The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-10-06
The Latest War News.

THE RUSSIANS ATTACK THE ENTIRE TURhlSh
LINE AND ARE AGAIN REPUI.SED-A GREAT
VICTORY CLAIMED RY TIE TURKS-A RUSSIAN
LOSS OF 5000 MEN.
LONDON, October 5.-The Russian officials
acknowledge a loss Of $4,000 men up to
September 9th.
Further particulars OF the battle before
Kars make it evident the Russians assaulted
the Turkish positions along the whole line
and were repulsed with heavy loss. The
success gained on Tuesday in the capture Of
the Great Tagni hill claimed by the Russians
and conceded by the Turks did not COM
pensate for the failure ut other points OF
the line, and the positions carried have since
been abandoned. Notwithstanding the dill.
atory and fragmentarY character OF the
dispatches enough has reached us to make
it apparent that the main action was fought
on Tuesday.
The Turkish line extended from Great
and Little Yagni-two fortified hills in the
Kurkdara plain-as far as one on the
Apacbi river, with the centre advanced to-
wards the river and resting on Kezil Tepe.
The Russians, who had been reinforced
both by new troops and those lately en-
ployed against the Caucasian insurgents.
commenced the battle ut daybreak on Tues
day by an assault on Great Yagni, which Is
the extreme outlook OF Mukhtar Pasha's
Notifications, about twelve miles due east
from Kars. Here the Turks seem to
have been taken by surprise as much
as the Russians were when Mukhtar
won Kezil Tepe from them, and compelled
them to abandon their fortified camp at
Kurkdar A single Turkish battalion de-
Tending Great Yagni was cut to pieces or
captured after two hours OF obstinate de-
fence, which gave the Turks an opportunity
to prepare for the next assault. UD to this
point all accounts agree, but regarding sub
sequent events they arc very conflicting.
\ Turkish official dispatch says: "a
great battle ensued, lasting thirteen hours.
Repeated Russian attacks were rcpulsed
with heavy loss"
MichaePs headquarters at Karajal, dated
the 4th instant, says: CATER the capture
of Great Yagni it was found that Little Yag-
nj was so strongly fortified that an attempt
to assault was considered premature. After
thirteen battalions sent from the Turks to
reinforce Mukhtar Pasha had been repulsed
our troops fortified themselves in the posi-
tions they occupied. Our loss on Tuesday
was 1909 killed and wounded. The enc
my's losses were not less. We captured 200
men," Evidently the Turkish account as to
the repeated attacks after the capture OF the
first Turkish position is correct, otherwise
there could not have been 5000 men killed
and wounded. The 200 captured by the
Russians were probably the remnant OF the
garrison OF Great Yagni. The Russians
also attacked the centre at kezil Tepe, but
were repulsed. simultaneously Russian
force, moving from the direction OF Ami,
endeayored to turn the Turkish right and
get between Hukhtar Pasha and kars. This
is the movement referred to by the Daily
NerS'S correspondent in special dispatch
from karaial Wednesday, in which he says
"Hopes are entertained of cutting off
Mukhta Pasha from Kars."
OF this affair Turkish bulletin says
CATER five hours lighting, Russian force,
consisting of six battalions Of infantry and
two regiments OF cavalry, were driven back
and pursued to the banks Of the Ospachai."
A'RusSian bulletin says: " a Judgment
was effected on the Turkish right flank, and
Turkish attack on the next day (Wednes-
day. was brilliantly repulsed and the enemy
driven as far as the outer line of their camp.
The Russian loss here was 800 killed and
wounded"
From these conflicting statements it is
quite apparent that the Judgment effected
by the Russians was not OF any importance,
since q subsequent assault by the Turks
only resulted in the latter being driven to
the outer line OF their camp. The loss was
also insignificant. Finally, the Turkish
bulletin concludes: 1--WE have gained a
brilliant victory, and inflicted loss OF over
5000 on the enemy" The Russian bulletin
concludes: "To-day (Thursday) our right
flank will withdraw from the positions oc-
cupied by them on Tuesday, on account OF
the difficulty in obtaining supply OF
water"
A NARROW ESCAPE PROM DEFEAT BY TIE
TURKS.
LONDON, October 5.--The Turks estimate
the Russian force engaged against their left
at thirty-tive battalions of infantry and nine
regiments OF cavalry. They say Little iagni
was assaulted five times, and taken and re-
taken. The movement against the Turkish
right flank was so near yielding that Mukh-
tar Pasha's communications with Kars at
one time were actually interrupted. The
repulse was complete along the whole line,
and the Turks remained in possession OF
the field of battle.