New-York tribune., 1877-05-02

Aloxandropol both Russian stronghods and Kars,
where the hostile armies met at daybrcak on Sunday,
and the Turks were II IL said, driven back on the
northeast coast is marked the position Of Chctke or
Fort St Nicholas, which the Turks bombardcd, causing
trivial loss The Russian generals not unacqUanted
with the country east and northeast of the Black sea The
Circassans who live in the mountains have been terrible
uisciefmakcrs to the oucroachiug Russians for three
quarters Of a century. By system Of mountain
fare descending at will upon the plains they have con
tnuay harassed the Cars by fierce and unrclenng
sstancc They are followers Of the Prophet, and the
sight OF the rich plains south of the mountains passing
into the hands OF Christians had aroused their religious
zeal as far back 1888 and the warfare has seldom
ceased since then One of their number 81 years
old silent and earnest learned beyond his people, noble
iu his sense OF honor, believing himself inspired from
Allah and called Tie PrGphejwarriOrO OF the Caucasus
schamyI 10y name, had S3i succeeded to the leader
slip of these mCuntainecrs. From 1885 until 1888 the
history OF the Caucasus story OF continuous con
Oicts between the Mussumans and The MuscOyitcs The
zar Nicholas sent against SCAamyl the best men that
thc Empire could furnish, and orders 10 take him,
alive or dead Twenty years accomplished little or moth
ing; Russia maintained an amy OF from $4,000 10
$50 600 men, Of whom 10000 lost every year by
disease and VIZ, until in 1858 it required constant
watchfulness to maintain her fortified posts. The
erIcgists of these CircassInns have called them the
h,ndsomest, bravest and nOblest OF mankind; Others
have pictured them sCmbarbarOus horde oi maraud
ers living by plundcr practicmg poygamy, and selling
their dau ghters the Turks al the rate OF coo year
when tine sultan of Turkey declared war against Rus
a in the Autumn OF $685. interest for time centcIcd
IN Eurole along the Danube. Operations soon began,
,eycr III that portion Of Asia which borders upon the
rlack Sea. In tins respect the present war bears a
marked similarity to It's predecessor and the resemblance
might be much further traced III the progress OF the two
campaigus Interest at the present time being directed
toward Asatic Turkey outline Of the campaign OF
1s- in that country vii be interesting This will also
include an account OF te~cge OF Kars near which city
hattie js now reported to bc in progress. Late in the
season Of 1888 the Turks marched TO the noih where
small body Of Russians was posted, aud at AkatsE'
which is 80 miles north Of Karzthcy, mace an impelu-
ous attack upon them The Russians reTeateo TO the
fortress Of the town there besiegcd without erect
and 81 poriion of the Turks finally established their
camp upon Russian ground as a base fer movement
,oaipst alexaudropol But the Russians drove them
~ their post They retrcated to Kars, were overtaken
srd roufcd. aud the Russians dceming further ad-
pcc Iarrldcut went iu.o Winter quarters at AeXan-
,noI willie the Turks fortified themselves at Kara
,,vile the siege at Ahhasik had been in progress
Int a reimbursement the R7ssans brought deieas TO
~ branch of the Turkish army and forced IL TO retire
II, Arabian. which is half way on the road to kaTs'
,,,i l ouepnc of the year 1884 operations were re
,.d The Turk, were greatly disorguizcd III tEeir
and depressed n spirits On the othef mana Ihe
Rrssins Lad 30 900 men ready 10 take le 'lu III tue
month of April besides the forces stationed" q" c el'ohs
m, IN, t,yo armies met, however in open heldi the
,rl had bern reinforced and drove The enemy back IN
% utmost disorder As the season advanced the turks
orded themselves at Kars and the Russians at Alex
drouoI 30 miles to the northeast Bo'h received ac
,o % their numbers, the Turks at kars Delhg Z''ooo
80, II WAS not until August that ihe armies luet OH
tho DISASTROUS field OF kurcdcie "heie tne AuAs '
% , ,s,d a,d ,sounded and 1000 prisoners wlhe the
,,.-i.n dead and wounded numbered more thau
q nno The Turks were badly demolali]ed' however
tbropgh mismanaeement In September Cen Mi'''"i''
an English officer who had been appointed biI''Sn n'
tary Commissioner the Turkish army III ASh'
at Kars He had been in Asia before ana Ahe" 'Ne "'
ard measures with which he had to deal b"' "
himself In the midst OF Il ueo"'e -,
ll7,a,.A army which was directed by incom-
-. ard corrut men who opposed every
lsor, at reform. But the course he pursued III 'n0