The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-07-17

advantage, and, as the Russians approached,
frightful gaps were made in their ranks by
the Turkish artillery.
THREATENING TO THE TURKS
'With surprising valor, however, they
continued to appoach the heights, and as
soon as they came within rifle range they
opened terrible fire on the Turks. For
half an hour this musketry duel continued
with undated vigor The Russians, in
the meantime, developed their front, so
Us to approach their left in
the direction of the Osem River. This was
movement which threatened the Turkish
line OF retreat to the southwestward and
westward.
''About midday on Sunday tho order for
the assault was given, and the whole Rus
sian line, supported by several batteries of
artillery. advantageously posted, stormed
the heights occupied by the Turks.
vAIoR AND KIsMET.
During this awful climb, in the face of
deadly fire, the Russians suffered terribly;
while the Turks, stubbornly defending their
position. sustained equal losses. But the
onset was so impetuous that the Turks
could not withstand it and were driven
headlong over the crest of the hills toward
Nicopolis, followed by the Cossacks and de-
tachments of light infantry.
ABANDONMENT OF THE TOWN.
"After obtaining possession Of the heights
commanding the town, at terrible cost, it is
true. the Russians virtually had Nicopolis
at their mercy. The Turks, finding their
line of retreat threatened abandoned the
town, which the Russians entered this
morning. 1t was filed with Turkish
dead. Many wounded were also found in
the streets and in the houses, where they had
been abandoned by the Turks in the haste
of their retreat.
THE RUSSIANS NOW SECURE.
"Another bridge will be at once thrown
over the Danube at this point and across it
will pass immense stores of provisions and
war material " hich have been ready for trans
portation for several days. Thus provisioned
and supported tho Russians can go forward
from Tirnova, always sure OF their base of
supplies. The capture of Nicopolis is
most important event for the Russian CAM
paign in Bulgaria"
GREAT COUP
The HERALD correspondent in Vienna re-
ports that the Russian flying corps which
is pushing south of the Balkans
is probably endeavoring to cut of
the supplies by land from Shumla.
The best military critics in Vienna, while
recognizing the hazardous nature of this
movement, consider that, if successful, it
will endanger the very existence of the
Turkish army.
DESPERATE BATTLE.
The HERALDs correspondent at Jeni
Saghra reports:-''On Monday afternoon
the Turks, under the command Of Liman
Boy, had an engagement with the Russians,
defeating them and driving them back into
the Balkans with heavy loss. The battle
Eo1
Jeni Saghra.
CHANGING FORTUNES OF WAR.
cat first the Russians seemed to be sue
cessful but the determined fighting of
the Turks afterward appeared to promise
Turkish victory. The Russian forces
consisted Of infantry and cavalry, outnum-
bering the Turks, whose first attack was
repulsed, and fanking column of SUI
perior force of dismounted dragons greatly
imperilled the Turkish position.
CHARGE.
''The Turkish artillery was splendidly
handled, raking the columns Of the Rus
slams and thinning them at every discharge
Perceiving the terrible havoc caused by the
Turkish fire, General Gourkha ordered the
Russians to charge"
CLOSE QUARTERS
"A fearful hand-to-hand conflict en-
sued. The Turks formed in hollow
squares after losing several guns. The
Russians attacked desperately, and fear
full carnage followed on both sides. The
Russian thanking movement and desperate
onslaught threatened to exterminate the
Turks, when suddenly brick firing on the
left announced the arrival of Turkish re-