The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-06-21
DEFILES OF DEATH.
An Awful Struggle Between 5000 Monte
negrins and 10000 Turks--The Latter
Routed and Slaughtered by the Thousands.

|
Routed and Slaughtered by the Thousands.
| [Cable Correspondence of New York Heraldl
Another desperate and sanguinary
battle has taken place in Montenegro
near the Albanian border, at little town
called Plana, on the main road leading
from Spuz to Nicsics. The advance of
the Turks from Podgonitz, Albania, had
been carefully watched by Montenegro
spies, and every precaution taken in Sc
Letting suitable point at which to re-
ceive the invading party. The Turks
moved forward to Spuz, reaching that
place on the night of Friday, June Is,
and encamping. On Saturday morning
at daylight the advance into Montenegro
began. The Turks numbered 10000
men, under the command of Ali Saib.
There are two roads leading in the di-
rection of Nicsics toward the north.
The road to the left is far less direct,
and In much worse condition than the
one on the right. Therefore, as the
Montenegro commander, Bouza Petro-
vich, had foreseen, Ali Saib chose the
road to the right. The Montenegrins
were believed by the Turks to be at
Rassitji. The Montenegrins mad taken
up their station at Plana, a very small
village on the route Of the Turkish adj
vance, and, three thousand strong, await
ed the invaders. The situation was one
OF their own choosing, and was adapted
to their manner of warfare. With the
utmost confidence the hardy mountain
GERS awaited the attack.
At 10 o'clock the Turkish advance
came upon the Montenegrin pickets, who
fell back to the main body. An hour
later the fourteen battalions of Ali Saib
came up, and without hating attacked
the Montenegrin position. AS usual
defle of the road fanked with heavy
woods and high hills had been selected
by the defenders of their native terrific
ry. During the eight hours following,
or until the haze of nighfall forced a
cessation of the fighting, the engage
ment before the defile and the fighting
during the retreat lasted. Four de-
termined attacks were made by the
Turks, but in each instance were re-
pulsed by the Montenegrins. Bouza Pc
trovich had thrown up two rows of in
trenchments, the first at the foot of,
and the second slight distance up the
hillside. The immense powders with
which the place abounded had been
hastily gathered into place, and the front
was protected by several feet of earth,
| and by deep ditch.
Behind these ramparts the Montene-
grins fought during the three first attacks,
with safe retreat into the wooded hills
always open behind them. The third
advance of the Turks was made with
eight battalions led by Ali Saib in per-
son. He was nearly beside himself with
rage because of the repulse of his men.
Flushed with three victories the Mntene-
grins saw that their enemies came up to
the attack with little heart. Therefore,
they refrained from firing till they were
within two hundred yards, and then
poured deadly volley into their
enemies front, as small body of Mon
tenegrin horsemen dashed out from either
side and fell upon the TANKS. At first
the TANKS wavered, but, rapidly changing
front, they killed many of the attacking
party. The center came up without
hating until it received the second vol
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der or because of a disinclination to ad-
vance, the Turks halted. This was fatal
to them, for, quicker than it takes to tell
| it, the Montenegrins as one man rushed
over the parapet of their intrenchments,
and with the most fendish yells at
tackled the column with the bayonet. A
few horrible bayonet wounds settled the
affray. The Turks broke, but were par
TALLY rallied by Ali Saib, and fell back
about two miles in tolerable shape to an
open piece of country.
Meanwhile the Montenegrins had re-
formed. Many slightly-wounded men,
made strong again by victory, falling
into the ranks, the pursuit then began.
More hardy and Injured to bodily strain,
the Montenegrins soon overlook the
stragglers Of the retreating army and
made some prisoners, but killed the
larger portion of all they overlook. Had
not utter darkness come on, it is prob
able that not single Turk would ever
have reached Spuz, because the noun
talneers knew every path and every
open place. The retreat soon became
a rout, and the Montenegro horsemen
pursued the Turks to Spuz. The Turk
ish dead at Plana and along the road
certainly equaled 1900 men, besides
many wounded and few prisoners.
| SOuthArn EINAdS- namaUo IN Cronc