New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-07-20
THE BATTLE OF DELIBABA.

Turkish wounded. at Antivari for Constantiuople.
THE BATTLE OF DELIBABA.
sKIRMIsHFs BETWEEN THE ARMIEs-sKILTFUL TAG
tbs OF THE RUSSIAN CoMMANDER-rHE TURK
IN RIGHT WING DESTROYED BETREAT OF THE
TURKS AFTER sUrFEEING GREAT LOSSES
MUKHrAR PAsHNs Peril.
IRON A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF ITIE TRIBrNEI
Err Rum, June 1s.-Gen. Kimbail, the English
military attachG in ASIA accompanied by one Of the
members Of his staff, has just arrived from the front
He has described TO me, az only an eyewitness
could so Interestingly, the several battles fought
near DeIbaba recently between the right wing of
the Turkish Army and the lett wing Of the Russian
The Russian Army, which had been camped for
some time at Zcidekan on the Alashgerd plain, be-
gan IT'S march toward Delibaba, thirty miles to the
northwest the morning of June -. Instead of
marching, as the Turks expected, toward the we'll
fortified pass over the mountains, through which
road runs into Dehbaba the Russians marched
toward the village of Tabur, situated on the noun
tam side some 1--WE miles to the nOrthward OF the
pass. The Turkish commander. upon being informed
OF the direction OF the Russians march. at
occupied some nights in front of Iabur Here there
a slight engagement between the two armies
about midday. After maueuyrIng until they had
obtained possession Of some hills opposite those
cupied by the Turks. the Russians late in the after
noon returned 10 Zeidekan leaving, however, regi-
ment of Cossacks behind TO defend the position
which they had Won with some loss Of life, In the
evening the Turks TetTeated 10 Iabur and there
camped for the night. Both armies were astr early
the following morning; the Russians moving out of
Zeidekan at q o'clock. 1t had been the
intention of the Turks, upon occupying Tabur
the night before to throw up ntrenchments there
and await the coming of the Russians. But holder
counSels prevailed during the night and according
y at G:30 O'clock in the morning six battaOus Of
infantry and all the companies of field artillery
marched toward Xeidekan. reserve force Of two
battaOns was LETT at Gabur. BY the Turkish
army had regaiued the nights they had abandoned
the evening before. These nights about sly
miles from Tabur. The Russians also reoccupied
the nights they had captured the previous day. No
attack was made, however by either army that day,
and at night both armies encampcd upon the nights
they had held. Some skirmishing took place IN the
night which followed, between outposts of the two
armies, aud in OF these conflicts a Turkish gen
eral, while accommodating, was badly wounded.
THE BATTLE.
The following day, June 49, the battle was
fought. The Russian infantry in line at o'clock
in the morning and at o'clock began their march
toward the Turks, descending into the valley that
lay between them and their enemys camp. At
the moment that the infantry began their advance,
the Russian arilleymen began To shell fUriOusly the
Turkish camp. The Turkish artlllerymen replied to
the fire. and also sheled the swiftly advancing Rus
sian infantry. They very unskillful in their
use Of tine cannon, however, and apparently
did but little execution among the dark
masses of the approaching enemy. The Russians III
twenty minutes had descended from their camp. and
had scaled a small ridge that lifted itself in the
valley between the two nights. BY this movement
they succeeded III forcing back little the Turkish
right wing, There then constant firing between
the infantry Of the two armies for hour the
Russians apparently not daring tomakc further adj
vance. The Turkish artillery during the interval
| fired constantly at the Russian soldiers but were
unable to drive them back from the ridge 20 the
| nights. The Turkish cannon apparently did some
ecution however for after enduring their fire for
hour the Russians brought down four field guns from
| there and vigorously replied. The Russian can
non were so we'll handled that the Turkish left wing
was compelled to fall back. The Russian infantry
then made fierce attack on the Turkish right wing,
! and also forced 1t back. The Turkish commander,
while attempting to rally his soldiers, was shot
! through the head and killed. Two hours then
passed without any change III the position of the
| two armies; the Turkish infantry and ar illery
meantime firing unremittingly upon the Russians,
while the latter sinmlaIly, as the Turks thought did
not return it. The Russian regiments engaged
continually in what seemed to the Turks purpose
less evoutions but the object was soon made APP
| parent to them. The Russians brought all
their artillery from their camps and placed
it IN advantageous positions, and shifted the
| bulk of their infantry TO their left wing.
The moment all was ready the Russian artillery be-
gan Smelling the Turkish left wing, and the strong
Russian ri ght wing dashedup it. Both the Turkish
infantry and artillery, when this assault was made,
were short OF ammunition The Turks resisted the
attack very bravely, however and il only after
there were great gaps in their ranks where the
dead and wounded had fallen, that the right
wing gave way. The COssack cavalry dashed
into the intervals between the Tetreatng masses
Of the Turks and cut down every straggler.
Gen. Kmball was perceived by them, and fercely
pursued and fired upon. He only escaped capture 10y
the swiftness Of his horse. While passing through
the rain of bullets, one OF them passed through the
sleeve of the coat of a member of his staff. The
Turks from the battlefield retreated 10 Tahur. They
had lost during the battle their commander and
| 2, 600 dead and wounded. The Russian loss is
ported to be only 800 in all. 1t is not known
| how many prisoners they took AT least they cap
| tured large number.
TIE TURKISH SOLDIER.
| Gen. Kimball says that the regular Turkish sol
der fought very brayely and with skill during tho