New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-07-31


THF BATTLE.
Al sunrise on the morning of the succeeding day.
June 81 the two armies crossed swords. lhey "ere
unequal in numbers. the Turks having the largest
number of soldiers. In the Turkish Army mere were
nineteen battaions of infantry 1900 caVaiiY' anu
ten mountain cannon. The Russian commander M"
under his control ten battalIons of infantry SIX
regiments of cavalry, nine field cannon ana scVerai
mountain cannon. Both commanders were at hrSt
very cautious the manGuvring for position OF 'he
forces lasting several hours. When at last the
combat began, the Turkish line wayered ana
was driven back a short distance. In tulS
backward movement the battalions OF the lurklsn
Army which suffered such great losses at the battle
of Tahur were naturally foremost. Mu4htar rallied
his troops, nassed skfully his at the weak
points in his lines, and DraveIy led attack upon
the right wing of the Russian Army. which drove 1t
back The battle continued throughout the day,
the soldiers of both armies fighting desperately. In
the rear of the Turkish Army, an English officer VINO
was present noticed with horror that the wounded
brought from the front by kind comrades were not be-
ing cared for. There was not surgeonor physician
in the entire army The Turkish ufaniry-that U.s. the
private sodicrs-fOught bravely and with cOolhess'
But their officers had evidently had very little train
ing and many of them were cowardy. The cavalry
also was poor and had it not been supported by the
infantry, could easily have been defeated by the
Cos.acl cavalry Of the Russians. Toward nlghttall
the courage of the Turks rose, and an attack was
made upon the Russians along the whole line. Inc
Russian officers, striving 10 resist the assault, eN-
posed themselves fearlessly to tao fire of the enc
my, aud larger proportion OF them than OF the
private soldiers were killed. Overcome by the su-
perior numbers Of the Turks the Russians began
what was at first slow. but afterwards
prccipitate retreat. When darkness came, the
Turks occupied the position on the battle
field that the Russians had held in the morning
This success was purchased very dearly Two
thousand OF the Turks were disabled 800 wound
ed and 800 killed The villages along the base OF
the mountains were filed with the wounded, and 1t
was not until several lays after the battle that any
attempt was made to send some of them to the rear
where they could have medical attendance. The
worst eases were abandoned to the villagers care It
being deemed hop less to attempt to save them from
DEATH 1t is no wonder that the Turks thought that
the wounded INTO death could mot be brought alive to
Erzcrum. From the battlefield TO this place 1t Is
sixty miles, and there is only one road, narrow,
stony and very precpt0us III tie mountain passes.
I he only amUuiauccs at hand are the rough spring
less carts Of the Turkish pcasantry Think OF tie
tortures a wounded man would endure IN travelling
in such carts over the snoothcst macadamized road.
what is not better than a goat track.
II THE ERZERJM HOSPITAL.
Still several hundreds Of the wounded have
been brought to this place in the way described.
Would to God that they had clean and well
appointed hospitals to 90 into here; but alas
they have not even that comfort. Some SICK
soldiers were already here before the arrival OF these
wounded men, but | was suTp ised to hear to-day
from q Turkish doctor that there was as large a
number as 1,239 soldiers III the hospital; some
wounded, some sick with typhoid fever, ETC. Inc
numbers OF the wounded are SO great that some OF
the sick soldiers have had to give up their beds and
sleep upon tie floor. The hospital Is now fairy
packed with the sick and wOunded-t is small
buildmg-aud shall wonder if pestilence does
not break out in the city. There is already danger
of famine; the price of flour alone s three times
what il was before the war began
A small number Of American residents three days
400 determined To do something for the relief of the
wounded in the hospitals But they did not dare to
90 directly TO the hospitals and begin work as they
yould at home if such a work of humanity was
needed Important and often lOng-delayed steps
must be taken IN this land before attempting to do
good either on sunday or any other day. permit
tpus be obtained from the Government TO succOr the
sick for If it was not obtained, aud man nursed
should die the nurses might quickly follow HIM
to the grave. assisted thereto by the Government.
4 good part Of day was spent in seYerng the OIL
,.Ial red tape: and meanwhile the wounded suffered
All the Turkish officials seemed very thankful 20
the foreigners for their proer OF care OF the suffer
ING soldiers, and gave the most powerful papers pos
sible of permission to do Not only was pellls-
sion given to work among the wounded here, but
also at the front if desired. The little band, OF
which the present writer is one, intends TO cooperate
,.-itb no Rod of
Geneva. which did such noble service during the
war between Prussia and France There are agents
of the Society now here. They have accepted our
services and telegraphed to the Society about their
action so that we expect soon to receive hospital
supplies from ConstantnOple. Perhaps the Society
will send here several surgeons. They ought TO 30
30 AT once Meanwhile the volunteer society resolved
TO do all it coudin the hospitals to assuage suffering.
4 member of the staff of Gen. Kendall the English
military attach6 in Asia. had fortunately brought
with him some of the medicines prepared for held
service by the Red Cross Society These medicines
we took and started for the hospital. 1t was our
plan to go quickly through the hospital attendingt0
those Who most needed caring Tor But We were no
sooner within the fist place, large Khan contain
inc some 100 wounded men, than We found our
selves in the midst of such as could not be
neglected. Ii would be hard for a dweller III
America TO conceive what horrible state some of
the wounded were III. There were wounds of every
degree Of severity. Some had been neglected for 50
long time that they had actually putreled and were
fullofmaggotsl With urnative assstanlswe worked
As hard as we could in dressing wounds for over four
hours; when to preserve our heallh-the air being
exceedingly fou--we went home. Upon many of
the wounded we put fresh Undertaking, their
bloody garments not having been changed or re-
newcd since they left the battlefield. We were