Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-08-30
THE RUSSTO-TURKISH WAR.
THE BATTLE RAGING.

A correspondent who was an eye wit
ness to the terrible fighting at Shiplla
Pass on the 22nd 23rd and 9th tele
graphs to the London Times ofAug. 9th
as follows: On Saturday, while riding
backward from Schipka through the
night, passed masses ofreinforcements
artillery and infantry, hurrying forward
Their strength ought to secure the safety
of all the important positions. The same
correspondent telegraphs from Bucha-
rest, Sunday: Information follows me
that fighting at the pass is still raging.
having been again renewed to-day; but
Radetzky continues to hold his own II
is now a question Of indurance But !
adhere to my impressions that Schipka
Pass is safe, and unless Suleiman Pasha
can run the column through another
pass he will wreck his army by thus
dashing it continually against Schip-
ka. The correspondent affirms that
sCHIPKA PASS CONSISTS MERELY OF 4 SEC
TION OF THE BALKANS,
lower than the surrounding heights.
There is no pass properly so-called, but
merely a track over this lower section
or ridge, which is extremely broken and
hilly. The highest point of the road is
handing it, and also a ridge behind the
first of these two spurs can rake the
road leading to the Russian positions.
The spurs break off abruptly and pre-
cipitously, affording no abcess to the
valley north of the Balkans. Their sole
use to the Turks was the affording OF
positions from whence to flank the cen
,tral Schipka ridge. 1t is possible also
for troops to descend from them, strug-
gle through the intervening glens, and
climbing the steep slopes of Schipka
ridge, give hand to each other or reach
the road which runs along the summit
This done the Schipka position would
of course be turned, but the advantage
would be Of little avail till the road had
been opened by carrying the fortified
positions on it. The road over Schipka
ridge constitutes for an army the only
practicable line of communication in
this section of the Balkans.
DETAIL. OF THE FIGHTING.
On the 22d when the fighting began,
the Russians were little over 5000
strong, with 40 cannon. The Russians
on this day had mines in front of their
trenches, which were exploded as the
head of the Turkish assaulting parties
were massed above them. 1t is report
ed that large number Of Moslems were
blown into fragments. BY Thursday
evening the Turks had so worked
around on both the Russian fanlls that
it seemed as though the claws of the
crab were about to close behind the
Russians, and that the Turkish column
climbing the Russian ridge would give
hand to each other on the road in the
rear of the Russian position. At this
supreme moment the two Russian gen
erals, expecting momentarily to be en-
vironed, sent telegram to the Gar
telling him what they expected how
they tried to prevent it, and how,
please God, when driven into their DO
sitions they would hold these until rein
forcements should arrive; at all events,
they and their men
WOULD HOLD THEIR GROUND TO THE LAST
DROP OF THEIR BLOOD.
At o'clock there was a lull in the
fighting, of which the Russians could
take no advantage, since the reserves
were all engaged. The men were beaten
out with heat, fatigue, hunger, and
thirst. There were no water within the
Russian lines, and the men lay painting
on the bare ridge, reckless of the fact
that it was swept by the Turkish rifle
fire. Others doggedly fought on down
among the rocks, but were forced to give
ground. The cliffs resounded with the
triumphant Turkish shouts. 1t was at
this juncture that treinforcements. under
Radetzky, arrived Radetzky took
command of these, with others who ar
rived subsequently, which brought up
the number of the defenders of the pass
to about $4,000. The road even in the
rear of the Russian positions along
which the reinforcements had to adj
vance was swept by the Turkish fire,
and the reinforcements suffered heavily
THE OBJECT OF FRIDAYS BATTLE
was to clear the Turks from the we'll
wooded position which fanked the
Russian positions on the road The
fighting was confined to musketry, and
continued all day desperately. The
Russians could make little impression
by a front attack on the Turks. The
correspondent says: Occasionally al
some point the Russians would be hurled
clean back out of the wood altogether
l could mark the Turks following them
eagerly to its edge. lying down while
pouring out a CALLING fire. The troops