The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-05-26

| 7th, claims tho capture of Ardahan
with sixty guns and immense stores.
| The bulletin says the Russian loss is
| believed to be one officer and titty sol
diers killed four officers aud eighty
| six soldiers wounded.
| > LONDON, May 21-N0On.-The tele-
graphs special frOB Erzer0um Satur-
day, describing the first attack Oh Ar
| daian, says: The efforts of the Rus
slams commenced with Il heavy artillery
fire, which was as -hOtly returned this
was followed by impetuOus infantry at
tacks which were repulsed every time
with great slaughter. Under orders,
apparently to obtain success somewhere
or other, at any cost, the troops We're
led back to the assault after each
failure until night stopped the carnage.
THE FIGHT BEFORE KARs.
From Kars, we have intelligence that
yesterday the Russians attacked the
outer lines with furious derermina-
ton, having preceded their attempt by
Il heavy but lll-directcd cannonade
from the siege artillery. Tue powerful
guns in the Turkish batteries replied
with better effect. The dnel was
vigorously maintained till the Russians
brought up columns OF infantry as close
as they dared to the fortitications, APP
parently purposing, if possible, to take
the place by stUrlRt
The Ottoman commander observing
this drew together IA large body of
troops behind the rampartS and
launched a tremendous s0rtie upon the
Russian flank and rear, under tn" shock
Of which the enemy were obliged to re-
treat into Disadvantage GeOuS position.
h1nnI- anUuynTt,aDt f,1ipWpH lt
close quarters. and at its termination
the Russians We're obliged to retreat
beaten. leaving on the field 300 corpS"S
aud large number OF wounded.
There WAS Il slight encounter in the
meantime between the cavalry without
any special result.
THE RUSSIAN BLUFF BEFORE BATOUM-
AND THEIR WIN AT ARDAHAN.
LONDON, May 21.-The Telpgraph'S
dispatch trUm Batuun, dated Saturday
morning, says: The Russian forces
Here. after making a great show ot
war!ike Intentions yesterday, cOHtrntr0 ,
themselves with a harmless artillery
Auti. The fact was tie enemy has sent
III fifteen battaiions in the direction OF
.,ouk G6uin kaleh, in the hope of ar
resting the iuSurrectiun which has
,,ltad from that centre.
The dtteDseS OF Bttnum are quite
!tuinpaireti, and the position lenVrs
unT.Ing to desire. The issue OF the
ieXt assault is looked upon as ii Lretty |
certain victory toi the SnItar.
Abraham, like all either old citadeiS of |
{ he Asatic frontier, Was surrounded by |
hri&hts commanding it, within eaSF |
artillery range. These heights had |
oteH fortified, but whep they were once
raktE, AS seems To have been the case |
at Ardahan, the fortress itself would |
become Grgenable. The Turks did the |
urst they could, namely: to withdraw |
the garrison of eleven battalinns, and |
effect Il junction with Mnuhtar Pa>hu i'll !
the direction Of Erzer0nm.
The danger is that the Russians in |
of KHrs may waylay the |
retreating force it they attempt to pass !
that way, but there is ssiAother aMfa |
much mere difficult mountain road |
through the valley of Krera to the
valley of Oltei, which the retrpating !
Turks will probably take. The fall OF |
.,rdahan is considerable advantage to !
the Russians, for besides opening ii line +
Of communication with AchalZik it will |
enable the Russians to turn the force
hitherto operating against Ardahan to-
wards karS, or to take part in the COM
Olned operations against ElZeroum.