Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-06-11

East, pamoIy, whether a convention exists be-
tween Austro. Hungary and onc Of the belligc-
rents, and whether annexation or occupation Is
iplcude1.
The Turkish headquarters, with eighteen
battalioHs OF infantry, Two batteries and i've
hundred Kurdish cavalry, is established pear
X,rvio. The Turks hold strong positions COM
maudiog the Hnvin read. Their prospects ap-
| near to be improved. 1t is believed that Mukh
| Tar Pasha contemplates attacking the Russian
right wing in three separate columns, operat-
ing from Zaryin, E1zeroum and another point.
Hobart Pasha has left VarDa with the Turk.
ish squadron to lombard Odessa.
| Alter making his dispositions with great care
and scizng several important positions IN front
OF KrystaZ and at the immediate entrance OF
the Dpga Pass, Suleman Pacha advanced with
several battaions and mountain artillery to
force the detle held by the Monteuegrlns.
There being only one available road and that
leading directly through the Duga Pass, the
Turks sought by dnt Of sheer ghting to seize
the bends of the road so as to place their guns
in position 10 support The advance Of the head
Of their column.
The ground Was favorable for this plan Of
operations for the first two days. The Monte.
ncgrios slowly retired before the well depIoyed
! Turkish line until the narrowing OF the ground
and the increasing difficulties Of the road forced
the Turks 10 reduce their froot. Then the con-;
cnulra.rd fire Of the MoDtenegrDs, delivered
from every rock aud gully Of the rugged noun
tain slopcs, hogan to tell with lrightful effect
on the Turks.
Amid perfect hail storm Of bullets the
brave Turkish infantry struggled onward en-
numbering the road with their dead and wound
ed at every step. The guns posted before TO.
Tia shccd the dcfIc in advance but with little
effect, as the Montcnegrlns were well covered
aud suffered only when the Turks desperately
charged on them amid the rocks and brush.
wood.
The fighting Oh he third day was almost
hand to hand the combatants firing in each
others faces al few yards distance. But al
though the Turks gained ground slowly, it was
1T q terrible cost in men. Their superior mum
hers enabled them TO push up supports 10 take
the place Of the slain, and 1t seemed as 1t the
head Of the Turkish column OF attack was melt
iDg away as before a furnace.
Notwithstanding the stubborn bravery Of
;,uliomao Iacha's troops The fourth day fight
ing found them no nearer the key OF the pass,
and they had already lost nearly three thou
sand men. Still they endeavored to maintain
possession OF the ground they had gained at
|
les. The hardy Montencgrins repuIsed every
attempt 10 advance, and it became now only
question OF covering the retreat Of the exhaust
cd coIumn.
"lhis vas commenced by furious onslaught
oa the Nlnncncgrios by the troops turtbest in
advance, but which was quickly repulscd by a
murlnTuus fire. The retreat Dow became gen
rra aud The victorious mouatalbeers speedily
followed the retiring Turks killing an i'm
mcnsn nu.nbcr, and rcoacupylng their former
positions.
"Ia this prolonged aud bloody combat, last.
ing over five days, the Turks have lost over
four thousand men and a qualify Of arms left
on the field. The victorious Montcnegrips lost
200 men, ard the diSproporti0n in casualties i:
due wholly to the natural strength Of their po
s!lion and to the necessary exposure OF the
Turks during the attack and retreat. Tho
failure Of the Tur ks to force the Duga Pass Is
believed to insure the capitulation OF Mic
sizes wlthin short time, but it is likely thai
Su!icman !a"ha may again attempt TO relieve
The town.
VIENNA, june 1l.--lt would appear thai
Russian p0nl! fer crossing the Danube vii! be
chosen cast and west OF the Turkish quadrllat
era! and that while the eastern column keeps il
check the Turkish forces masScd in and abou
field army operating against the flank CT real
Of the Turkish position.
The liun chuscn for The operation OF tho west
crn column IS . most advantageous one, iol
along it lie some fair roads over the Balkans
enc from Picvnia aud Sofia and another iron
S;stova over the Sipka pass toward Philippop
ol4. Although the Turks arc outnumbcred bJ
the Russians and although with the greate,
excrtion they will scarcely be able to oppose
anything like ~ equivalent force to the tou
corps concentrated by the Russians on that side,
vet by taking up central position between
Sicyna and Bella, with the help OF monitors and
batteries they may throw considerable obstacle:
10 the way Of crossing.
LONDON. juno ia dispatch from Vienna
says the Bulgarian legion in Roumanla nov
numbers 10000 men.
y dispatch from PIocsti says the Bulgarian:
are reluctant TO enter the legion bait Of whict
is composed of foreigners especially Scrvlans.
A dispatch from Sukum kach says the To-
surrccton Is spreading. The commanders arc
vigorously attempting 10 cut the Russian com
nuulCatonS.
CoNsTANTINopLE, juno 1l.-Mukhtar Pasha
under date Of June 10. telegraphs as follows -
TIE garrison Of Kars made a successful artillery
sorte and pursued the enemy. Admiral Mus.
tapha states that five Russian torpedo boats
were destroyed in the attack made on the Turk.
sh iron cads at the Suna, mouth OF tht
| Danube.
From Washington.
ESPECIAL DISPATCHES TO TIE GAZETTE.