Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-08-08
THE RUSSIO-TURKISH WAR.

| A London correspondent under date
of August I'd, gives detailed account
of the fighting of Monday:
"The Turkish force was estimated
at fifty thousand They occupied a
series of positions which are naturally
strong, and also artiicially fortified in
every available spot, forming horse
shoe in front of Plevna, with both TANKS
resting on the river Vid. The Russian
force consisted of the Ninth Army Corps
under General Krudener, the thirteenth
division, and the thirteenth brigade of
the second division, under Prince Scnac
kesky, with three brigades of cavalry
and 100 guns. 1t was arranged that
General krudener should attack the
Turkish centre at Grivica and the
northern flank Of the intrenched posi-
ton over Rahova, while Schackesky at
tackled Radizevo and General Skobeloff
held in check the strong Turkish force
at Looca, which was the extremity of
the Turkish line.
General Krudener began the battle
about $50 o'clock After a long bonn
| bardment he succeeded in silencing the
Turkish cannon at Grivica. but could
never expel the infantry from the earth
works. He spent the whole afternoon
unavailingly endeavoring to force the
MOI thern flank Of the Turkish position,
desisting after dark without having gain
ed anything material, and having him.
self suffered considerable loss. Prince
Schakesky about noon carried Radizevo
and planting four batteries on the ridge
beyond bombarded the nearest Turkish
position, which was an earthwork arm
ed with cannon in front of the entrench-
ed village After an hours cannOnade
he silenced the Turkish guns, and his
infantry after long and bloody contest
carried the earthWork and the village.
The second Turkish position, consisting
of redOubt and a series of entrenched
vineyards strongly held, was then attack
ed and ultimately carried, but with ter
rible effort and very severe loss, owing
to the heavy Turkish artillery fire. The
Russians, moreover, were unable to utll-
ize the captured position. About four
o'clock a reserve brigade was brought
up, and an attack made on the positions
Immediately covering Plevna. The at
| tack continued till nearly sunset. The
| Turkish infantry was in great force in a
continuous line under shelter of the
| trenches.
Despite the most stubborn efforts, no
impression could be made upon that
| line. Two companies of Russian infant
ry did work round to the right of the
| Turkish trenches and entered the town
of Plevna, but it was impossible to hold
it. The Russian batteries pushed bold
| ly forward into position first taken to
attempt to keep down the Turkish cam
nonade, which was crashing into the in
| fantry in the open field, but they were
compelled soon to evacrlate the haz-
ardous spot At shutdown the Turks
| made continuous forward movement
and reoccupied their second position.
The Russian infantry made a success
sion of desperate stands, and died like
heroes. The Turks gradually retook
everything they had lost. The fighting
lasted long after nightfall. The Bashi-
Bazouks took possession of the battle
field and slew all the wounded. The
Russians held the heights above RadH-
evo, but the Bashi-Bazouks worked
around to their rear and fell on the
wounded collected in the village of Ra
dizevo The retreat was compelled in
the direction of Bulgareni, and the con-
tingencies resulting from this untoward
battle are of ominous significance.
A special dated Widin reports that
Osman Pasha is waiting for reinforce
ments before making forward move
M Mt. The Russians have requested
leave to bury their dead.
There was a panic in Simnitza last
night, caused by the arrival of few
Cossacks at Sistova who said the Turks
were closely following The people of
Sistova thereupon rushed en- naosse across
to Slmnitza followed by the Cossacks,
who fled beyond. On the road they
came upon convoy of Russian trans
port wagons and spread panic among
the drivers, who, leaving their charge,
ran in all directions. This morning Or
der was restored by the arrival of a
large number of prisoners at Sistova,
said to have been captured in the recent
engagement by the army of the Caro-
WITT on the Rustchuk-Rasgrad line. The
imperial headquarters are reported to
be still at Biela. A great battle is ex-
pected every moment. About 100000
troops were engaged on each side at