The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-01
The Russian and Turkish Positions
Artillery COurteSie.l
IN THE MUsCov1TE CAMP
On the Road from Alexandropol-The
Country and People.
From the London Times.l


account Of our position here in front Of Kars Our
camp divided into several parts situated on series
OF hills lying between Kars aud Mara, about six or
seven miles from the former place The OF Ksrs
lies 10 the south OF u.s. and at the OF the camp
ms river kars Tchai coming from Kars, that tho
Turks might say that drink only the refuse water
they do not require The tents Of the Grand Duke's
Stan are In advance, and almost on the summit OF
hull OF considerable height ON the top OF which Is
placed our telescope. with which every movement Is
watched. Standing on this point OF vantage, 5000
1eet above the level OF the sea- aud looking to the
SOUTH we see In the distance OF mountains
covered with snow The country is green, but oare
as there are no trees here at all In ol the
mountains We see group or rather two groups Of
rugged hills surmounled by forts The two groups OF
hills are separated by deep gorge, through which
the river lows. There three principal forts ON
these hills, which during the day generally speak
ing vi these the central one Is Fort Arab and to tho
lett OF It is Karadagh. and on the right at tho otter
side OF tho gorge OF tho river stands Fort ukhs,
which was built by General Williams the Last war,
wnen ho held the place with bravery which Is ac-
knowledged by none more readily than the Russians
themselves. Behind Karadagh lies the town of
Kars, and TO the lett OF the town there is FORT
khats Pacha, on low ground. To the lett OF tho
whole fortress plain extends lar the MOUNTAINS
which are ~ distance of nearly two miles from the
town. All round the town, except the west, and
along the whole distance TO position, there Is a
grassy plain covered with knobs which afford excel
lent positions for the Russian batteries aud for
cealng troops ! believe that at present there are
seventy -four guns and morars in position The dearest
OF which batteries are two miles from the Iorts.
PEKsisrENTLY HOLDING OUT.
or all the forts there Is none which has done 80
much damage Us the ccntra. one--Arab-and IL Is
against TINS one that the RUSSIAN batteries are most
perseveringy directed Mukns Is ut present almost
silent The firing comes altogether from Karacagh
ana Arab; il halo Pacha has done no damage; but u
sore was made from II oh the 18th. Sortes have
been made occasionally, but not sinco arrived
unsuccessful, and this owing chiefly to the
brilliant charges OF tho Seversk cavalry. The
bombardulent commenced on the 18TH and has been
continued almost without interruption. Since came
here the attack has begun at i've or six IN the morning,
ANA is not Responded to by the Turks Tor few
Alter that tbe cannonaIc rs iucessant the Russians
hiring two or three shots for every one vi tho Turks
There Is no doubt that the Turks have splendid guns,
ana that they Know how TO direct them Their ann Is
best IN the evening, and last night noticed shc
utter another from Arab invariably bursting within 100
yards or SO OF battery which had been causing them
much annoyance. great many OF their shells, how
ever, 90 not burst. My first animation yesterday
morning That Arab had begun 10 respond TO Dire
was when was riding out 10 discover the position OF
the Russian troops IN tho held l had just passed
group OF Cossacks encampod on the shell cred side
hill, and had then proceeded, as thought cut of tho
line of any ire the TURKS were likely 10 direct when
heard The whz Of shell, which Tell within thirty
yards OF me- but fortunately did not burst THIS was
at seven O'Clock, and ION that time they continued
to reply to our batteries
GRADUAL ADVANCES.
Nearly evory day the batteries advanced
to the fortress and on the night vi the 23d three
batteries were established. Tue work commenced at
nine M, and was completed at one A. III. Every
Que here Is very hopeful OF speedy capture. Many
reports run through the camp, the truth OF which /
cannot guarantee. am told that General Loris Nell
kon inte copied messenger with u ctter IRON the
commander o the fortress, IN which he wishes u to
be known that they bad way-want oil pro-
Visions and people III revolt
In the meantime you may like TO obtain some idea
OF The country IN which the field operations OF the
armies are being conducted, and with this object
Will attempt to give bret account Of my journey
hiIher On the evening oil yesterday Sunday week
/ received abe news from Prince Mlisky that the
Grand Duke Michael willing that should JOIN
the Russian army Of the Caucasus. My preparations
for departure were aready all complete / had on
gagged as interpreter and dragonan an intelligent
young man, who is an Italian by BIRTH, who speaks
TURKISH, Armenian, Georgian aud PERSIAN, besides
VINO accompanied Colonel Baker IN his journey
through Persia aud Alghanstau. On the Monday
proceeded TO get The required documents and to leave
four copies oil my photograph with the stan and then
ordered post horses. But the traffic the road Is
great Al present thai these were not ob'anabc, 50
that was OBJ ICED again TO apply 10 Prince MIrsky,
who was kind enough TO give me letter instructIng
all postmastors to do all they could for me- knew
from previous experience IN Siberia that this docu-
ment would be invaluable and 50 VI proved 10 be.
TRYING TO Gxr IN.
This delay prevented me from starting before tho
evcnlng OF tho 10Th. AT the appointed time Gerome
appeared had been fortunate enough to obtain the
loan Of capital light tarantass and our goods were
travelling carriage, comfortable enough Tor Jay and
night travelling, and tho only kind which could be
ployed many Of the miserable roads distant parts
OF the Russian Empire. Tho body OF the carriage
sembles aat-botomed puGt, ana it IS placed upon
series Of long poles which connect tho axies Of tho
front and hind wheels There arc hood aud apron,
which afford good protection from the rain. In this
carriage the travellers baggage IS securely packed,
and then he lies comfortably enough on The top of IT,
The horses are generally three in number, harncssed
abreast and TINS is the celebrated roika Of The Rus
SLAMS, but additional horses are often added.
The weather Tor the last lew days had been very
stormy, with constant wind, accompanied by hail or
rain. We started in hall a gale, which gradually IN
creased III force, driving tho dust about most
pleasant manner. Al the first station there was
crowd Of travellers, aud We were obliged TO wall
hours Here we met u soldier IRON Arabian, wEo had
ia his hands magniuceDt Martini rifle, which he had
bought alter the loot Tor MY kopecks Ia shngL We
travelled for some distance along the banks OF tho
Kura, and at nightaii commenced TO the hills 10
The south Dayoreak found Us ON an extensive plateau
with scant vegetation and Tut lew habtatons. these
were mud covered huts dug in the ground aud occu-
pied by poor Armenians, together with Tow Gcor-
gans. No animal lie was visible on the plain, except
some vultures aud occasionally a Georgian paro-
quet and Other bright plunged Dirds, remind
ing OF tropical climates. Here und there a
small stream flowed aloug, deeply coloring It's stony
bed with icrrug nous deposit. When we wero about
slxty.two miles from rms the scenery changed, and
We entered upon denscly wooded country, better
cultivated and with better class OF dwellings,. The
road was cxceont most OF tho way, and especially
far as Dean, where 1t divides IN Two, one part go ng
to Ervan the other to Aiexandropo. In fact. |
gstonlshcd to ind road upon which there bad been
so unusual an amour. OIL trailc curing INC last SIX
months in sucn excellent condition. In the afternoon
We came upon most rclre hing spring OF settler
water Soon after We lett the wooded country, aud Tor
the last seveny or eighty miles OF the road TO alex
andropoi hardly a tree was to DC seen. From this
point we passed hundrcds of carts carrying wood,
drawn by bunaloes or buocks. Here and there lay
the skocto OF mats which had persisted IN this
arduous journey, anu sometimes nerd Of pigs could
d. be seen gnawing at their bones
HORSES At mon RAVES.
the wagons camo to grief occas lonay, and we're
either abandoned at the roadside or were IN process Of