Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-09-05

and tort was terrible, the Turks retiring
at shutdown with heavy losses. The
Russians lost before kurukdara two
generals and eight officers killed, 237
soldiers killed and 712 wounded. De
serters say the Turks lost 1900 men.
THE WHOLE FORCE OF THE TURKISH ARMY
was thrown on the Russian right wing.
where the Ottomans were repulsed bv
desperate fighting. The truth must be
stated about one feature of the Turkish
attack. | stood for an hour in the hos
pltal this afternoon and saw three
EXPLOSIVE BULLETS
cut out of as many wounded Russian
bodies. These internal missiles had in
these instances failed to explode, but
they were so charged as to literally
blow a man to pieces. A general order
has been issued to examine the dead
and ascertain if the use of explosive
missiles was universal. Murderers of
poor defenceless girls and children can
not be expected to deal with their foes
on the field of battle according t the
usages Of modern warfare.
II BATTLE RAGING.
a correspondent who was an eye wit
ness to the terrible fighting at Shipka
Pass on the 22nd BIRD and 9th telc-
graphs to the London Times ofAug. 9th
as follows: On Saturday, while riding
backward from Schipka through the
night, | passed masses ofrcinforcements,
artillery and infantry, h%urrying forward.
Their strength ought to secur the safety
of all the important positions. Ihcsame
correspondent telegraphs from Bucha-
rest, Sunday; Information follows me
that fighting at the pass is still raging.
having been again renewed to-day; but
Radetzky continues to hold his OWN. It
is now II question of indurance. But |
adhere to my impressions that Schipka
Pass is safe, and unless Suleiman Pasha
can run the column through another
pass he will wreck his army by thus
dashing it continually against Schip-
ka. The correspondent atfirms that
SCHIPkA PASS CONSISTS MERELY OF A SEC
TIoN OF II BALKANS.
lower than the surrounding heights
There Is no pass properly so-called, but
merely Il track oven this lower section
or ridge, which is extremely broken and
hilly. The highest point Of the road is
ianked ON either side 10y a p II COM
handing it, and also a ridge behind the
first of these two spurs can rake the
road leading to the Russian positions.
The spurs break off abruptly and pre-
~cipitously, aflording no abcess to the
valley north Of the Balkans. Their sole
use to the Turks was the afiording of
positions from whence to flank the cen
trail Schipka ridge. It is possible also
for troops to descend from them, strug-
Gle through the intervening glens, and,
climbing the steep slopes of Schipka
ridge, give hand TO each other or reach
the road which runs along the summit.
This done the Schipka position would
of course be turned, but the advantage
wnnld be of little avail till the road had
been opened by carrying thc fortified
positions ON it. The road over Schipka
ridge constitutes for an army the only
practicable line of communication in
this section of the Balkans.
DETAIL OF THE FIGHTING,
On the 22d when the fighting began,
the Russians were Il little over 5000
strong, with 40 cannon. The Russians
on this day had mines in front Of their
trenches, which were exploded as the
head of the Turkish a~sSaulting parties
were massed above them. 1t is report
ed that Il large number Of Moslems were
blown into fragments. BY thursday
evening the Turks had so worked
around ON both the Russian TANKS that
it seemed as though the claws OF the
crab were about to close behlnd inc
Russians. and that the turkish column
climbing the Russian ridge would give
a hand to each other on the road III The
rear of the Russian position. At this
supreme moment the two Russian gen
erals, expecting ~momcntarlly to be en-
vironed. sent n telegram to the Car
telling him what they expected, how
they tried to prevent it, and how,
pIease God. when driven into their po-
sitions they would hold these until rem
rorcements should arrive; at all events,
hex and their men
WOULD HOLD THER GROUND TO THE LAST
DROP OF TIEIR BLOOD.
At o'clock there was n lull in the
fobting, of which the Russians could
take no advantage, since the reserves
were all engaged. The men were beaten
ont with heat, fatigue, hunger, and
/ thirst. There We're 10 water within the
Russian lines, and the men lay painting
ON the bare ridge, reckless of the fact
that it was swept by the Turkish rifle
fire. Others doggedly fought on down
among the rocks, but were forced to give
ground. The cliffs rcsoundcd with the
triumphant Turkish shouts. II was AZ
this iuncture that endorsements, under
Radetzky. arrived. Radetzky took