Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-08-10
SKOBELEFF'S LAST VICTORY.
Grnphic Story Of His Defeat OF the Turko-



sent against the Tekke Turkomans, in
1880, Skobelef undertook to subdue
them. This task was serious one, for
the Tekkes, like ell fighting Asfatic
races when flushed with victory, we're
dangerous enemies, hard to beat.
When the mud Notifications of Geek
Tepe, in which they had concentrated
some 10000 fanatical warriors, were in
vested by Skobeleff's small army of
about 1000 of all arms-the remaining
10000 men of the force being occupied
in keeping the communications open
the real difficulties commenced.
Sword in hand the Turkoman
" Ghazis" made furious sorties in bodies
OF two or three thousand Just before
dawn; falling heroically on the parallels,
approaches and preaching batteries,
which they more than once captured,
driving such of the Russian troops as
were not at once cut to pieces COM
pletely out OF the trenches so that
these points had to be strongly re.
inforced and covered, keeping the
whole force often day and night under
arms. In one of these sallies Skobeleff's
famous white charger, on which he had
made tie Turkish campaign, was killed
under him, and he himself was in immi-
nent danger. The loss Of this horse,
which he took for bad omen, seemed
to shake his resolution somewhat. He
telegraphed to TIfis desiring that an
other general should be sent to take
command Gin case he was k lied" in
the final assault, which he proposed
delivering almost Immediately and
General Panloff actually left for this,
purpose. Skobeleff said openly that he
would not survive if the attack failed,
and significantly observed to his staff
" that if it did fail there was nothing
for it but their revolvers."
The assault was made by escalade, at
point midway between a breach
effected by the batteries and one made
by mine run under bastion or mud
cavalier some 800 yards distant from the
first breach. Now, the defenders ex.
pected the assault to be made by the
breaches, and had made every prepara.
tion to repel it at those points; and
thus they were taken altogether by sur
prise. On their being driven from the
rampant, which took scme time to effect,
the artillery was dragged through the
breaches, and, being mounted on the
wall, opened an effective cannonade on
the crowded interior of the enceinte,
while the cavalry moved round outside
to cut off the retreat of the fugitives.
Organized resistance having ceased, the
Russian infantry descended into the
enceinte ), and, orders having been
issued to give no quarter, some 5000 to
1000 of the enemy were massacred, an
equal number being shot or cut down
by the Cossacks and Dragons outside
while attempting to escape.
Many of the Russian officers them
selves were completely sickened by the
slaughter, which was horrible. The
Cossacks, as usual, spared no one, and
made no difficulty about cutting women's
arms off to get their bangles, and SO
forth. AS contingents from the Akhal,
Sailor and other, Turkomans were in
Cock Tepe (all the hordes having for
the time made common cause against
the Russians), this severe lesson Joined
to the subsequent plundering of cattle
and all the available effects of the
Tekkes, completely broke the spirit of
these hitherto unconquered nomads. In
a few days all the tribes sent in dele
gates rendering unconditional submis-
sion.
Skobeleff's loss during the siege and
assault amounted to 100 killed and
wounded, among whom were many good
officers, and one general (Petrosaie-
vitch), a man of considerable literary
ability, who was much regretted.
The justification of the massacre at
Geek Tepe is that the Russians having
determined to annex Turkomania q
severe example was absolutely neces-
sary war of very harassing and
protracted nature would otherwise have
probably dragged on fos years, involv-
ing great expenditure both of men and
And then, in the storming Of
tortresses held by warlike and fanatical
Asiatics, who invariably expect to be
killed il the place is taken, isolated re-
sistance is going on throughout. Few
Il any Ghazis will accept quarter it is
even dangerous TO go near them when
they are lying badly wounded.
On the conclusion of the campaign
General Skobeleff repaired to st. Pc