New-York tribune., 1877-09-01
THE MoNTENEGRINs ADVANCING.


LONDON. Friday. Aug 81, 1877.
A dispatch to The Times from Ostrok, dated Au-
gust so says: "The MontenegTin camp was moved to-
day to the plain between Nlcsics and the Duga Pass,
in consequence of attempt to relieve the city
from Gatchko being apprehended."
HORRORS OF THE WAR IN R0UMELIA.
THE CHRISTIANS INCITED TO REVOLT BY THE PRES
ENCE OF RUSSIAN TROOPs-OLD SCORES PAID
oFF-BLooDY REPRIsALs BY THE IURKS-EsH
sAGHRA GIVEN UP TO PLUMBER AMERICAN
MISSIONARIES RESPECTED
lFRoM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRTBUNB1
CONsTANTINOPLE, Aug. S.-Tbe rich valley OF the
Martha is becoming desert. The Bulgarian in
surrecton Of last year involved the total destruction
of about fifteen villages on the skirts Of the noun
tains along the western part of the valley, besides
the partial ruin of many others. The present war is
wiping out of existence whole list of places in other
parts of the valley As soon Gen. Ghourko's
cavalry had spread over the country on this side OF
the Balkans the Bulgarians were invited to revolt,
and the panic of the Turks gave them boldness to
do So They committed themselves, heart and SOUL
to the Russian cause. established their little local
governments levied upon MOslem houses for expen-
ec tried bv court martial such old tyrants
as they could catch; they organized police and an
army. Everything succeeded, and the revolt seemed
SO pleasant thing that even in PhiippOpois week
ago the Bulgarians were the point of attempting
q rising under the very eyes of the Pasha. But there
came achange Turkish troops arrived from every
side and swept over the country. The russians AS
sembled their scattered forces and deserted their
Bulgarian allies, and the wretched villagers fought
10 the death when they found they cOnld not flee.
The Bulgarians had fortified positions at Karlevo
and at Sapot at the entrance of the TrOyan Pass but
surrendered before the Turkish artillery fire. Near
Chrpan the poor people, with their flag, their
new rifles and their new swords made stand, IN
bopes that the Russians would somehow intervene.
But they were not able to hold out an hour, and ied
in dire dismay to islands in the Martha River where
no possible aid can reach them and they must starve
into submission at once. At Esk Saghra, the Rus
slams established division on July %. The people
in wild delight threw away their fez caps and
donned their new black sbeepskin shakos. and gave
themselves up TO all manner of demonstrations OF
ioy-because Turkish rule was over for them They
established a government here too, raised volun-
teers aud equipped local police force. The
rabble pllagod houses and shops of the
Moslems-for the hour for Teprsals had now
arrived.
The Bulgarian Provisional Government at Esk
Saghra, as soon as constituted hanged SIX TURKS
and shot four Others after trial by court-martlal
day Others were executed aud the .ay also, the
fornalities of trial being less in eac sc, until, at
last Turks were taken out Of the ca I'd killed by
auv Bulgarian whip chose to do 50, v hOut form OF
trial Ten Turks IN one batch disposed Of
fbe executioners hacking them down with swords
so dull that three OF four blows were needed in each
case At the same time order was issued prohibit
ing the sale of food to Turks, the object beng to
starye ths nto surrender Of their stock OF secret
ed arms At last however, an order read In all the
churches prohibited summary executions, and this
stopped the killing of Turks after perhaps hundred
executions had taken place The city was then pretty
quiet, but on Tuesday, July 81, the battle of Esk
Saghra began. and by noon the Turkish shells be-
gan TO fall among the houses, and the whole fabric
of Bulgarian Government went to pieces. The Bul-
garans had been alarmed by the firing ten miles
east. the day before, and had anxiously questioned
the Russian General, who reassured them with the
statement that everything was going well. 1t was
also understood that notice would be given to them
if the Turkish advance should prove strong enough
TO force retreat of the Russians. As soon as the
shells began to howl through the streets there
was great movement in retreat of Bulgarlans,
with their families and goods. The Russians,
however drove them back into the city at the point
of the bayonet again and again. not choosing TO be
encumbered in retreat by such a mass Only forty
minutes before the Turkish skirmishers entered the
streets were the Russian sentines removed, so that
the Bulgarans could leave the town. Then ensued
a fearful stampede of the frightened crowd. All
the 10y and all the folly Of the previous week made
the collapse from hope to terror more complete. The
mass of flying wagons with men, women and chill
dren checked the narrow pass which leads from
Esd Saghra north to the Kasanlik Valley, and then
the Turkish artillery increased Che elevation of its
guns, and, firing the town with deadly ac-
curacy dropped its shells into the writhing mass IN
the pass. The Bulgarian volunteers, who were
fighting in line outside, had orders to defend the
town. and never received any instructions to desist
So they fell back upon the town, fighting. aud con-
tinued stubbornly to fight in the strees, inicting
serious loss OIL the Turkish advance, receiving and
asking no opportunity tosurrender.
THE WORK OF DESTRUCTION BEGUN.
As the Turkish troops approached the city, tho
Moslem inhabitants began TO issue forth from their
hiding places They hardly paused, however to
greet the troops who had delivered them. In fact,
before the troops had fairly entered the place, the
Moslem citizens brought out axes and began to break
in the doors of all Bulgarian houses. Now was the
opportunity to satisfy the coverings Of years Now
was the time to revel in riches OF the proud old