The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-06-20

south, armies are gathering, that every block
house has its guns shotted and that, eager
Tor the fight along the whole frontier ram
part of bold hearts and strong arms awaits
the slightest movement of the Turks Here
a strong reserve Is collected, with many of
the oldest chiefs, men and chiefs.equally inn
patient at the delay. There is nothing to do
but study the people and be in readiness for
the alarm when it comes. Headquarters are
in little summer house of the prince, in
which are quartered the staff, portion OF
the perioniks "a select gendarmerie and
guard), the Sabodalas (body guard selected
from the better families, a noble guard in
fact). and such of the sirdaTs and voivedoes
rs are not on the frontier or charged with
special duties elsewhere.
In the common people one sees more
clearly the divergence from the Serb type as
seen in other provinces, and what is still
more interesting, the relation between the
prince and his people. Judged by the
standard of dress they are mass of latter
donations In the ranks a majority are
more or less ragged, and the battalions do
not trouble themselves much with being in
axact line or keeping any particular posi-
ton, bat no army drill could secure more
absolute obedience to any order. On the
eastern and southern sides OF the house ex-
tends broad terrace, large enough to form
two or three battallOns on, and there a por
ton of those who are for moment here,
with the perioniks and body guard, pass
most of the day either in recounting the
exploits of the war or in athletic sports
When in the morning the prince comes out,
line is formed instantly, and all uncover
while he takes his morning walk up
aud down the terrace. As he alks
along the line, now and then
man runs forward, catches the hand of
the prince, and kisses it, dropping back into
his place, and then another and another the
bo hnr Nth n
which has great fascination for the simple
minded folk-with smile, a word of inter
| est, in some cases a question as to their af-
| fairs; for he knows, ii is said, every head of
| family in his dominions personally and by
| name. There is nothing seryile in their
manner. even to him, but the most I'M
| bounded reverence and devotion. It is fa-
vorite amusement of his to wake up the
emulation of the men by talking to some
one of them of some heroic deed he has
done, and provoking comparisons, when
| contest of pretensions to equal or greater
| merit begins, every man considering him
self entitled 20 push his claims, which he
does in no vain glorious way, but by re-
counting what he has done. As they are
surrounded by witnesses of the deeds, no
man dares exaggerate his exploits and the
crowd confirms. 1t is Homeric Boosting
without Thersites, and, so far as / can en-
dure, without envy.
Wnen you add 10 TINS supreme deVO-
ton the military courage carefully stimu-
lated so many generations, and the military
discipline and system the whole people live
in, there is little reason to wonder at the
reckless courage shown in their wars with
the Turks At the battle of Regami the
Turks, with 10 battalons supported by IL
pieces of artillery, had succeeded in carry
ing by surprise the hill which was the key
of the position, and which was in the first
attack only held by 80 men. Bozo Petrovich,
who commanded the whole district, arriving
at the battle field, found the position so
strongly held that he despaired of driving
the Turks out, and, calling Martinoyics
commander of the Cettinje battalion
said to him. ~ must retreat; we can't
hold the position The battalion com
mander said simply, Give me the order and
in fifteen minutes | will be in the position
or dead" Go" said Bozo, and. yataghan
in hand, the living bolt shot against the ten
battalions of Turks and drove them from the
hill and held il until two other battalions
came up the right and left and drove
the Turks in panic across the river. Tlere
ment did not fall that day. But the total
force OF the Montenegrins engaged was four
battalions and one gun against 10 battalions
in the attacking column, two more of sup
ports within musketry range, ami IL guns
The difference was made up by the yata-
ghans and the absolute indifference to death
OF the mountaineers. Under the eve and
command of the prince himself there is no
enterprise, even involving total destruction,
that they would hesitate at.