The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-07-18
ON THE DANUBE,

anu AleAduuIOpUl Will tu6 luIhS pursuing
them into Russian territory.
ON THE DANUBE,
A Russian RepuIse mt Feyditch.
NEW YORK, July IA correspondent at
Jeni-Saghra reports that Monday afternoon the
Turks under Liman Bey had an engagement
with the Russians. defeating them and driving
them back into the Balkans with heavy loss.
The battle was at Febditch, twelve miles from
JEFF Saghra. The Russian forces consisted of
infantry and cavalry, outnumbering the Turks,
whose first attack was repulsed, and flank
ing column of superior force of dismounted
dragons, greatly imperilled the Turkish posi-
ton. The Turkish artillery was splendidly
handled, raking the Russians and thinning
them at every discharge. Perceiving the terri
ordered the Russians to charge, and a fearful
hand-to-hand conflict ensued. The Turks
formed in hallow square after losing several
guns, and the Russians acted desperately. Fear
full carnage followed on both sides. The Rus
slams thanking movement and desperate on
slaught threatened to exterminate the Turks,
when suddenly brisk firing on the left an
nounced the arrival of Turkish reinforCements
under Ranoff Pasha. The Russians had no ar
tillery, and the rapid advance of the Turkish
achievements compelled them to face the
enemy, thus affording their opponents an OPP
portunty to renew the attack vigorously. The
Russian line, thus between two rows of bayo-
nets, was completely overwhelmed. Tho Cos
sacks made splendid resistance, fighting
was made over heaps of dead bodies, driving
the Russians back into the mountains The
fight was precipitate. The Turks pursued
them until the mountain pass was recovered.
The Russian advance column consisted OF
Circassians and Cossacks, commanded by Col.
Kurdalnm. The main body was commanded
| by Geu. Gonrkhas They were in flying order
without wagons, transports or artillery. 1t is
impossible to estimate the losses. The Russian
main army intend to cross the Balkans at this
point, the 88th corps leading. 1t is not known
what effect this repulse Of Gourkhas flying
column will have on the main advance.
A Vienna report states that the Russian fly
ing corps south of the Balkans is endeavoriDg
to cut off all supplies by land from Shumla.
A despatch from Obentinik says that after
bl0ckading the fortresses OF the Quadrilateral
100000 men will be available for crossing the
Balkans bv the western line of invasion, ex-
elusive of Zimmerman's army in the east.
Bucharest is the great central depot, and con-
tains large stores of meal. Sistova will be the
An advance on Rustchuk does not seem i'm mi.
| nept. The cavalry outposts extend from a
point on the Danube, 10 miles west of Rust
chuk, to 40 miles inland, favoring the Turkish
| position on the river Lorn. Small reconDoi-
| sances are pushed forward but the mass of the
A Constantinople despatch states that rail-
| way communication in Adrianople isl suspend
ed for everything except troops.
The Capture of Nikopolis.
| Another despatch says a great battle has
| been fought at Febditch, and the Russians met
| decided check. Concerning the capture of
| Nikopolis, the despatch says the town has be en-
| reduced to ashes, but the two hills have COM
| pletely sheltered the Turks from the Russian
| fire. The Threatened breaking of the Sistova
bridge rendered the taking of Nikopolis essen
| tial in order that the Russians might establish
another crossing. The assault was finally made
Sunday afternoon, the Russians meeting ter
| rible fire from the Turkish artillery, but the
| whole Russian line steadily advanced, aud the
| Turks were driven from the heights command
ing Nikopolis, which place they shortly aban-
doned The Russians entered the town Mon
| day morning finding many wounded Turks in
| the streets and houses. Another bridge will
| be thrown across the Danube at this point, aud
an immense quantity of stores aad war mate
| rial will be shipped over. The Russians can go
| forward to Tirnova sure of their base of sup
plies. The capture of Nikopolis is the most
| important event in the Bulgarian campaign.
Russian Atrocities.
Dispatches from Shuma and Bucharest de-
scribe the march of the Russians in Europe as
furnished by atrocities committed by Bugar-
ians and Circassians, unhindered by the Rus
sian troops. The cavalry push ahead, spread
ing terror in every direction, and .Mussul man
families fly before them terrified and panic
stricken, and the savage Bulgarians fall on the
helpless crowds and massacre them in cold
blood. Fugitives are pouring into Shumla and
Varna with horrible tales of death and suffer-
ing.
Reported Defeat of the Grand DIXIE Mich
Olas Unsnbstaniiated.
LONDON, July ia despatch from Constan.
tinople says the Turkish minister's dispatches
{Da nf3f Sal &C
the Grand Duke Nicholass defeat, and des-
patches today allege the Turks retreated from
near Zanigaghra and Adrian0ple. The Rus
slams are firmly established on a commanding
position in Kusarik passes. An early Russian
attack on Akrianople is anticipated
Russians Marching ON Widdin.
The correspondent of the Times at Buchar-
est sends the following. dated July II: Today
the Cossacks of Baron Kudner are said to have
reached LON Palanka, and are advancing to-
wards Widdn. From the Dobrudscha the Rus
slams are reported to have marched south of
Silistoria, which will be blockaded thereby cut
ting the quadrilateral in two and fully protect
ing Russian communication on the Danube.
Russians Deny Reported Atrocities.
LONDON, July 1.-THE Russian Geographic
agency publishes general denial of reports of
Russian atrocities.
Russian Account of the Crossing of the
The following is the Russian official account
of the crossing of the Balkans
Isrnova, July 16.-Gen. Gourks.with the adj
vance guard of cavalry, infantry and artillery
has crossed the Balkans. On July 14th he
surprised and defeated Turkish battalion
which guarded the outlet of the pass near the
village of KhaDkhoi. Gen. Gourks is now
marching upon Kasanlik in the rear of the
enemy, who occupy the fortified Shipka defle.
Two solinias of CossackS have arrived at Yemi.
Saghra and cut the telegraph poles between
that place and Monogazoa and Slivpo.
On Sunday an engagement was fought Eear
the village of Orzazare between Cossack
force and some detachments of Bashi-Bazouks
ThesCossacks were supported by Russian in
fantry The enemy held the ground until the
arrival of the dragons and battery of artill-
cry sent BY Gen. Gourks. Perceiving the ap
proach of these reinforcements the Turks fed
A flag, several standard bearers and quantity
OF arms were captured.
The Struggle Mt Nikcpolis.
The Times correspondent telegraphs from
Iurnu Magurelli under date of July Ito, says:
On the hight commanding Nikopolis empty
Cartridge cases lying in every direction tell OF
a desperate struggle Thousands of rifles,
bayOnets and accoutrements are piled along the
road to the town, where train of 300 wounded
Moslems await removal into the impoverished
hospitals. The Turks burned the stores and
the principal buildings of the town last night
before surrendering.
War Notes.
The Turks have evacuated and the Russians