The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-07-12
PASSAGE OF THE DANUBE,

The New York Heroyds war cor
respondent telegraphed the following
graphic account of the passage of the
Russian army across the bahube Oh
Tuesday, June 90, and following days f:
Ia the words of the Grand Duke
Nicholas official report I" the difficult
and complicated task of crossing the
Danube is achieved" The Russians
have already established foot,.old In
Bulgaria, from whirl, it viii be imponsi-
BILE to dislodge thein, Along the entire
line OF 2ao miles the most desperately
aggressive operations were simultane-
onsly begun. For three days the placid
waters of the Danube have flowed
through the internal regions.
Daylight broke on Tnssday serene and
apparently unn.omising of great events !
but It soon transpired that it was the day
on which active preparations for the pas
sage of the river were to be concluded,
From the Russian batteries on the
Roumanian bank, along the entire libe,
ca,lnonadihg began III Saihest. The
bomhnr'meht of Rustchuk had been
dreadful up to this time and had tended
to cause general movement of Turkish
troops toward that locality.
In every Russian camp along the great
river the men were inspected during the
day. Vhe arms were examined and the
cartridges were seen to be full count.
The troops quaytered in towns passed
the night more agreeably than those
who slept in the open field, be.
cause the latter were compelled literally
to sleep with their guns in their hands.
On Wednesday the first move il the
descent into Bulgaria Vas made at Kala-
RASH The bombardment at Widdin.
N1copolis, Sistova, Rustchuk, Turtukai
and Silistria continued in more furious
manner. The scenes of destruction re.
ported from Rustchuk repeated them
selves Ill every Turkish town assailed.
The crossing at NicOpolis from Turnu-
MsGurch was witnessed by the czar.
/ who sat on horseback at the summit of
Mount Grapavi. The Turks made a
desperate resistance with every available
man whom they could muster. Oppos,
ing the landing were ten Turkish bat
talions. and eighteen field cannon. Say
age tighting took place on the banks and
lii little time the corpses were thickly
strewn there. Still the Russians came
on; for every man killed, ten were ready
to take his place,
The Eighth Russian corps, under the
command of General Radetsky. embarked
behind the island of Tardin, opposite the
mouth Of the Jantra, some distance be-
low the town of Simntza. The Four
teenth division covered the embarkation
with field artillery and sharpshooters,
The Turkish force opposing this movs-
ment was soon ye.ehIorced from the
neighbcrihg towns of Biela, Batin, No
wlgrad and other points, but they did
not arrive in time to crush the first par
ties OF Russians that landed, and we're
met on the shore Ivy iii overwhelming
force, which drove them back by a
tremendous musketry fire.
Attempts at crossing made by the Rus
slams at Rustchuk and Turtukoi were un-
successful. These movements were evil
IDENTIFY feints to occupy the attention of
the Rustchuk, Turtrkoi and Silistria
garrisons.
The Herald correspondent with the
Russian Eighth corps, which crossed at
Slstova, reports that the preparations
for the crossing at that point began in
the swampy meadows below Simnitza,
where the troops were assembled on
Tuesday evening at dusk. Silently and
steadily battalion after battalion and bat
terry after battery moved into its assigned
position, the greatest possible care being
taken to avoid attracting attention. The
most perfect order and discipline pre-
vailed, and every man acted as if the is
sue OF the war depended on the manner
III which he executed his individual duty.
The point selected for the landing on
the Bulgarian side was about two miles
below Sistova, where it had been pre-.
viously ascertained by efficient Russian
spies that the circumstances were favor
able. The men slept little that night, the
ground being damp, and the morning
was awaited with feverish anxiety. Not
sound was heard but the tramp of men
as they moved into their places, or the
dull noise made by wagon or artillery
wheels. The orders were given in sub
dued tones, and as few lights as possible
were visible. 1t was night of deep sus-
pense and OF eager hope for the soldiers
who, on the morrow, We're to be face to
face with the hated Moslem.
At dawn on Wednesday morning the
order to move was giver, every man fell
into his place and the work of crossing
the river i'll face of the enemy was be-
gun. A number of boats had collected,
and into these the first detachment
stepped after few encouraging words
from their officers. The boats were
pulled briskly out into the stream and
made straight for the Bulgarian shore,
followed by the eager eyes of their COM
rades. The troops composing this ad-
vanced guard were all picked men, and
a finer or more soldierly set of fellows
could not be seen.
Their movement was observed from
the Bulgarian side, and heavy fire was
opened on the boats from the Turkish
artillery. The boats pushed gallantly
on, however, and as they neared the
other shore the Turkish infantry COM
menced a vigorous fusillade. Detach-
ment after detachment followed from
the Russian side in boats, and as they
ran i'll toward the enemy's position they
returned the musketry fire with good |
effect. The Russian batteries mean
while kept up terrific cannonade to
cover the landing.
AS the first boats dashed into the bank |
the men leaped ashore with ringing !
cheer and Immediately formed strong
skirmish line to protect the landing.
Boat after boat pushed in and company |
after company disembarked, and soon a |
sufficient force was assembled to Justify |
an attack on the nearest Turkish posi-
ton. The Turkish infantry We're Wig
orously charged and after a brief and |
desperate struggle were driven from
the landing place at the point of the