Middletown transcript., 1877-09-22
rHE nronrENEeRINs.

A Constantinople correspondent
writes: In the campaign Of last year
the Turks lost almost ten to one against
the Montenegrins. From the noun
tain SUBMITS overlooking Podgoritza
and the approaches from scutari their
scouts signalized the advance of the
Ottoman army. From peak to peak
signal fires by night announced the
coming of the foe, while by day mount
ed troopers sped to every district to
rally the people the defense of the
threatened frontier. On they came,
men, women and children, every one
that could carry a gun, roll rocks on
the heads Of the enemy, or assist in the
building of intrenchments. The Turks
were allowed to enter for a certain dis
tance in the passes until they reached
the narrow gorges. There they found
their progress arrested by massive walls
Of rock and stone, stretching from side
to side, completely blocking up the
road, pierced with embrasures for can
non and with musket holes. A halt is
called. A council of war determines
that retreat is impossible, and that the
intrenchments must be carried. At
first it is an artillery engagement
Under the smoke Of the cannonade an
assault is ordered. Forward dash the
Turkish troops with the blind fury that
chafacterizes them in the field. The
Montenegrin FIRE having lulled, sup
posing that it is assign of yielding, the
Turks hurry forward with cries and
yeIls as if sure of their prey. Hardly
have they got within twenty feet of the
intrenchments, before from every open
ing in them, pours stream Of inces
SAINT fire or shell, shot, mimic balls and
all kinds of deadly missiles. Suddenly
the top of the rampant is crowned with
sharp-shooters, whose steady aim picks
off the officers and mows down the
heads of the columns. On the over
looking heights armed men, women
and children appear. Enilading vol
leys tear the shattered ranks from
above, and huge bowlders and rocks
come rolling down the precipices,
crushing into the midst of the serried
masses and laying low thousands of
combatants All this while the air is
rent with the shouts of the mountain
eers the banner of the Cross is waved
defantIy from on high and on the
works; priests, with the crucifx dis
played on their robes, pointing 10 it as
sign of hope and victory. After re-
peated onsets, their ranks broken, their
officers, for the most part, slain, the
Turks begin to waver. As soon as
this is perceived, the enthusiasm of the
Montenegrins can be no longer re-
strained. Over the ramparts they
leap, and with indescribable fury they
charge, bayonet and sword in hand, on
the disordered masses before them.
For moment the Turks stand at bay,
but as the deafening clamor sounds
like a continuous roll Of thunder, and
in rear and flank they are assailed by
unseen enemies that have descended
by secret paths from the top Of the
mountain walls, and IN front by the
regular troops, they break and run.
Then comes the hour of vengeance.
For miles the pass is strewn with heaps
Of Turkish slain. Whoever turns to
fight, finds himself face to face with a
squad of foes who leave him no chance
to escape. No quarter is given; blood
flows in torrents; it becomes pitiless
massacre; only a remnant is left to tell
the tale Of disaster and woe, and to
carry dismay into the Albanian fast
nesses. With thanksgiving to God for
the triumph vOuchsafed to their arms,
the Montenegrins sheath their blOodied
swords, and homeward turn, loaded
with captured arms and precious spoils.
This is a picture of the mode Of Mon
tenegrin fighting as described to me by
a participant in one of the worst de-
feats the Turks ever encountered at
their hands.
/