Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-08-29
A GREAT VICTORY BY MUKTAR

Reuters dispatch dated Erzer6
Saturday, says the Russians advaIt
upon Kurukdara and Wezlnkoy on 4
day, but were compelled to retreat attn
five hours engagement. during which
some of their ammunition cases were
exploded by Turkish shell. Reuters
dispatch from Constantinople says a
telegram was received there that the
Russians lost 1000 killed and wounded
in this affair.
Mukhtal Pasha telegraphs from Cue
dikler, on Saturday, as follows; "We
have gained a great victory, having car
ried the heights of Klziltepe during the
night, and repulse three Russian at
tempts to retake them. Two hundred
cannon were brought into action. The
engagement became great battle, last
ing until six O'Clock Saturday evening.
The enemy were routed along the
whole line, with the loss of 1900 killed
and wounded. We captured an immense
quantity of arms and ammunitlons. Gen.
Tchoutchowassoff, commanding the Rus
sian cavalry, was killed. We lost zoe
killed and wounded, including severol
officers. My horse was wounded.
FIGHTING AT REToUM.
Dervish Pasha, telegraphlng from
Batoum Friday, claims to have captur-
ed the redoubt Of Djianguir. One hun
dred Russians were killed.
THE LATEST REPORTS. ..
LONDON, August 27.-The Standard s
Constantinople special states that, in
consequence of Mukhtar Pasha's victo-
ry General Kendall regards the cam
paign in Ar;uenia as closed for this
year.
The Paris Temps says it has received
intelligence from an authentic source
that Suleiman Pasha has captured the
Shipka entertainments, with fifteen
guns, and pushed on to Gabrova. = q
The Daily News, correspondent, who
was an eyewitness Of Fridays battle
in the shipka Pass, telegraphs from
Gorney Student, Saturday, as follows :
Riding backward from Shipka.
through the night, I passed masses of
reinforcements of artillery and infantry
hurrying forward to Shipka. Their
strength is such as ought to secure the
safety Of the all-important position"
The same correspondent telegraphs
from Bucharest. Sunday, as follows :
Information follows me here that the
fighting at the pass is still raging, hay
ing been again renewed to-day, but that
Radetzky continues TO hold his own.
ut is now question OF endurance,
but I adhere to my impression that the
Shipka Pass, as now held by Radetzky,
is safe, and that un less Sulelman Pasha
can run a column through another pass
he will wreck his army by thus dashing
it continually against Shipka."
The correspondent explains that the
Shipka Pass consists merely Of section
of the Balkans lower than the surround
ing heights. There is no pass properly
so called, but merely teack over this
lower section, or ridge, which is ex-
tremely broken and billy.
The highest point of the road is flank
ed on either side by mountain spurs
higher than itself and commanding it.,
and also, ridge behind the first Of
these spurs, can rake the road leading
up to the Russian positions.
!. These spurs break of abruptly and
precipitously at the edge. therefore af-
fordmg no access into the valleys north
of the Balkans. Their sole use to the
Turks, heretofore, was IN affording po-
sitions from witch to flank the central
Shipka ridge.
It's possible also for troops to de-
scend from them, struggle through the
intervening glens, and climbing the
steep slopes Of the Schipka ridge, give a
hand to each other on the road whi2
runs alond its summit.
This done, the Shipka position won
of course, be turnsd. But. the ad1
tage would be of little avail till thej
had been opened by carrying Il
Shipka ridge constitutes tor an ar
only practicable line OF communica
in this country Of the Balkans.
On the 2lst inst, when fighting co
menced the Russians probably were lit
over 1900 strong, with 10 cannon. The
Russians on this day had laid mines in
front of their trenches, which were ex-
ploded Just as the head Of the Turkish
assaulting parties were massed above
them. 1t is reported that large num-
Der OF Moslems were blown into frae-
ments.
by Thursday evening the Turks had
SO worked around on both the Russian
TANKS thatit seemed as though the claws
Of crab were about momentarily to
close behind the Russians, and that the
Turkish columns climbing the Russian
ridge would give hand to each other on
the road in the rear Of the Russian posi-
ton.
At this supreme moment two Russian
generals, expecting momentarily to be
environed, sent at last telegram to the
Gar, telling him what they expected,
how they tried to prevent it, and how,
please God, when driven into their posi-
tons they would hold these until rein
forcements chould arrive. At all events,
they and their men would hold their
ground TO the last drop of their blood.
About six O'Clock there was a lull in
the fighting, Of which the Russians could
take no advantage, since the reserves
were all engaged. The men were beat
en- out with heat, fatigue, hunger and
thirst.
There was no water within the Rus
sian lines, and men lay painting on the
bare ridge reckless of the fact that 1t
was swept by the Turkish rifle fire.
Others doggedly fought on down among
the rocks but were forced to give ground.
1.-The cliffs resounded with triumph
ant Turkish shouts. 1t was at this
iuncture that achievements under Ra.
detzsky arrived, Radetzsky took COM
mand of these, with others, who arrived
subsequently, which brought up the
number Of the defenders Of the pass to
about $4,000.
The road even in the rear of the
Russian positions along which the REIN
forcements had to advance was swept
by the Turkish fire, and the reinforce
ments suffered severely.
The object Of Fridays battle was to
clear the Turks from a well-wooded po-
sition which flanked the Russians. PEST.
tons on the road. The fighting was
solely confined to musketry, and con-
tinued all day most desperately. The
Russians could make little impression
by front attack on the Turks.
The correspondent says: Occasion
ally at some point the Russians would
be hurled clear back out Of the wood al
together, l could mark the Turks follow