The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-05-05
THE BATTLE AT KARs.
Kars and It's Means of Defense-The
turkish Mode Of warfare in Asia to
he Defensive.
tN. Y. Tribune. !

turkish Mede Of warfare in Asia tn
he Defensive.
IN. Y. Tribune,l
Soon after the declaration OF war. the
Russian army Of 10000 men appears to
have been set In motion. The main
army left Gunri or Alexandropol, and
advanced In direct line on Kars, which
Ia only thirty-six miles or two days
march from the Russian frontier. There,
according to the Reuter- telegram from
Erzerum Gao miles to the southwest,) q
battle began at daybreak on sunday,
corresponding to . o'clock. Saturday
night, In our time.
Kars ia situated on q rugged plain,
GoOO to 1000 feet above the sea on the
Kars, branch Of the Arpatchi. 1t is
defended by ramparts surrounded by 9
ditch, and has u strong citadel, and
some works on the hills north OF the
city. The city was at one period the
capital of petty Armenian kingdom
OF the same name, but under the Turks
| It lost importance. and became u poor,
dull place, at which merchants stopped
on their way to and from Persia. The
population ls about $4,000. The town is
commanded by an extensive castle,
built while the denoese were possessed
OF this district: the castle, now nearly
crumbled into ruins. stands perohed on
n rocky hill, at the foot OF which flows
the little river Kars. This hill Is, how
ever overtopped by one higher on the
opposite side of the river, the Kara
dagh or Black Mountnin.
Prince Paskevitch in 1928 obtained
control over the town and castle by oe.
cupying this higher hill with few guns
In the spring Of 1854 the Turks, at the
instance OF Gen. Guyon, constructed
formidable earthworks on this Kara
dagh, the whole male population OF the
city being forced to assist in making
these defenses. In the Russo-Turkisl
war Of 1854 IS Kars was captured by the
Russians after heroic defense. Iu
June, 1866. Gen. Mouravief with 2S,00t
men arrived before the city, which wa
held by the Turkish commander witt
only 1900 men. In expectation
of the Russian attack. earthwork
were constructed on all the elevated
spots near the city-some closed like re-
doubts, others open like bastions ant
redans. There was also q line OF defense
inclosing an intrenched camp about
mile and half square on the southern
, side OF the town. AS the siege proceed
! ed. batteries and redoubts sprang up OF
every side, until at length kars became
the center OF series or works scattered
: over ten square miles area. Thes
+ Notifications were constructed unde
the direction OF Gen. Fenwick Williams!
who conducted the defense. On the 29tl
of September the Russians made
general assault, but were utterl.
Tepulsed at all points. The besiegers
however, remained around the, city
and cut off all supplies from the be
leaguered garrison. At length, on th
, oath OF November, Gen. Williams sur
rendered, and was accorded all the hon
ors of war. At present the Turks hav
Sc, 900 men In Asia Minor, distribute
t among the places threatened by tn
: Russians. The Turks are apparentl
8 resolved to act on the defensive, an
: will not attempt to repeat the inroad
8 (which they made in the campaigns {
g e1is59-.4. Moukthar Pasha. who is wit
t the Asiatic army, attained some distint
T tion In the Herzegovinian conflict. d
II is a resolute, skillful commander an
intensely devoted to the Moslem eaus
|