUTILE CONFERENCE.
Turkish and Christian Soldiers Bathing
and Smoking Together
RUSSIA PREDOMINANT.
Belgrade Diplomacy Dictated by GOrtscha-
kOff-England Irritated.
A GREAT CONFLICT PREDICTED.

BELGRADE, Oct. 2, 1876.
Il would be difcult within the brief space Of
paper letter glvc anything like succinct narrative
OF the events Of the past three weeks AT every turn
there strange, unnatural contradictions Now
there comes a truce, but desperate apparently, has
each party become that solemn compact is
needed, and ngntng goes on almost as before. Down
thcre in The valley OF tho Morava, however, says a
medical man, Turks and Ssrvans meet each morning
Oh opposite banks OF the perform their ablu
tons with much sang frod though thcro had
never been any hostility. Some went further.
Wadng in tho met and exchanged tobacco from
tie Turkish side for money and goods from Scrva.
Thus in constant receipt Of bitcrs and sweets
alternately. Indeed, strongly General Koma-
rolf impressed with tho subImity Of tho situation tina:
he collected half score of ServIans escort and
started for this place. in the absence OF any contrary
orders from tho government At this time was with
Komarof and the following incident TO party OF off,
will tend to provo hat stated about tho peace
iul ideas Of the soldiers:-After leaving tho village
where KomasoG had his headquarters to a
small pontoon bridge which tho Turks had thrown
across tho rivor. Immediately the Turkish guards
made a movo forward We had been seen. and
met by party of officers including the coloncls
and major Of Bash Bazouks The haste with witch
tho Turks camo to meet US lcd US to believe
that our visit was not altogether sur
prise TO them. On meeting, both Scrvians and
Turks salutcd in military style One Of the Turkish
cooncls commenced TO address us in the Osmanli
tongue which none Of us understood For moment
thero lul each side gazing at tho other in ST.
Ience; but finally OF the junior Turkish officers
made attempt speak French and greatly relieved
tho feelings OF our party. l undertook TO play the
role Of an Interpreter for awhile when was relieved
by young Russian officer, Captain MaximoG. The
Captain spoke French with great ease. and INDUCED
the following dialogue
CONFERENCE BETWEEN sERvIAYs AND TURKS
MAxIxoFr-Have you asked for q suspension OF hos
tilitcs?
MUsrAPHA BEY-We have asked nothing. We
thought, the other hand, that you had requested
cessation OF fighting.
MAxINorF-I think you are deceived. General Tcher-
nayen has not requested an armistice.
MUsrAPHA BEY-For myself, had thought you de-
sired peace, and. in this belief, General Achmcd
Pacha, commanding general, has gwen mo full
powers TO treat with YOU. was therefore, ready to
hear your propositions.
MAxIMoFF-In should fight moro. but
discussion, should not treat with General
Achmcd Pacha but with your Comman der in -ChieI
Abdul Kcrim Pacha
again tomorrow morning At nine. In the meantime
we will advise Abdul Kerim Pacha, who is now at
Nisch.
MAxMoFF-We do not ask an, thing whatever nor do
want to any ono, but as we had been given TO
understand that you had received order not to fire
npon us for tho present wo simply gave an order to
our troops not to fire upon you, but shall wait
III nine O'Clock tomorrow morning In order 10 asccr.
tain II you have any Official communication 10 make.
Hero tho conference ended. But the Turks still
stood II expecting something more. We waited to
II they would salute us, looking first at thcm and thcn
with come dstrust at tho men in the distance. SUD-
dcnly conversation was reopencd they cheerfuly
sponded to offer exchange cigarettes SO we ex-
changed smoke instead OF 1rc, heretofore Respect
iul bows and salutntions followed and separated
Returning camp that night at about nine o'clock
VIC rctailed the adventure OF the afternoon,
creating considerable mcrrimcns for our COM
rades who thought the interview ''cxcccdingiy
intellectual on both sides Major Peterson,
who commanding tho Servian position at Bobo
vitch declared that in tho morning the Turkish officer
had been waving white flag. Tho Major did not
sec II himself but on having II confirmed he ordered
the advance guards TO firing. But, SAID the
Major, the determined to make II armistice
anyhow, so they bathed IN the Mornva together and
exchanged commodities with singular good will Poor
his odtposts 10 firing. Ho should havo waited
for an order from TchcrnayeT; hc has had to
make pilgrimage hero charge OF violation
OF discipline. One thing strikes pcoplo hero forciby,
and that is the that England should fail
nicatc with the Servian government at tho time
shc tclcgraphng to Consantinope concerning tho
armistcc. The reached Nsch from Siamboul,
and officially communicated to each OF the Turkish
army corps before it was known IN Belgrade.
TURKISH BRIGAxD AT BELGRADE
few days ago we had the pleasure of interviewing
OF dozen Turkish prisoners sent In here from the
front by Tchernayef ono OF these was Tcherkcss,
real live, brutal-looking bandit He had crocous
expression. The brutc-I call him this with the desire
to accurately present him TO readers Of the HEnALD
had been surprised by some Scrvians who brought
him down with bullet ! could not takc my eyes on
the fellow. He groa1ed in agony, for he suffering
from confusion in the hcad and ball in the thigh.
He attempted to reason between tho outbursts Of
pain TO effect that he ought to be pardoncd invok
Ing meanwhile tho clcnency Of Allah ana all other
known dcities. All at his changed Several
old scrvians who had taken refuge here after having
had their houses destroyed by the Turks and their
wives and children reduced to abjcc bcggary stepped
forward with great bitterness asked tho privilege OF
shooting the boodthirsty wretch, whose people had
committed many fearful atrocities Tho old peas
told that Servaus should bo human and not
initiate the barbarsm OF stambou 50 the Tcherkess
saved and sent to quarters, while the other
wounded prisoners wcro taken of In an ambulance.
A Turkish commander kills his prisoners; servans
spare theirs aud thereby show their superior civza-
tion. This Tcherkoss tod Colonel Ncotch terrible
story. He had committed deeds Of arson and MURDER
Hc had killed children too, perhaps. But he coulo not
avoid tho disagrccabc duty II ho had expressed any
conjunction he would have bcon tried traitor and
shot IL he failed to kill certain number he was de-
graded among his class. Hence therc was but ono
Iaw--murdcr, burn, destroy.
RUSSIA RULING sERvfA
Russians arriving here by the battalion, TO write
tru,hinlly. Upward OF 1900 enrolled in the
scrvlan army, and the number Is daily increasing.