The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-06-05
RUSS AND TURK.
Midnight Bttlle on the DlnuBe.
Sinking OF a Large Turkish Iron.
Clad by Russian GunbOals.
,oaple Telegram to the New Fork Herald ;

,Oable Telegram to the New Fork Herald. -
New YORK., May 81 The Herald cor.
respondent at Pleejesti teleeraphs itis
following interesting account OF an al.
tack on the Turkish iron clad feet in the
Danube, and the destruction of one of
the large monitors by torpedo boats
The details Of the action are taken from
the official report made by the gallant
leader Of the attack. Lieutenant Denba.
soft, to the Russian head quarters:
At midnight on the 25th Of May. four
Russian gunboats left Braila, under the
command of Lieutenant DsnbasoH, with
the object Of attacking and. if possible,
DESTROYING THE FLEET OF TURKISH IRON:
CLAps,
Which lay further down the Iiverrin the
direction of Matchin. This expedition
was organized with great secrecy, and
only the hig6eriofficers atlhead quarters
knew of its destinations though il has
been expected for some time, that an
effort would be made to render the stay
of the Turkish monitor In the Danube
as uncomfortable as possible. About
two hours steaming brought the Rus
sian gunboats to Matehin, where the
Turkish gun-boats lay anchored in the
stream, and without delay
rHE SIGNAL TO ATTcK WAS GIVEN.
Lieutenant Denbasoff made an admi-
rable disposition Of his gun boats, and
in the conduct of the action displayed.
great courage and sound judgment
Taking the lead on the advance, he ran
his own guniboat, the Czaroyitcb, In be-
tween the Turkish iron clads, without
paying any heed to the heavy fire which
the monitors opened on the approachs
ling gun boats Selecting the largest OF
the monitors. Lieutenant Denhasof, rati
his ship along side and succeeded in
EXPLODING A TORPEDO UNDER her SIDE,
causing bad leak, 5ut not damaging
her sufficiently To disable her. This
partial failure was, however, soon rene.
died by the gun-boat Xenia, which had
closely followed the "Czarovitch," and.
approaching the Turkish mentor, suci
ceeded in exploding second torpeda
under her. The effect Of this second
explosion was terrific, and the monitor
BEGAN RAPIDLY TO SETTLE ~
In the water, and before ten minutes
had elapsed she sank. The remaining
monitors opened heavy but ill-directed
ire on the attacking gunboats, which.
having accomplished their object, With
drewwithout suffering any damage, al
though the Turkish artillerists continued
firing until the ghnboats had steamed
out Of range and disappeared. This
brilliant action did not occupy more
than twenty minutes from the giving the
signal to attack to the withdrawal of the
Russian gunboats. During the action
the Turks directed terrific fire on the
assailants, but the aim of the artillerists
was so bad that not single Russian
was struck. The effect Of this torpedo
attack is likely to prove SO ia'7na's sqa
VERY DEMoRALlzrNa TO THE TURKISH
'9f's yaai .s2 FLEET baap a1fs
On the Danube. 1t pretty well settles
the question Of the value of the Turkish
fleet in preventing the passage of the
Danube, and will probably induce the
Turkish iron-clads to remove from the
too dangerous neighborhood of the
Russian gun boats Torpedoes are evi-
IDENTIFY going to prove their superiority
over armor plates and heavy guns, id
this war. ,;,,..t...I,