The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-28
The Turkish Sailors Go Down at
Their Guns.
THE STRUGGLE IN ASIA.
Progress Of the Campaign---Prepara-
tons for the Grand Onslaught.
THE CZAR'S HEALTH.
(BY CABLE TO THE HERALD.l


the friends Of Turkey have had great hopes OF the
Turkish fleet, aud most people have naturally an
tcipated that the Russian passage OF the Danube
would be rendered hazardous In the extreme by the
presence on the river OF formidable array OF
monitors. The news or the sinking OF the FIRST
Turkish ironclad, with several hundred men on
board, by the fire from the Russian batteries Gre
ated profound sensation here, but after while
people began to say it was simply lucky shot,
and would in oil probability turn out to be
an isolated instance. A good deal had been said
about Russian torpedoes, but, seeing no result OF
their presence In the river, their efficiency began
to be doubted, and once more tile efi-
cheney OF the Turkish monitors as
means OF resisting the passage OF the
Danube by the Russian army began to be Wanted
by enthusiastic Turcophies The startling news
telegraphed by the HERALD correspondent at
Pioejesti will however, show how comparatively
easy It Is to render the Turkish notla on the
Danube almost useless, and how terribly efficient
Is the Russian torpedo service.
ANOTHER TURKISH MONITOR sunk.
The HERALD correspondent with the Russian
headquarters Ut Ploejesu, IN Roumania, tele-
graphs the following Interesting account OF an at
tack on the Turkish iron clad neet In the Danube
and the destruction OF one OF the large monitors
by torpedo boats. The details OF the action are
taken from the ofucal report made by the gallant
leader OF the attack, Lieutenant Denbasor, to the
Russian headquarters:-At midnight on the 25th OF
May four Russian gunboats left lbrail under the
command of Lieutenant Denbasor with the
object Of attacking aud, II possible, destroy
ing the nect OF Turkish iron-clads which
lay further up the Danube in the direction OF
Aatchin. This expedition was organized with great
secrecy, and only the higher oficers at headquar-
ssrs knew OF It's destination, though 1t had been
made to render the stay OF the Turkish monitors in
the Danube rs uncomfortable as possible. About
two hours steaming brought the Russian gunboats
to Matchin, where three Turkish iron-oads lay an.
chored In the stream, and without delay the signal
20 attack was given.
Lieutenant Denhasor made an admirable DISPOSE
tion Of his gunboats and In the conduct OF the &C.
tion displayed great courage and sound Judgment.
Taking the lead in the advance, lie ran his own gun
clads without paying any heed to the heavy fire
which the monitors opened on the approaching
gunboats. Selecting the largest Of the monitors,
Lieutenant Denbasoir ran his boat alongside and
succeeded in exploding torpedo under her side,
causing = bad leak but not damaging her
sufnciently to disable her. This partial
failure was, however, soon remedied by the gun
boat xenia, which had closely followed the Czaro.
Witch, and, approaching the Turkish monitor, sue.
ceeded In exploding under her o second torpedo
TWENTY MINUTES WORK.
This brilliant action did not occupy more than
twenty minutes from the moment Of giving the
signal to attack to the withdrawal OF the
Russian gunboats. During the action tile
Turks kept up constant fire ON the
ASSISTANTS, but the aim OF the artiierists
was so bad that not u single Russian was struck.
The cncct OF this torpedo attack is likely to prove
very demoralizing to the Turkish Meet in tile
Danube 1t definitely settles the question Of the
value Of the Turkish feet In preventing the
passage Of the Danube and Will probably induce
the Turkish ron-clads 10 remove from the too
dangerous neighborhood Of the Russian gun
boats. Torpcdoes are evidently going to prove
their superiority over armor plates and heavy
guns In this war.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
The following details have been received OF the
destruction OF the Turkish monitor by torpedoes:-
1.-TWO young Russian engineer orlcers attempted to
reach the monitor early In the evening with torpe
does, but they were discovered and driven back
by . heavy ire. At three O'Clock In the
morning they returned In two skins, carrying q
chain Of small torpedoes flied with dynamite.
No lookout being kept aboard the monitor. they
securely lodged the chain across her bows ON
sneir return they discharged the whole series or
sorpedoes BY means OF an electric battery. The
vessel Immediately disappeared"
POSITION or MATcHIN.
The town OF Matchin opposite which the action
cook place Is situated on the right or Bulgarian
side Of the Danube, distant from Ibrail ten
miles 70 the eastward. The intervening space
b occupied BY several low marshy. unavailable
islands which divide the Danube into several
channcls. but the main navigabc channel passes
close TO Aatchin The course OF the Danube Is
here very tortuous and Matchin stands in right
angle formed BY two stretches OF the river to the
southward and westward. The Paska arm OF the
Danube, which runs northward directly IRON the
mouth OF the Ialoontxa, near Hirsova, to lbrail Is
subdivided by Islands, and, with the main channel,
surrounds . vast island swamp In which are
several considerable iakea These render