The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-06
GQURKO'S ADVANCE
Occupying 0rchanie After a Series Of
Severe SkirmiSheS.
GALLANT TURKISH ASSAULT.
Correspondence OF the London News.l

series OF very interesting and cleverly executed
movements, which have enabled him to advance with
out serious check southwark TO Bahia Konak, within
days ride OF Sofa, and throw part OF his force
across the Balkans into tho valley Slatca The
loss has been only about i've hundred, al! counted,
and thus far may be called muscular
campaign, Tor in almost every case success
has been won by flank movements, which
depended entirely endurance OF the soldiers to
accomplish. General Gourko has handled his forces
swi,h as much precision II they mapnuvrIng
on the parade ground instead OF in q Wild, mountain
Gus region, where there roads, and whore every
komclrc counts more than i've tho plain, for each
step in advance among tho mountains Is gained only
by hard Climbing and great fatigue. have
already described the march OF General Rauch's
column to out1ank The enemy at the Pravca
Pass This history OF wonderful pluck
and endurance is repeated less important scale
almost evory day. Heights climbed, ravines are
crossed and forests penetrated by tho troops
with artillery that seemed 10 The Turks, and with
reason, to be the imprcgnabo natural bulwarks of
their chosen positions. They left these points un
guarded because apparently inaccessible and the Rus
SLAMS have found there just the foothods needed to
grappe With the enemy or to threaten hun out of his
strongholds.
SERIOUS RESISTANCE.
1t Is not strange that army with little mobility
as tho Turkish should lnI itself puzzled deal with
an energetic, active hostile force, where 1t lights
It's ground anu lesurely chooses its dcinitve
positions. The odds very much against the side
which insufficient and cumbrous transport, and
the Turks have experienced the evil OF their trans
port system in every retreat they have before
General Gourkos advance; for they have left
large part Of it in the hands OF the Russians 1t was
course expected that the great resistance. would be
met ut Baba Konak, for the Sofia road is the only
highway crossing the mountains between the Camel
Pass and Shpka which is practicable tor wheels IN
winter months. To cross the Balkans not
u very difficult matter. Nearly ten days
ago the regiment winch drove tho Turks from
| their earthwurks the summit OF the Slutca
Pass debouched INTO the valley ard occupied the viii
lage OF Kliseko so near the road leading 10 kasauk
as 70 be able of the rcnforcemenls sent from
| marked map also open easily forced !;
hui none of these rohas permit The passage of art.
lcry and transport, and BaDa Konak always remains
| the key TO the country beyond, 10 Sofia ON the
| aud Slatca and Sh,pka ON the east
Alter The occupation OF Pravca tho Turks rcmained
! In for Two nays al OrchahIo aud vracesi.
village at the OF the Pass which they md
iortined with large upd complete line OF carthworRs
extending into the PLAIN IN front as Tar us Orkhanic
these dc ences OF the entrance the Pass became
Immediately urtenabie, tor Etropol lies within
hall IL miles from the road behind Vraces and
the Russians threatened to intercept the retreat from
the latter place Hence the TURKS withdrew preclpi.
lately the summit of the Pass INTO their there
Thus. without anything moro serious than SIX es
General G0urko urove his enemy into their final posi-
| tons ana proceeded 10 establish himself a once
parallel TO his line oil offence along tue adjacent
tain tops. me commanding point OF the Turkish
position the highest peak OF the watershed about
three milcs the of the Pass the large.
redoubt occupying lpoint marked on the AuslI ian
map as Griota. The line runs from here south west
to tho highest point Pass just above the batting
station called ARABIA Konak and Is held ny earth
! works. Between the road aud the great
doubt and the two earthworks west OF the
from the NORTH aud General Rauch established
himself tho ridge tho east. whilo General nonde-
dtafs u nd fhan fitar tAf,
submits TO the shoulders OF the dominant peuk and
evon part OF ms peak, the smaller Of The three
ground at the time OF the attack on the earhwork
scribed In my last telegram, has been seized by the
Russians aud cannon planted there within half
HOW Tue GUNS WERE BROUGHT Up
General Dondevilie occupies the limo OF heights
parallel With the cncmy's line far as The pre-
clpitous descent, three kilometres from the summit
OF the Pass. Then tho line turns northwest to the
road. which it crosses 10 join that neId by Count
Sehouvaof the opposite ridge. Several batteries
OF ninc-pounders have been placed in position
along ND Russian line, and cannonade tire enc
my's works almost continuously. General Rauch,
wncsc guns are within $50 yards OF the great re-
doubt, throws shrapnel aiqpe The difficulties OF
bringing heavy pieces up tho rough, mountain paths
at tho best scarcely practicable lof horsemen, were
overcome only by great energy and the severest toll
Of these paths, gued Dy torrents OF mud water,
paved With loose bouluers AMI slippery lodges, and
mounting IN Zigz igs ofcn ut an angie OF iorty five
degrees. Four yoke OF cate and from red
aud nifty to Two hundred men 10 the gun occupied
|
sous have 10 be lott in the valley ana the uniIon
is brought 10y hano two or three hundred Bugarians
being employed IN this work. The prevalence of
CLOUDS which frequently cover tho noun with u
chill, impanetrable misl, makes bvouacs behind tho
Iiues anything but comortnole Nevertheless drench-
ing vapor is preferable to The bullets and shells
wnich iuil into the camps wcenever the clear
enough permit the enemy TO sec the low mines oil
entertainments within hall range OF their rides.
SAVAGE ATTACK
The Turks appcarto have only iiiieon guns in posi-
tion-ess nali the number mounted by the Rus.
sin
guns remarkably well. Except the attack on tho
great redoubt, described in my last DESPATCH
tween tho nautry, and that was fought on
the Sd inst, at Count Schouva!o1's position west
OF tho road. The Russian line here Is situated
that niands ARABIA konak, but at the time
does occupy tho highest pont OF the ridgc. The
IRON two camps near the ARABIA Konak earthworks,
about el'vcn O'Clock in he forenoon, having mean
the mountain that dominates tho Russian
right. This detachment shortly after appeared
on tho crest OF The mountain and charged
in solid lines against the Russian sharpshoo,-
ers, who were by some strange negligence
not intrcnched. Count scnouvaloa hid six guns
planted OH the highest point OF his position, and the
Turks came near that hc sent volleys OF shrapnc
the solid masses with the greatest effect, causing
them and scatter but SIM they advanced with
tho cry OF "Alah!" "Alahl' whicn was repeated by
those IN the camps all along the line, evidently to
encourage the attack and TO give The ilnpresslo on
OF great numbers On thcy came within pistol shot
OF the Russians, facing The staggering voeys from
were so near guns those VINO wore watch ny
the GgnL from General DondevIlle's batteries believed
the peces taken; but the charging lines wcrc
seen 10 melt away and stream back ward down tho
siope and the first fierce attack was rcDulsed.
VICTORY DENIED
Again and again they assaulted with the same des-
pcration. The cannon we're worked quickly that
i've OF tue became heated and iceauc AM
there "aor for tue spongos The anxious
spectators on tho opposite crosts, unable TO render
| az sistancc, believed the day lost wnen
the hot cannonadc tumbed down sucn
reports from single gan aud the lines
threw themselves against the very bayonets OF the
defenders OF the ridge with the of ',Allah i"
'Allah ~ aud the imrctuous rush; but every time
they came up they soon broke and retrcatcd, iaing
by hundreds, while they were running back down the
slope and leaving at the close OF the day, they
repeated tho attempt TO break the Russian lines, tue
mountain literally black with dead and wounded
The Turks had force varIousy estimated at from
ton to twenty tabors. Prisoners report that l. 800
men were hors de combat, including one pacna aud