The New York herald., 1877-09-08

the quaint old street Of Gabrova where the towns.
people collected in snx'ous sroups, aud whispered
nincance fer them that sulen booming OF
cannon up IN the shipka there not three hours
march from their doors While the Russians
stood their ground there the pale citizens were
saie but let them be worsie. ami three short hours
would the leaders OF the swarms OF murdsrous
Circassians riding down the old main street. Its
projecting fronts ana It's rescmbaucc TO Caro- For
horde sayuges that vast aggregate OF iugitivcs
who were camped In every held, and beneath every
gaiians. then, each moment was an agony OF
suspense. Nor Is Il easy to realize how
sense of responsibility weighing upon them leader
may SEQ bis soldiers isling around him. They 20
of business; but know that on their s,anchness
and skl hang tue lives OF countless women and ten.
der babes must be terrible. Yet how glorious TO
zc and be equal to the burden OF responslbiiyi am
sure tho Russian soldiers fought less stouy
action they had been marching with plying hearts
and cheering words through the miserable iugitves
covering along their path.
GENEROSITY OF THE SOLDIERS
saw the noble hearted fellows empty their hayer-
sacss OF broad into the laps OF the starving Bulgarian
women and children, although the act left themselves
ioodlcss, without guess when they should eat next
saw them with lnlne patience gropng into corners
Of reconcile pockets ish out The poor coppers which
they HAD been saving for scnapps and tobacco per-
chance 10 take home TO their young ones in tho
humble cabin iar-or Russia, and bcstow them
instead on the gaunt children ol the iugi,ves with
some expression OF rough jocularily which was but
cloak ior tear and a blessing Leaving Gabroyu in
the pale half-lght Of the moon and OF tho dawn We
made forward aIon. the beautiful romantic valley OF
the Jantra through beech forests inerspersed WITH
clcarings around liny villages Here passed long
column OF Cossacks each man with led horse
These were the horses on which tho advanced
guard OF the Rifle Brigade hurried forward las,
night reaching the ridge and coming into act just
In tho mex oi time 70 avert very serious II not dis
astrous result. The OF cannon high above us-it
seemed IN tho very couds-swclled louder aId louder
In volume as We drew nearer. and wounaed men were
already tickiing TO tho rear sure sign that the ght
Ing nad been warm and close from s very commence
ment
Suddenly the road lelt the Jan,ra valley aud bend
ding sharp the LETT struck up the mountain side.
There cessation in the steep ascent for aUout
Two Kilometres. The road extremely toruous,
having to twist, and turn and wrigge TO take ad-
vantage OF any avlilabe ground. But although
places terribly steep quite practicable for vehicles
being broad and smooth This Is tho road which tho
occupation, and two ooloHes were brought into
Karua Khan while passed The shipka viii be
known par erceence the officers battle OF
THE LOOKS
On my way to the scene OF action and while survey
ing It before following closely the movement OF the
troops engaged, was much impressed by the pecu.
arty OF tho ground. The Shpka Pass is not pass ut
all the proper sense OF the term. There Is 60 gorge
no dene; there is no spot where $50 could
make a new Tbormopylse no decp-scored trench
as in the Kybcr Pass. where an army might
be annhated without coming to grips with
Its adversary IL has It's name simply because this
point there happens 10 be section oi the Balkans OF
less than the average height the surface oi WHICH,
from the Jantra Valley on the north to tho Tuadia
Valley the south, Is sufficiently continuous ui-
though having an extremely broken and serreted con-
tour to afford ootnold for practicable track, for
the Balkans present wild jumble of mum
tain and glen, neither having any continuity Under
such circumstances, such crossing place the
Sh,pka point affords is godseud, although under
other crcu instances road over IL would be regarded
impossible What was more track Is a really
good and practicable, although steep, high road. The
ground either side OF the ridge is depressed
go7ges but these lateral depressions broken and
nave no continuity, otherwise they would clearly
afford better track Tor road than tho high ground
above.
ITS IMpoRTANoE
The highest peak IS tanked on either side behind
the lateral deprcssons by mountainous spur higher
well the command OF the ridge behind. Tao
highest peak, ha' 70 say caa me n.s, OF rhsso
the Russian positions. These spurs break oil alb
rupty and prccipously, one on tho northern
edge and therefore afford access into the valleys
north OF the Balkans Their sole use to the Turks,
therefore, was IN ahordins positions whence to flank
TO descend from hem struggle through the intervening
glons and climbing the steep slopes of the shipka
runs along It's summit This done the shipka
position would of course be turned but the advantage
would be Of little avail till tho road had been opened
by carrying the fortified positions 1t. Without the
command of the road an enemy might indeed send
inso % the % lower oounsry absn Gabrova to burn and
plunder, but repeat that tho road over the shipka
constitutes Tor an army the only practicable limo OF COM
munication THIS section OF the Balkans.
Much has been saId OF the strength OF the Shpka
position In these opinions do not concur. IL seems
to that unless strongly held with wide extending
OF detence it is easy 10 be attacked and very d
ncult to be held with any security The strength
OF position does not depend wholly on
its elevation, the diiiculies Of
access to a direct attack, but on the clear
range around which its IRE sweep and its ability
TO concentrate its fire critical points. Herein lies
the defect OF the Shipka defensive position. IL
cannot search with IT'S the umbe Of lateral val
leys aud slopes wh ch hem II in. brigade Of
liIh. infantry might mass in hollow within one hum
sing itself 10 the artillery fire.
THE THIRD DAYS FIGHTING.
Yesterday the Turks assailcd the Russian position
tba frnu md lie nd firnua data
from their outlying ground The radical defects
OF the position became painfully apparent, its
Ds "usnGea and soasa Gs
mforcemcns had arrived, which avcrted the
ing, immnetly impended. Stoetod hit his hardest,
and a right good lighting man ho is, full Of energy
physical strain, but he could not perform mposslbi.
ties wHb $4,000 men laundering his front aud
flank But .hete had come 10 HIM, swiftly marching
by another valiant soldier, General Derotcninssi,
and this timely succour had been Of material value
to Stoctol. The fight lasted all day, and ut length,
the grew lower, they had worked round on
both the Russian TANKS that 1t seemed though the
claws oi the were about momentary 10 close be-
hind the Russians, and that the Turkish columns
climbing the Russian ridge would give hand to each
ether the road IN the rear OF tho Rus sian position
HOPE LEFT.
The moment dramatic with an Intensity TO
which The aineness OF civilian lie can furnish no par
alleL The TWO Russian generals expecting momen-
tary to DO environed had sent, between the closing
claws OF the crab, last telegra 10 the telling
they expected, how they tried to prevent it, AMI how
that please God driven INTO their positions and bcse
tnoy would hold these TIL reinforce arrive
AT ali events they aud their men would hold their
ground tO tho last drop OF their blood. II was six
o'clock there II lull In the hghtlng Of which the
Russians could take advantage, since the reserves
all engaged Tho grimed sun nblis tered men wero
beaten out with heat, fatigue hunger aud thirst. There
had been cooking for three days, there was no
water within The Russian Ines Tue poor fellows lay
painting tho pare ridge, reck less that ii swept
by thu Turkish rifle lire. Others dogged!y fought on
d~wn among the rocks. forced 10 give ground, but
dong so grimy and sourly. The cils and valleys
send back the triumphant Turkish shouts OF sAah II
Ailnh''
''coD BE PRAisEp'--RELIEF
Tne Two RUSSIAN generals were peak which
the first position hall lnc0sea Their glasses xousiy
scanned the Visible ginpses OF the steep brown road
leading up there from the Jantra Valley, through
thick copses oil sOnore green. and yet mo q
sombre darK rock StoetoT cries aloud IN
sudden excess OF excitement, clutcnes his
brother general by the arm and points down pass
The head of long black column Was plainly visible