The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-07-28
How the MOntenegrins Fight.

In the campaign of last year the Turks
lost about ten to one against the Monte
negrlns. From the mountain SUBMITS
overlooking Podgoritza and the APP
proaches from Scutari, their scouts sig
! naliZed the advance of the Ottoman army.
FROM peak to peak signal fires by night
announced the coming of the foe, while
by day mounted troopers sped to every
district to rally the people to the defense
OF the threatened frontier. On they
came, men, women and children, every
one that could carry a gun, roll rocks on
the head OF the enemy, or assist in the
/ building of intrenchments. The Turks
were allowed to enter for certain dis.
lance in the passes, until they reached
the narrow gorge. There they found
their progress arrested by massive walls
OF rock and stone, stretching from side
to side, completely blocking up the road,
pierced with embrasures for cannon and
musket holes. A halt is called. A
council of war determine that retreat is
impossible, and that the intrenchments
must be carried. At first il was ar artil-
lery engagement. Under the smoke of
the cannonade an assault is ordered.
Forward dash the Turkish troops, with
the blind fury that characterizes them
in the field. The Montenegrin fire hav-
ing lulled, supposing that it was sign
of yielding, the Turks hurry forward
with cries and yells as if sure of their
prey. Hardly have they got within
| twenty feet of the intrenchments, before
from every opening in them pours
sire n nf innaScoDt fcbo II
ie-palls, and all kinds of deadly missiles.
Suddenly the top of the rampant is crowned
with sharpshooters, whose steady aim
picks OIL the officers and mows down the
heads of the columns. On the overlook
ing heights armed men, women and chill
dren appear. Entilading volleys tear the
shattered ranks from above, and huge
powders and rocks come rolling down
the precipices, crushing into the midst
or the serried masses and LAYING low
thousands of combatants. All this while
the air is rent with the shouts of the
mountaineers; the Banner of the Cross is
waved detiantly from on high and on the
works, priests, with the cructix dis
played on their robes, pointing to it
as sign of hope and victory After
repeated onsets, their ranks broken,
their officers, for the most part, slain, the
Turks begin to waver AS soon as this
is perceived the enthusiasm of the Monte
negrins can no longer be restrained.
Over the ramparts they leap, and with
indescribable fury they charge, bayonet
ard sword in hand, on the disordered
masses before them. For moment the
Turks stand at bay, but as the deafening
clamOr sounds like a continuous roll of
thunder, and in rear and flank they are
assailed by unseen enemies that have
descended by secret paths from the top
of the mountain walls, and in front by
the regular troops, they break and run.
Then comes the hour of vengeance For
miles the pass is strewed with heaps of
Turkish slain. Whoever turns to fight
finds himself face to face with SQUAD of
foes who leave him no chance of escape.
No quarter is given; blood flows in tor
rents; it becomes a pitiless massacre;
Only remnant is left to tell the tale of
disaster and woe, and to carry dismay
into the Albanian Businesses. With
thanksgiving to God for the triumph
vouchsafed to their arms, the Montene-
grins sheath their bloodied swords, and
homeward turn loaded with captured
arms and precious spols This is a pct-
ure of the mode of Montenegro lighting
as described to me by participant in
one of the worst defeats the Turks ever
encountered at their hands COnStdntt-
n0pte Cor. PhiJGdeIphia Press.