The New York herald., 1877-08-31
THE WAR.
Danger Which Threatens the Russians
In the Shipka Pass.
DEADLY TURKISH SHARPSHOOTERS.
4 Redoubt in the Rear Which the Russians
Try in Vain 10 Capture.
GATHERING BEFORE PLEVNA.
England Using Her influence
with Servia.
DEADLY TURKISH SHARPSHOO7ERS.
GATHERING BEFORE PLEVNA.
lBY CABLE TO THE HERALD. |

lBY CABLE TO THE HERALD.
LONDON, August 81, 1877.
correspondent, telegraphing from the Scmpka
Pass on August 20, gives detailed account Of The
Russian attempt to capture the redoubt which
the Turks constructed, so as to sweep the road
in the Russian This redoubt is still
untaken and it constitutes great danger to the
Russians as it gives the Turks possession OF ridge
running parallel to that up which the road winds
$500 yards distant. The redout inflades the road
in several places and the Turkish infantry, by ex.
tending along this ridge, which is thckly wooded,
can practically render the road impossible.
VERY CRITICAL POSITION.
1t was on this road that General Dragomirolr was
wounded and that to-day General Dragetsky (O
summit OF the pass. Men are picked Off by
Turkish skirmislers two miles behind the pass.
It viii be seen, therefore, that the Russian position
still remains most critical in spite Of reinforce
ments. General Radetzky indeed informed the
commandSnt OF Gabrova the day after his arrival
that he had better warn the inhabitants to be ready
to fly at moments notice.
COUNTER ATTACK.
General Radetsky las appears from he teegram
on the 25th attacked the Turkish redout from the
direction Of the Pass, and also from the Galeroya
'de Thele was continuous musketry and
artillery nre for hours. The Russians adj
Vanced under cover OF the trees, which
we're, however, too small to anord good
iTna
within fifty yards of the redoubt. Here they found
the Turks had cut down the trees around the re-
doubt, making an abattis, over which 1t was almost
impossible to pass.
HEAVY RUSSIAN LOSSES.
They gathered around the edge and suddenly
made rush for 1t, but were driven back with
fearful loss. The soldiers became entangled
In the masses OF brushwood and trunks
and limbs Of trees over which they
we're obliged to scramble, while the Turks poured
in terrible fire upon them At this short dis.
tance 1t moved them down like grass. or the first
assault against the redoubt, in which one company
was engaged, very few got back to tell the tale.
THE ENERGY or DESPAIR
General Radetsky sent reinforcements, and the
attack began again. but dispositions were made to
place large force in such positions that 1t could
pour heavy fire into the redoubt to cover the as
sault until the assailants were almost up to the
parapet This attack seemed almost on the point
Of success for the colonel In command said that II
redoubt.
THE RESERVES LED ON THE REpoUBT.
The of1cer in command Of the reserves let them
20, but they were nevertheless repulsed. The
next assault was made under the eye OF Radetzky
and part of his stafr General Dlmitriofsky,
chief of stan, placed himself at the
head Of the storming battalion, although
he had to be supported by two men, he
nad just previously been stunned by earth thrown
up by an exploding shell The Russians advanced
steadily. They rushed over or through the abattes;
they even got into the redoubt, and actually held
1t for few seconds, but were driven out again.
MAGNIFICENT COURAGE
They surrounded the place on all sides, pouring
into 1t terrible fire, but were again driven
back In the meantime the Turks to sup
port the defence, began IN their turn TO
attack the Russian positions in the
pass from the front and rear. The Russian losses
must be very heavy, for the fight continued until
late at night, and the wounded were coming back
steadily ell the time. To sum up, the attack has
been unsuccessful, reinforcements are arriving
and the tight will probably be ontinued to morrow
Sunday
sULBIMAN's CONFIDENCE
suleiman Pacha telegraphs to Constantnople the
following, dated August 29:-"we continue to
blockade the enemy aud threaten his retreat by
The Gabrova road. There has been some artillery
airing to-day. Our outposts exchanged musket
shots with the enemy. A reconnaissance In the
vicinity OF Gabrova shows that the Russians oc-
cupy Ehilagatch three hours march this side OF
Gabrova.n
PLEvSA ONCE MORE.
The Times military correspondent at Bucharest
teiegraphs :-"For the moment interest concen-
trates itself again on Plevna, where Osman Pacha
is strongly reinforced by men from Sdleiman Pacha
and guns IRON Widdln He is now credited with
200 guns, and ought to make good defence; but II
defeated the Turkish loss will be irreparable in the
face OF an immensely superior Russian cavalry.
Osman Pacha's defeat would moreover Immediately
give the Russian forces enough, even without the
coming guards, to push again over the Balkans"
REISFoRcEMENrs FROM ARMENIA
"A special from Adrianople, dated yesterday morn
Ing says:-'Troops are pouring to the front at the
rate Of 5000 per day. These battalions come from
Batoum. Large numbers OF Albanian volunteers
arc arriving to join sueiman Pacha They have
exchanged their Old guns for nIIenry rifles
No decisive action will take place ut the Shipka
Pass until the arrival of reintorcements on one or