Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-08-27
The Eastern War.

on the Russian right flank, and desperate fight
ipp continued till midnight, when the eclipse OF
the moon stopped the fighting The Russians
maintained all of their positions, Dotwlthstand'
ing the Turkish numerical superiority asd cross
fire, The Russians had fought for four days
the whole of Suleimau Pashas army without
partsking of rest or warm nourlshmept.
A later dispatch says the fighting on Friday
was confined to lively cannonade: The lurk,
ish left wing threatening the Russian rear had
been driven from its position.
Suleimau Pasha telegraphs under date OF
Thursday confirming the report OF wednesday
desperate fighting without decisive result. =, ! he
fighting was resumed on Thursday: The hus;
slams are completely surrounded. we command
their line Of retreat to GabroVa:. TOMORROW
decisive assault will be made. As The Russians
have not profited by the darkness to effect re-
treat they risk being all captured.
Detailed bulletins from the Russian General
commanding the Shipka pass sho" that on
August 22d the Turks erected two batteries oil
long range artillery, end made trenches
through which they approached the Russian
positions. =
The bul!etin rccounling the operations OF
Thursday says: "rhe Turkish fire commenced
at half past four 10 The morning ADD lasted with
great violence until noon. Meanwhile the
Turks made several desperate assaults, but
we're REFUSED. Our heroes did not yield foot.
At noon the firing slackcGca, and he reserves
under Radetsky began 10 arrive. Our losses
have been great.
A Russian bulletin relative 10 the battle at
Sbipka pass says: "Fighting continued all OF
FRIDAY. Our troops retain all their positions
Our losses during tho four days fighting have
baen considerable, 81 wounded officers and 900
men being brought to GabroVa. The number OF
Killed is unknown. The caDnonadc 10 the pass
was renewed on Saturday morning"
A Consantinople dispatch, dated Sunday,
SAYS 3 telegram from Sueiman Pasba anDoun-
ces that he has taken the two principal ltus
sian works in the pass.
A telegram from Adrianople says ucw5 has
been received there that Suleiman had taken
the third work and vas attacking Gabrova.
A Russian bulletin Gated Gorny Student
Sunday, says: Fighting continued on Saur
day in the pass with terrible violence. Our
troops maintained their positions and have re-
pulsed several powerful attacks. To-day (Sua-
day. Gen. Doroschinsky, who commanded the
force holding the pass for the first three days,
met hero's death.
A Russian official bulletin admits that the
Russians, after defeating the Turkish attack
upon Aghaslar On Thursday morning, were
compelled by strong Turkish reinforccmeots to
retire to Sultankoi. MehemCt Ais bulletin
gives the Russian loss 10 these operations IS
four hundred killed and many wounded.
The latest Russian bulletin says: Our at
tack 90 Aghaslar has not been renewed since
Thursday. The Turks have concentrated in
strong force at that point, and arc eutreCchlng
themselves Our troops arc concentrated in
sight of the enemy. 10 two engagements at
Aghasar on Thursday we lost ten officers and
sixty;sy men killed, and eleven officers and two
hundred and seventy four men wounded.
The Paris Temps says it has received intclIi-
gence from an authentic source that Sulciman
Pasha hascapured the Schipka entertainments,
with fifteen guns, and pushed on 10 Gabrova.
The London Daily News correspondent, who
was an yewtness OF Fridays battle in the
Schipka Pass, telcgraphs from Georny, Stu
den, as follows :-"RidiDg backward from
Schipka through the night passed masses Of
reinforcements Of artillery and infantry hurry
Jog forward to Schipka. Their strength is such
as ought to secure the safety Of the all impor-
tant position
The same correspondent tclegraphs from
Bucharest on Sunday as follows -
Information follows me here that the fight.
ing at the Pass issill raging, having been again
renewed 10 day, but that Radczky continues
to hold his owo. 1t is now question Of en-
durance but adhere to my impression that
the Scbipka Pass as DOW held by Radetzky is
safe, and that unless Suleiman Pasha can run q
column through another pass he will wreck his
army By thus dashlng it continually against
Schipka."
Tho correspondent explains that the Schipka
Pass consists merely OF a section OF the Balkans
lower than the surrounding heights. There is
DO pass properly so.callcd, but merely track
over this lower section or ridge, which is cx-
lremely broken end billy. The heiehcst poiut
of the road is f1anked on either side by noun
famous spurs higher than itself aud command
ing it, and also ridge behind the first OF these
two spurs can rake the road leading up to the
Russian positions. These spurs break of
abruptly and prccipitousy at tho edge, there
fore affording no access into the valleys north
of the Balkans. Their sole uso 10 the Turks,
was ia affordiug positions from
whence to flank the central Schipka ridge. 1t
is possible also for troops to descend from them
struggle through the intervening elens and
climbing the steep slope of the Schipka ridge
give hand to each other on the road which
runs along its summit. This done, the Schipka
position would, of course, be turned but the
advantage would b. of little avail till the road
had been opened by carrying the fortified posi-
lions on it. The road over tho Schipka ridge
constitutes for an army the only practicable !
line Of communication in this country OF the
Balkans.
On the 2lst instant, when the fighting com
the Russians probably were q little |
over 5000 strong, with forty cannon. The |
The Russians Oh this day had laid mines in
front of their trenches. which we're exploded
ust az the bead Of the Turkish assautiDg par
les were masscd above them. 1t is reported
bat large number of Moslems were blown in
% fragments. BY Thursday evening the Turks
bad so worked around on both the Russian
laDks that it seemed as though the claws of a
,rab wero about momentariy to close behind
he Russians, and that tho Turkish columns
climbing the Russian rid GO would join hand to
zach other on the road in the rear of the Rus
ian position. At this supreme moment two
Russian Generals, expecting momenariIy to
,e environed. sent at last telegram to the
Gar telling him what they expected, how they
hol |