The New York herald., 1876-09-08
Sudden Defeat of the Servians at
Kniazevatz and Saitschar.
TURKISH BOMBARDING.
The Army Of the TimOk 0utgeneralled and
Caused TO Retreat
Osman Pachas Determination to xiii Al
the Seruan Wounded and Prisoners.


BELGRADE August IA, 1S70
I was relating the abominable OF which the
Turkish soldiers have been guilty after recent engage
mens whom my letter Of the 10th was closed In the
presence Of these heart -sckcning atrocities two
speca occasions General Leschanine sent letters to
Osman Pacha asking permission in all future engage
meats to hts wounded brought of the field. occr
ing, Of course, allow the Turks the same privilege
without molestation. Osman Pacha, upon whom the
Turks invoke blessings Of Allah and on whom the
Servans hur the maledictons OF all civilized people,
simply up the first in the face OF the bearer,
and when the second came no called the messenger in
front Of his and told him he would allow him to
return this time but that If no brought another
that would be the last he would ever carry on
this of the grave In view OF Osmans throat and
the shadows of events by means uncertain, the
wounded Servians at this place, TO the number Of
about 800 wero sent forward 10 Mianovatz, little
village the north. situated the Danube. The Sur
geon General OF tho Army OF the Timok. Major Leutz,
showed peculiar collection of rife balls which had
been extracted from the wounded Through the centre
OF ball small piece of wood impregnated with
POISONOUS substance, the character Of which had not
yet bsen ascerained which gave to wounds otherwise
trlH,ng the gravest character rendering all the usual
remedies
In great agony although their wounds were apparently
of tho manageable nature. OF course, will be
remembered that Turkey admitted to the
ST. PETERSBURG HUMANITARIAN CONVENTION,
signing tho engagement with other Powers not TO
explosive and poisonous balls With reference TO the
Geneva Conference to the treatment OF men wounded
in battle, OF which she was also member, she abso-
utely violates every principle commended for by the
Powers by buchering the wounded they lay on the
field aud mutilatnQ the dead until every sign of recog
milton has been destroyed At Alexinaiz we examined
. number of proectes, similar to those ut Saschar,
clearly showing they are issued the whole army.
Already incendares and assassins, the Turks assume
the accom- mplshm of poisoners Early the next day
We heard the roaring OF in the distance Fight
ing was going ON to the south Of u.s. at Kniazevatz
They deciding the fate Of Saitschar Tho situ
alton becoming interesting, and decided to stay
and soc il out We again climbed up the hisides
with the view Of recxamining the POSITIONS and the
same evening batteries on the heights began to
answer the Turks; but faint response to the
heavy nrc Of the enemy subsequently Two dispatches
reached Leschanins--one announcing that forces
had captured Aramor; that in fact few volunteers
without the knowledge Of Tchornayef, had gone over
and taken the place; the other stated plainly enough
that there was not the fantest hope of retaining
Kniazevatz and that the downfall OF Satschar could
nterposition of Providence But the worst
Tho following morning the Turks under Osmau PachA
commenced feeble
BoMBAg pMxxr sAirscHAR.
We the great frequent flashes, then volumes of
smoke and incessant vibrations, but the firing at rst
seemed Wild and uncertain We needed IL, ana
sat at the door incana company with Of
the staff officers listening to the whstlng and cxplod
ing of the shells Tho Turkish artillery gavc Us bus
small concern for 1t seemed like the unskiled firing
OF number Of rough recruits, who could only strike
church by accident This sport kept up for
while, then ceased suddenly. Tho Turks were about
to take siesta! rapid round was given from Of
our batteries the heights. but not answered.
During tho night the skirmishss very rare for
requires an amount OF skill and experience to fight
night which neither side in this struggle possess This
little bombardment, however, was ike the prelude
to tho
Horvatowitch resisted the strong forces of Abdul
Kerm for four hours and had finally retreated 10 the
dcnle In front Banya. Instantly this news was
made known the situation At saitschar was
considered hopeless at got ready to quit
Our first thought how 10 got away We had no
longer the s,ecds of the osa TO trust TO- We hunted
through Saitschar and finally succeeded in finding
man Who had a miserable looking cart and he agreed
to drive TO Boieratz, about hall to Paratchin.
We loft Satschar at two o'clock in the afternoon, and
passed over the hills, distant few miles only
from our recent medna, We could see that the place
in flames. EVIDENTLY fired to prevent its occupation
found but a few Old Defenders, who expecting
orders 10 retreat every moment As We journcyed
forward the constant roaring OF artillery convinced
that there was heavy nghting In our rear and sup.
posing also from some peculiarly dull detonaons that
large bodies o. infantry were engaged, we aighted and
climbed high hill in 10 ascertain where the noise
came from. From this point We could see the battle
ground The Turkish camp to the right before Satschar
stood out IN bold relief and wo could their hurry
ing columns coming down In tho direction of the burn
ing town The lighting was going on 1crcely to the
right the Tinok Valley. Hero tho flashes Of artil
lery and OF carbne voieys incessant, and tho
smoke seemed waited high above the hills forming IN
Turkish army wheel round and in few minutes per-
ceived they we're
sroRMING GREurAS,
and apparently master OF oil the surroundna
places along right OF tho Timok for could
immense OF fire here and there as II they were
burning tho outlying iarms and soon after huge
connagration--thc burning Of the village proper The
valley from Knazevatz 10 Grehyan, and
quenty the pass OF vratarntza was now evidently In
their power Another part OF the Turkish army hav-
Ing destroyed and passed kniazevatz, were then
seen coming down the valley with the evil
dent desiro Of cutting of Leschaninos retreat
Leschanine had by this time seen how impossible t
DO for his forces to hold tho ground he had
pied to tho rear OF Satschar, and the hasty
OF Servan artillery indicated rapid irregular retreat
Now the whole country around seemed bathed In Hrs
Dense of black smoke air in all d.
rections. pierced to groat hcght by darting names
ike the flashes Of lightning through the murky clouds
THuNDERs OF ARTILLERY
had become fainter and ainte but evident from
the inccndarism we witnessed that the irresponsible
WcH0
committing greater havoc than the regular army The
whole valley was ovcrrun, and in unfortunate fam
HES mad taken refuge in the woods, they wero doubt
less despatched by the cutthroats with the usual
amount OF babarism ncucaed by their teachers the
Koran. Suddenly the noise Of the cannon ceased en-
tirey. The Turks had decided attack Leschan-
ines fortified positions, and were
ALLOWING
quietly to the north by the road leading to Bresovatx
Up TO this time we had been travelling through de.
serted country. Every iarm house. every little ham,
let, was closed All at. once. however, we overlook n
number OF farmers In full flight They had their accd
and children the rude carts known to this region
sitting on bedding and other articles which werc