The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-06-19
THE EASTERN WAR.
The Battles With The MOatenegfinS.
FIVE DAYS HARD FIGHTING
AGE TURKS LOSING OVER
1900 MEN.
OIfi and Pe.aneik EieOccaa
pied by the Turks.
Russia Declares She Esas No De-
signs Against the SugZ Canal.
3 Days Fighting Before Kars.
Russians Repulsed With Great
Slaughter.

positions in front OF the Duga Pass, Su-
LEHMAN Pasha advanced with several bat
talions and mountain artillery to force
the defle held by the Montenegrins,-
There being only one available road, and
that leading through the Duga Pass, the
Turks sought by dint of sheer fighting to
seize the bends of the road, so as to place
their guns in position to support the ad-
vance of the head OF their column. The
ground was favorable for this plan of oes
erations. For the first two days the ME, !,
tenegrins slowly retired before the we'll
displayed Turkish line, until the narrow
ing Of the ground and the increasing diff
culties of the road forced the Turks TO
reduce their front Then the concentra-
ted fire of the Montenegrins delivered
from every rock and gully OF the rugged
mountain slopes, began to tell With
FEARFUL EFFECT ON THE TURKS
Amid perfect hailstorm of bullets the
brave Turkish infantry struggled onward,
cncumbering the road with their dead and
wounded at every step. The guns posted
before Cola shelled the defile in advance,
but with little effect, as the Montenegrins
were well covered, and suffered only when
the Turks desperately charged on them
amid the rocks and brushwood.
THE FIGHTING ON THE THIRD DAY
Was almost hand to hand, the complaints
firing in each others faces at few yards
distance, But, although the Turks gain
ed ground slowly, it was at q terrible cost
in men. Their superior numbers enabled
them to push up supports to take the
place of the slain, and it seemed as iF the
head of the Turkish column of attack
was melting away as before a furnace
Notwithstanding the stubborn bravery Of
Suleiman Pasha's troops, the fourth days
fighting found them no nearer the key of
the pass, and they had already.
LOST NEARLY THREE THOUSAND MEN.
Sull they endeavored to maintain pos
session of the ground they had gained at
such fearful cost, but the effort was
hopeless. The hardy Montcnegrins re-
pulsed every effort to advance, and 1t be
came now only question of covering
the retreat Of the exhausted column
This was commenced by a furious on
slaught on the Montenegrins by the
troops furthest In advance, but which
was quickly repulsed by murderous
fire. The retreat now became general,
and the victorious mountaineers speedily
followed the retiring Turks, reoccupying
their former positions, and
KILLING IMMENSE NUMBERS.
In this prolonged and bloody combat,
lasting over Ave days,th Turks have lost
over a, 900 men, and a quantity of>asms
left on the field. The victorious Monte
negrins lost 700 men. The disproportion
in casualties is due wholly to the natural
strength of their position and the neces,
sary exposure of the Turks during the
attack and retreat. The failure of the
Turks to force the Duga Pass is believed
here to insure the capitulation of Nicsics
within short time; but 1t is likely that
Suleiman Pasha may again attempt to re-
lieve the town.
CoNsrANTINoPLE, June 13.-An official
telegram, dated to-day, says that Sulei
man Pasha has forced the entrance oil
Duga Pass, after sanguinary battle, and
is advancing on Nicsics. The Monten.
egrins ale in full retreat Suleiman's
junction With the other Turkish corps is
expected Immediately.
L
letter states that Count Schonveloff took
to St. Petersburg a specification Of Brit
ish interests as contained in Mr.. Cross
speech in Parliament. Count Schonvel.
offs instructions on his return to Lon
don empowered him to declare that Rus
sia had no designs against the Suez Ca
nal or Egypt. His instructions restrict
ed him to this declaration, Nothing is
known in ST. Petersburg of any semi
official note to Lord Derby, Lord Der
by's reply to Gortschakoff's circular has
up to the present received no answer, a:
the Russian Cabinet considered it couch
ed in curt and unusual terms. There i;
still, however. possibility that Russis
will, on the occasion Of the Immediately
impending passage of the Danube, again
set forth her views.
LONDON, June 13 "A Turkish detach
ment has entered the Russian district o.
Achalech, and threatens the Russian
communication with Ardahan. Should
the Turkish commander succeed In vict
ualing, the Russian advance will be very
difficult on the approach of the three
flying columns sent by Mukhtar Pashs
against the right wing, the Russians no
only evacuated Olti, but Pennek at the
foot of the pass over the Kanby range
leading to Ardahan. Both Olti and Psp
mex were reoccupied by the Turks, who
also went in pursuit of the Russians. :
The above is not from the immediate
scene Of operations, and previous dis
patches stated that the Russians we're
withdrawing from the direction OF Eize
roum in order to prosecute the siege ot
Kars, reduce it, and keep their rear free
from attack.
ERzERoUM, June 14-Sickness, espe
cially typhus fever, causes greater gaps
in the Turkish ranks in Asia than the
volunteers are able to fill up During
the last six months 600 men have dice
in the hospital.
BoGHAs, via ERzERoUM, June 14.-Tnt
Russians have made a determined attack
on Kars. The fighting lasted during
Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The
Muscovite troops we're repulsed witt
great slaughter.
The rising in Caucasus, which had
been languishing, has suddenly immense
ly revived.
RUsTcHUoK, June 15.-On Tuesday 6
party of Russians, opposite Maretin
made an attack upon a Turkish monitor
there, but the latter, with the help of 6
land battery, beat them off. Yesterday
another attempt was made to construct
a battery on the islands, but the Turks
compelled the enemy to retreat. Both
affairs are considered as feints to find
out the position OF the Turkish batteries
i The Russians have massed around
Kars all the troops which they brought
from Ardahan, ,Gunery and Kogischman
For several days they have been attempt