Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-06-22
The Eastern War.

spectipg the first conflict In the open nelu pc-
tween the Turks and Russians in Armenia. 1t
will be remembered that Mukhtar Pasha rem
forced the troops at Delibaba some days ago
and ordered Commander Mehcmct to advance
through the passes from the Aras Valley and
Pasha Plain and meet the Russians. Mehenet
therefore descended the slope and took up a
position at Ncidikan, or Saiaachao, which is
ten or twelve miles southwest OF Toprak Aslch,
and lust in front Of the passes above mentioned.
His artillery strength was Get strong. Ills !n
fautry was not above eight thousand, AID nc
had little or 40 cavalry, and that was bad. The
Russian left, under Lieutenant General lcrgu'
kassoff, had, on the other hand, about Ten
thousand Infantry and plenty Of cannon, beside
an cflectual cavalry force. Tho Turks brought
on the fight by advances on the 10th instant.
The whole day was spent in IN artillery duel,
hut on the 10th the Russians began the cSecu-
ton of what was evidently settled plan. Dix
bodies Of Russian infantry advanced at e clock
under cover of terrible artillery lire Not
witbstanding the Turks returned a steady fire,
the enemy continued to advance. and, fnaIl7,
bv dctacAiug str0lg body, turned the Turkish
right flank, se;z3d the commanding hill aud
quickly threw up brea5tworkS and there cStaa-
ished four field gus, which euabIed them TO
take almost the entire front OF the Turkish ii0c.
From this moment the losses Of the latter were
serious. Their men fell rapidly. Their ar;il-
lery was disodgcd and the infantry exposed,
| without support, to murderous lire. FOR
over twenty minutes tic Ottomaus stood be-
fore this new attack, and al this Crisis Mehelnet
fell 10 Increase the difficulties ammunition
fell short. At 10 o'clock the height which the
Turks held at the opening OF the battle was 20
longer tcnablc, and by midnight the last Turk
was driven off. A cavalry charge followed,
converting defeat into rout. One account says
the Russians advanced into the Plain Of pasu
two miles from Mukhtar's position, which Is
yery prccarious. This is apparently confirmed
| bv Russian official dispatch which says -
| General Turgukassoff has LETT Z:dika, aud is
marching upon Kuprikoi" Ga the other hand,
| Mukhtar Pasha's main position was al last ac-
counts, near Zawln, aud it is certain that The
Aras which is not tordablc at this season, flows
| between him and the troops beaten Oh Satur-
day, which would protect hin from thc RuS-
| sian left wing. Another report says, however,
that some of the army around kals has au-
vanced towards ElZ,roum, which may explain
| Mukhtar's Pasha's threatened position. Tic
latest Turkish adviccs, dated June II, say the
Turkish LETT wing is retreatlng On Erzoroum,
followed by Russian General. Il Pera DIS.
patch to the London Globe says Bayazd ta>
been rctaken by the Turks.
| Faik Pasha, Turkish couimaodant ct Van
having been advised OF the approach OF one
thousand Russians, dispatched body OF cav
airy and infantry against them. The Russians
were defeated and hed 10 Bayazld, the district
about which place tho Turks have Invested. As
Faik Pasba has cut them Oft from all assistance,
the capitulatou Of Bayazia is imminent
The Russian left wing has fallen back on
Kbaliat and Zsidikan. The Turkish right
wing is in front OF the mountan gorge oil Deli.
| baba. Mukhtar Pasha IL still 1T hh"rem
Duzcc.
The distress in Montenegro is likely 10 cause
an important change in Russian strategy. The
Car is greatly concerned as to the fate OF Mon
| teucgro, whose only chance appears to be ID
the Russians marching across ScrVla TO Nosl
Bazaar, whence they might fall on Mchemet
Ais rear.
Sulciman Pasha has joined Ali Saib and
| their united armies are marching upon Get
tipjc.
Suleiman Pasha occupied the strong position
Of PIaninilza unoppOsed, owing to the lucapa.
city of Vukovics, the lnsurgent leader, who,
after he had decided to no longer oppose the
royictualllng of Nicsics, remained inactive until
the Turks entered that place instead OF proyld.
ing for the defence of Paninlza.
Russia has invited Austria to make military
preparations for the purpose Of preventing the
Montcnegrins from being utterly crushed. The
Austrian Foreign Office Is not l1cliucd to move
| - Lo cippc IN nj
quarters, however, point TO the probability that
| the moment is considered close at hand when
| further naction ca the part CT Austria might
uniavorabIy prejudice her future position In
connection with the solution Of the Oriental
question.
Five Pashas, commanding forty battallons,
twenty guns and five thousand cavalry, attacked
the Nlontcucgrin position near Ostrok On Sun
day. Fighting has been proceeding unintcr
ruptcdy, night and day, until the present time.
The Turks so far have not gained foot. The
telegram, however, contempatcs the possibility
| OF the Monteuegrins being fnally compelled 10
give way. The Turks suffered immense losses
during the last three days.
! Contrary to Turkish reports CT The Junction
of Suleiman Pasha and Ali Sab Cctt!Dj, cor
| respondent, says Relative to the Turkish
defeat near Spuz later accounts show there
never was worse panic, moro disastrous rout,
known in the annals of the war between Turkey
aud Montenegro. 1t was only the artillery Of
the forts that saved the Turkish army from
| complete destruction. The Turkish dead eau.
not be counted, because they lie along the plain
nearly up to Spuz and the artillery of tho city
prevents approach. General Petrovcz reports
about 1000 dead within the ground recovered
| by The Montenegrins. The spirits OF the people
are very high here 1t is confidently believed
| that Suleiman will be driven back to Ncsics. y
Sixty Turks landed near Kalarash on We'd
nesday. They were attacked by the Russians
| and we're nearly all killed and wounded alter
| an obstinate resistance. There was heavy can
nouadc across the river between Wddin and
Kalalat yesterday.
CaunonadiDg continues at Bucharest. A
Russian battery has been dismantled at Slo-
bosia.
All military attaches except English have