The daily gazette., 1877-06-13
MONTENEGRO's WARRIORS.
Ragged Hom eric Heroes Governed
by an Athletic AutOcrRt.


A Prince oho k,,ows the name Of every head Of
dJd,nity IN his D0nainiO1as- The M0l,tene0yin
Soldiers Indifference TO Death.
From the London Times.
Orealuk is ON an isolated crag In the
centre of the plain of Pjtlopavolltje,
where eighteen generations ago the
"Whits Paul." escaping from Cossovo,
took refuge with his family, and founded
clan which to-day unites Montenegro,
properly speaking, with the Berdas The
western with the eastern mountains. At
the north, so near that we could hear the
artillery of the fortress, is Nicsics at
| the south, SO near that we can distinguish
with the naked eye every block house, is
the plain of Podgoritza. East, the s.ill
snow-capped Berdas makes wall of ui-
assailable defence ; west the sheer slope
OF Garatsch comes down to the PLAIN in
one unvarying declivity Of nearly bare
rock and between these is level, fertile
and highly-cultivated valley, IL rough
which the wayward Zcta winds, tree
bordersd and blue as an Alpine lake.
1t is difficult to realize that north ald
south, armies are gathering, that every
blockhouse has its guns shotted, and that
eager for the fight, along the whole fion-
tier rampant of bold hearts and strong
arms awaits the slightest movements Of
the Turks. Here strong reserve is COL
lected, with many of the Oldest chiefs,
men and chiefs equally impatient 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 gendarmie and
guard) the Cabodaias "a body guard Sc
lected from the better families noble
guard in fact), and such of the Sirdars
and Nolvodoes as 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 rela-
ton between the Prin 20 and his people.
Judged by the standard of dress they are
a mass of tatterdemalions. In the ranks
a majority are more or less ragged, and
the battalions do not trouble themselves
much with being in exact line or keeping
any particular position, but no army drill
could secure more absolute obedience to
any order. On the eastern and southern
lsides of the house extends a broad ter
race, large enough to form two or three
battalions on, and there portion OF
those who are for a moment here with
the Perioniks and body guard, pass most
of the day either in recounting the ex-
ploits of the war or in athletic sports,
When in the morning the Prince comes
out, line Is for91ed Instantly, and all un-
J cover while he, takes his morning walk
| up and down the terrace. AS he walks
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
Prince accepting the homage with a
, manner which has great fascination fol
the simple. minded fOlk-with a smile, q
word of interest, in some cases ques.
ton as to their affairs; for he knows, 1t Is
said, every head of family in his dom.
inions personally by name. There is
nothing servile in their manner even to
J him, but the most unbounded reverence
and devotion. 1t is q favorite amuse
, ment of his to wake up the emulation o1
, 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 himself
entitled to push his claims, which he
does in no vain glorious way, but by re
! counting what he has done. As they ART
surrounded by witnesses of the deeds, nc
I man dares exaggerate bis exploits, anC
the crowd confirms. 1t is Homeri,
: boasting without a Thersites, and, so fal
as l can judge, without envy.
When you add to this supreme devo
! ton the military courage carefully stimu
I lated so many generations, and the mill
: tary discipline and system the whole peo
4 pie liveFn, there is littlelreason to wonder
. at the reckless courage show In the war;
with the Turk. At the battle of Regain
the Turks, with ten battalions supported
by seventeen pieces of artillery, had sue
ceeded in carrying by surprise the hill
which was the key of the position, ant
: which was at the first attack only helC
by fifty men. Bozo Petrovitch, who
commanded she whole districts, arriving
at the battle field, found the position So
strongly held that he despaired of driv
Ii ing the Turks out, calling Martinovicg
commander of the Cettinje battalion
/ SAID to him, 81 must retreat; we can
hold the position" The battalion com
} mander said simply, "Give me the order
; and in fifteen minutes will be in the po9
} sition or dead" "Go," said Bozo, and
yataghan in hand, the living bolt sho
against the ten battalions of Turks, anC
drove them from the hill, and held it un
tilt two other battahons came up on righ
and left and drove the Turks in pani,
across the river. There were few houses
in Cettinje where bereavement did no
fall that day. But the total force of th'
Montenegrins engaged was four battal'
ions and one gun against ten battalion'
in the attacking column, two more OF
support within musketry range, and sew
enteen guns. The difference was made
up by the yataghans and the absolute in
difference to death of the mountaineers
Under the eye and command of thu
Prince himself, there is no enterprise
even involving total destruction, tina
they would hesitate at
This authority of the Sovereign is il
all respects absolute. There is Senate
but this body has only advisory power
Ministers, but no responsibility. NJ
man in Montenegro will for one instan
question an order of the Prince or hi
supreme decisions. He. is the court o
last appeal in law as in politics. Th'
! Emperor of China is not more absolute
Happily for the country, Nikita is al
admirable man, devoted as alfather ant
n husband, loving his people personally
e and ALWAYS ready to listen to any com