The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-07-28
A Remarkable Torpedo Conflict.


An officer of the Turkish navy has
discovered that the most effective
way to beat off an enemy's torpedo
boats from an iron-clad is to use tor.
pedoes against them. The Russians
became aware of this new plan OF
their enemies upon attempting to
destroy a Turkish monitor stationed
near where the Aluta river flows in
to the Daube. 1t was while their
troops where crossing the Danube,
and as the monitor had been causing
them much annoyance by constantly
shelliug their batteries and destroy
ing their boats, it was deemed neces-
sary to drive away the too active
monster lest she should infiict in.
tinitely greater damage by destroy
ing the only bridge across the river.
A correspondent of the London Ne,os
describes the conflict which followed.
The Russians built four torpedo boats
and their crews put the boats in am
bush behind an island. When the
monitor came steaming along out,
the torpedo boats dashed upon her.
To the surprise of the Russians, the
Turkish sailors exhibited none OF
that confusion which usually charac.
terizes them upon the sudden APP
pearance of of an enemy's vessel.
Evidently they had trained and
cool commander. The crew quickly
prepared the vessel for action, and
then defended her with a bravery
and skill that won the admiration
of the Russians. Her commander
began his defence by TRUSTING out
from the monitor torpedoes on the
ends of long spars, thus threatening
the boats with the danger of being
blown into the air first, at the same
time onening a terrific fire on them
with small arms and mitrailleuse.
He moreover manGuvred his BOATS
in very skilful manner, and with
such dexterity that with the torpe.
does protection the monitor, the
Russian boats were unable to APP
prOach near enough to it to discharge
their torpedoes. He besides tried to
run the boats down, and rearly sue.
ceeded in doing so. The cause OF
this magnificent defence was soon
apparent. The commander of the
monitor was European-The Russi-
ans thought him to be an English
man, a tall man with a long blonde
bear. He stood on the deck of the
monitor with his hands in his pockets
giving his orders in the coolest man.
uer. The commanders of the torpedo
boats continued their attemps to
destroy the monitor for over an hour
fitting round the monitor and con.
stantly seeking to get at her, but
without success. The monitor was
equally active in trying to run them
down avoiding collision by quick
movements, backing and advancing,
turning and ploughing the water in.
to foam as she pursued or avoided
her tiny antagonists-a lion attacked
by rat. At one time torpedo boat
found itself between the monitor and
the shore. The monitor instantly
began backing down upon the boat
with the intention of crushing il
against the bank. Just at this mo-
ment the engineer of the launch was
wounded. There was some delay in
starting the engines, while the cur
rent carried her head around in such
a position as to make escape appar.
emily impossible. One of the crew
sprang out into the shallow water
and pushed the boat, and at the same
moment the engines were started
The boat scraped the monitor, but
escaped. Meantime a Russian Officer
had sprang ashore, and had emptied
his revolver, firing at the exposed
captain of the monitor. The captain
finally took of his hat bowed, evi
IDENTIFY not having been struck by {
bullet, Later, however, the gallan
man seemed to have been killed o.
wounded, for he suddenly disap
peared from the deck. The monitor
then retired precipitately from thu
action. The Russian loss was only
four or five wounded men.