The New York herald., 1877-08-27
THE WAR.
RePulse Of the Turks by the Invest
ing Army at Kars.
A FOURTEEN HOURS BATTLE
Many Vain Attempts to Turn the
Russian Left.
GENERAL TCHAVSnBVADZB WOUNDED.
Description of the Russian Posi-
tions in Balkans.
ITO DIE AT THEIR POSTS"
Reported Evacuation of the
Shipka Pass.
ENGAGEMENT AT AGHASLAR.
GENERAL .TCHAVSnEVADZE WOUNDED.
Description of the Russian Posi-
tions in Balkans.
ITO DIE AT THEIR POSTS"
Reported Evacuation of the
Shipka Pass.
ENGAGEMENT AT AGHASLAR.
(BY CABLE TO THE HERALD.1

BY CABLE TO THE HERALD.
LONDON, August ~, 1877.
The HERALD's special correspondent at
the Russian headquarters in Armenia tele-
graphs from Kuruk Dara, under date of
August Is, as follows:-"A desperate en-
gagement has just been fought near this lit
tie village, about twenty miles northeast of
Kars, resulting in an unequivocal victory
for the Russians. The Turkish right
attacked the Russian left, which rested on o
plateau in front of Kuruk Dara, at three
o'clock this morning,
AN ENTIRE DAYS FIoHrINo.
"The two armies fought all day long.
The weather throughout was magnificent,
and for fourteen hours attack, repulse and
counter attack continued. The roar of
musketry and cannon was unceasing, and
30 thick was the smoke at times
that the hot noon sun could not be
seen. The Russians were persistently
brave, and pursued their well known
policy of reserving their fire until the at
tacking column was at very close range,
when, after the discharge they sprang for
ward and received their foes with the bay
onet. It was not always that the Turks
wavered. Some portions of the Turkish line
fought better than others. Desperate hand
to hand fighting occurred on two occasions.
MEL1KoTF IN COMMAND.
1.-THE Turks attempted to flank the right
of the Russian defensive position, but were
defeated in each and every attempt.
General Loris Melikoff commanded the
defence in person. He was enthu-
siastically cheered whenever he appeared.
Both the Russians and the Turks were in full
strength. 1t was on the part Of the latter
an attack in force to fully test the Russian
position, but General Melikotf was able to
so mass his forces at the point Of attack,
when made in the open country, as to op-
pose man for man to his enemy.
THE ONLY TURKISH SUCCESS.
''By cavalry dash about daylight the
Turks captured the little village of Kizzeil
Tapa, place wholly untenable, and was
consequently abandoned by the Russians
long since. This place the Turks held
throughout the day because the fighting at
the front was so active that no men could
we'll be spared to dislodge them. They
will doubtless evacuate the place tonight
THE TURKS FIGHT DESPERATELY
'sThe efforts of the Turks to capture
K3Tuk Dara were desperate and certainly
did not fail from want of persistency. Prior
to the opening of the attack only few COM
panies Of the regiment forming the extreme
Russian left had been encamped in
front of the little town, but shortly after
midnight, General Loris Melikoff having
been informed of the advance of the enemy,
ing of four regiments of $500 men, were
thrown into the place before five o'clock in
the morning. The greater part of the Sec
ond division was held as q reserve, and did
not come into action until late in the after
noon.
TERRIBLE ORDEAL.
''The first shock of the attack was re-
ceived by two regiments OF infantry which
had reinforced the small force in occupation
Of Kuruk Dara, and in these two regi-
ments the losses were terrible, some
companies being literally wrecked. They
,tood their ground, however, until relief
came, and that was the main thing. These
men gave the Turks their first check, and
checked they were at every point through
out the day.
THE PALM OF VICTORY.
"The repulse of the attacking army was
decided. saw the greater portion of the
fight and the retreat of the Turks ut night
FALL The losses on both sides were un-
doubtedly very heavy but at this time, with
in two hours of the cessation of the fight, it is
impossible to accurately estimate the num-
Der of killed and wounded.
WOUNDED GENERAL.
''It was reported about two o'clock that
Ger exal Komanoff Tchavshevadze was