The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1878-01-24
Incidents Of the Siege Of Pley ma.

Correspondence London Standard.
Skobeletf' s wound was not dangerous.
but would have been were 1t not that on
both occasions when he was struck he
was wearing a thick double sheepskin
coat, which turned the rifle ball and pre-
vented the fragment of shell doing more
than rip the flesh. Skobeleff rode away
to visit the Car, and /, having break
tasted with his staff. sailed out with its
chief Col. I.eroupat Kline, to view the
positions so gallantly taken and SO obsti-
nately defended on the night of the 9th
and morning of the 10th As l scram-
bled knee-deep in mud up the steep sides
of the Monte Vert could but wonder
to myself how, under the pitiless fire of
the Turkish regulars. the Russians had
succeeded at all in making good their
hold on the summit
Arriving on the crest had glimpse
at a corner of the Turkish position. but as
it was dangerous work to lift even for a
moment ones head above the cover of the
pit. no view could be got worth describ-
ing. Still, what I did witness and will
endeavor to tell you Of was one Of those
little episodes Of war which strike home its
horrors to the heart more deeply than a
DAYS wholesale slaughter From the
Turkish lines stole out five men. crouch
ing. creeping, and running over the broken
ground between the lines toward field
of maize. distant some 500 yards from
their starting point Their rifles were in
| their left hands. and every now and then,
| thinking themselves safe from Russian
ken. they would stop as though TO see
who of them would 90 on first. and then
go on again, all Of them together.
Their object was evidently to gain q
corn field about $50 yards from the spot
where Keroupat Kline and l were lying
and gather the standing ears. then make
back with them to feast on with theil
comrades in their trenches. But. alas fol
them. in this very corn field the Russians
had their ritie-pits; it was all over in les.
time than it takes to write it. As the five
on hand and knees got amid the corn.
the Russians leaped from the trenches in
which they were hid, and in moment
four Turks were quivering under their
bavonets. The fifth had presence 81
mind enough to fling him bis rife. and
such was his agony Of fear and thu
strength lent ny i. that the piece flew
some fifty yards.
| He was pushed down with the butt end
OF a rife. aud brought in prisoner HI
told us that hunger had compelled SONS
fifty facing us IN the Turkish trcnche:
to draw lots of FIVE az to who shouid n
out and gather from the field in thei
front bags full If ears of Indian corn. ans
to these unlucky five the chance haf
faIlenl
In the earlier part of the day. whilst
was hreasfasting with the staff. a. ALREADY
mentioned. a little detail Of war occurred
| which. though of 40 importance in itself
serves to marx the character Of war. ant
brings out it sasfering-. and the cailouz
ness to the fate Of Others. which ii mus
of necessity engender. eyen in the kindes
Of dispositions
4 young. -ood-looking sub-Iieu.enan
OF some twenty years Or - presented him
self with a military salute before gu
breakfast table. holding in his hand hi
coas-tall riddlei with buIlet-holes- and ex
planned that az junior artillery officer o
his battle he had been ordered to climb
tree to direct and mark the fire On a new
reconstructed redoubt thrown up By tn
Turks and out Of sight from Ii
) ground level: that he had been up ther