New-York tribune., 1877-08-22
THE GRAND DUKE NICHOLAS'S REPORT.
LIGHT THROWN ON UNEXPLAINED MOVEMENTS

THE GRAND DUKE NICHOLASS REPORT.
LIGHT THROWN ON UNEXPLAINED MOVEMENTS
DARING DEEDS OF THE RUSSIANS
WASHINGTON, Aug. 21.-Lieut. f. V. Green
Of the Engineer Corps, lately appointed Military At
tache OF the United States Legation at St. Petersburg
who has been permitted by the Russian Government
to remain at the headquarters of the Army OF the
Danube as military agent of the United States has for
warded to Secretary Of State the report of the Grand
Duke Nicholas dated June 30, 1877 In this document
the Grand Duke the operations Of the and
gives his version Of incidents and movements already
corded by the press Regarding the Turkish monitors,
he says:
In view of the original intention TO pass the river
NkopOlis IL was necessary obsruct above
this place thus getting nd OF the Turkish monitors along
the whole course the Danube from Eikopos Para
pan This last problem could be solved with launches
Ony with the aid of favorable circumstances these did
oils As to the obstruction by means OF tOrpedoes was
accomplished with complete success On the 7th of
June our mere mere nearly ar All con
joss, having been carried forward TO tins point
by G ISm gIs M sa S Vessels an the s
of having them all for the use OF the troops IN the passage
take % S with only the dcnt task Of sinking the
topedoes On the nights OF the 1st and 21th he had his
the SsS water on the 9th at in tho evening
he had successfully finished the placing of the torpedoes
at this point My Aldde-Camp, Col srouker took part
in this difficult and dangerous enterprise covering
operations with sharpshooers When the Turks turned
shooters over bank il late The t0rpedoes
in place, and the boats were able ~ withdraw with
out hindrance
THE PLANS FOR CROSSING THE DANUBE.
Between the goth oath secretly left Ploesti with
the Chief Of staff and his aid Maj Levtsky Of the
suite of your Majesty and made personal reconnois
Turnu. Having ascertained myself the difficulties and
dangers which there would be in forcing passage In
the neighborhOod Of Nikopols, and having assured
myself by personal observation that the level 81 the
water was such as to permit passage at Simnza de-
ah att
little below Sistova My departure having been sudden
secret. no one even at headquarters knew where
that they did not fire. the Turks had suspicion
was examining the river myself
INCIDENTS AT CROSSING THE DANUBE
NV son. whom had ordered to report to him during
the crossing charged with directing the alton
departure of the other troops OF the 14th Division
ion On arriving the night bank Maj Gen Dragomi-
row found the troops landed by the first two boats
had driven back the Turks iyc versts the bank
consequently he directed the brigade of Ma-Gen
which had % crossed the river with him.
place. be ordered the 4th Chasseurs, which landed
after TO seize the heights which rise parallel
river above sstoya From three O'Clock in the morning
until the fighting was desperate and bloody the last
shots heard at two O'clock The Turks defended
themselves with desperate courage 1t necessary
carry with the bayOnet every shelter behind which they
9au a. SEW ~ SPc @ Oi & Ie
shore, only with great efforts at they succeeded
tablished heig commanding sstova Finally how
ever the enemy beat retreat in the direction Of
their positions at sistOva and on the neighborng heights
our losses not considerable for such hard light
| We had . officers and 291 killed, %
| officers aud 446 men wounded and SO miss
ing. Some officers aud mon have several wounds Of
firearms or bayonets shall present hereafter the list
OF killed and wounded.
on this memorable day the troops of your Majesty
| covered themselves with immortal glory. All without
exception proved that they knew how to sustain the bril-
liant traditions OF the brave Russian M army Without
series Of the enemy's strong positions. and with
an irresistible rush charged with The bayonet when
fire. every Cf every degree OF rank performed his
dnty with contempt of all danger worthy Of ali praise
Tie pOntooners the OF the Sonia OF COssac
and without interruption tire crossing of the troops
under a hot fire, and without being alarmed at the
OF five pontoons which were sunk In their midst by
the onemy's fire.
PASSING TURKISH BATTERIES.
The transportation to simntza OF all the material
cessary the establishment of bridge also bold
exploit OF your Maiestys troops All the wooden pom
and RATS with the flooring and the rest OF the
eqmpments were at the mouth OF Ota, whence 1t was
necessary take them down the D2pube passing under
the Notifications OF NkOpOs This dangerous enter
prise was gallanty accomplished in three trips the
nights Of the 27th 2stl aud 29h June The Turks did
not perceive this audacions undertaking un the rear OF
the convoy vas passing S,k9pos Isey a. then opened a
fire OF artillery and musketry hce dld us no damage
and the next night they were taken from flaTn-
Grand Duke Alexis Alexandroyitc in person The see
ond detachment, composed OF nifty pontoons and thirty
four RATS, and commanded by Lieut. Solnmander 70.
bow passed down with equal 6oldness during the nights
Of the 27th and 2sth Lieut. Comm lnder Ionbow was In
the Leading pontoon ana .he as wa h ~ leu,
half past two In the morning. and all the batteries at
NikopOis opened fire. One OF the native pilots was
wounded and jumped ashore. His example was f. oowed
by pilots OF the five nearest RATS The engineer sap
nanuyre alone; without losing OF mind
they put ashore under heavy nre ashed TWO rafts To-
sge with the utmost calmness These rafts under
charge OF Naval Ensign Ivaw0vsky And Ensign Most
fore Skopols during tho nights Of the 2sth aud 2eth
BY the preceding report your Majesty haa seen that the