The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-16


OF THE DEFEAT OF THE TURKISH IRREG-
ULARs IN THE PLAINS NEAR KARs.
From tho London standards correspondent with the
Turkish army IN Asia
KyzlL.KILissA, May 80, 1877.
Before tell you OF Tho personal adventures that
have beialIen since my arrival at the Turkish
headquarters let describe a terrible scene that
l witnessed yesterdaythe destruction OF the
flower oil the Circassian force. l had decided to
make my way to Muschad, IN the neil hborhood OF
kars, spite OF all warnings TO tho contrary,
aud set out at about eight O'Clock In the morning.
Arrived at the northeastern corner Of the camp
astonishing sight met my view. saw simulta-
neousy the remarkable scenery, and at glance
the advantages ana Disadvantages OF the positions
cupied by the army Right and lot Of mo the
SUBMITS Of mountains 1000 to 1880 feet HIGH and
above them stood forth almost perpendicular pillars OF
trachyte. AT my feet lay deep valley luxurianily
green, far eye and field glass could reach.
southeast n narrow entrance to be in tho
direction OF K,rs, and to the north lay third green
valley IN whose depths below was the small brown
town OF Bardcz The bright green of the meadows
was interrupted by patches of blue yellow or white.
IRON the flowers which covered the ground; forget
me nots were especially plentiful Here and there
wood OF dark hrs appeared like SHADOW, and
everywhere little Streams found their way into tho
valleys
SPOT
The road Kars led through the valley at my feet,
ana through that to my lett path led to OitI little
town a tributary Of the Tchuruk Su, on the road
from Arauhan; the Turkish man army can therefore,
operate simultaneously Two directions, wnile All
communication between the two Russian armlcs IS
only by The rugged Kars mountains But the Turkish
position has its Acnies heels the valley to my right,
formed by one vi the sources Of the kars lscna,
.ncrs way over The sogh,ny Daeh, into the valley
OF the Khan lschai, anu thus In tue rear OF the
turkish army by Mandschigcrd INTO the valley
OF the AraSes N ITS Hank. In 1929 the Turkish
army, under Hlki Pacha, encimped on
the same spot where Mkbtar Pachu now
Is; Paskicwitscu deceived the Turkish general by a
prcendca attack. passed the mountains undisturvod
At short distance from the flank OF the Turks, ana
appeared at kainly In the rear OF Haki Pacha's
force. As the valley OF tho Tucha-su. through
which the Russians formerly marched, Is not
now guarded, appears TO incrod
iblc that Mukhtar Pacha intends TO prevent tho
Rus from crossing tho Soghanly Dagh all tho
more the Russians threaten him IN the from
Ioprak kale. But why, in spite OF tis the soldiers
are exposed 10 the ces Of an airocous CT mate
! cannot understand. Besides which, Single RAINY
day sucb aG have seen would render the transport oil
the guns impos-lbc, and thus IN case oil a retreat
cause tue loss OF ali the artillery.
THE ATTACK.
took the road Kars and descended into tho val
ley There, place OF the kurdish villages which had
passed through for four days met with Armcnlans.
only through Their IN dirt was their NATIONAL
iy recognizable; the inhabitants had all ned we rode
I'LL noon at some distance from the right bank oil an
aluent oil tho River kars, then crossed 10 the lett
bank, and assembled several small spurs OF the kars
mountains IN southcrly direction The scenery was
Just AZ that had Oh The way from
Tscnobnn bridge to Sevln-hieh, snow covered peaks
close To the lett and at to tho right We
up and down steep mountains, on very bad roads,
through swollen streams and over damp meadows,
then through uttIo seas OF stone, while here anu
there solitary and tho gray roofs OF bali subtcr
rancan villages were TO DO seen. suddenly wc
heard noise that resembIcd the thunder oil cannon
put spurs TO horses, and wncn We reached tio
summit Of a ridge OF noun tains amer half an hours
ride. fearful spectacle presented itself Before US
faces turncd TO tho northeast--and on our
right land thus south OF where we soodL extended
plain In which were lew villages, nelds and meadows