The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-07-23
sKoBELEFt"S LAST TICTORY.
Graphic story Of hi. Defeat of the Turko.
mans.

On the failure of the first expedition sent
against the Tekkc TurkOmans in 1880 Skobe-
serious one for the TeSEes like III nHt Ta,S
Asiatc races when flushed witt victory. were
dangerous enemies. hard TO beat When tho
had concentrated some 10000 fanatical war
rlors. were invested by Skobelers small army
of about Z. 0Ju of all arms-the remaining 10 900
men of the force being occupied in keeping the
communications open-the roal difficulties
sword in hand, the Turkoman "Ghazls"
made furious soities in bodies of two or three
thousand. usually Just before dawn; falling
heroically. on tho parallels. approaches. and
breachng batteries. which they more than once
captured. driving such of the Russian troops
as were not at once cut to pieces completely
out OF the trenches; 30 that these points had to
be strongly reinforced and covered. keeping
the whole force, often day and night under
arms. In one of these sallics Skobelct' famous
white charger. on which he had made the
turkish campaign. was Killed under MIN. and
OF this horse. which he took for a had onion
seemed TO shake his resolution somewhat. He
photographed 10 rias desiring that another
General should be sent to take command in
case he was killed" in the final assault. which
he proposed delivering almost Immediately;
skoberl said openly that hn would not survive
i the attack iaicd and significantly observed
for ii but their revolvers."
The assault was made by esralade. ut n point
midway between II breach elected by tho bat
tories. and ono made by n mine run under
bastlon or mud cavalier some 300 yards distant
from the first breach. Now. the defenders cX-
pcctcd the assault to be made by the breaches.
and had made every preparation to repcl it ut
those points: and thus they were taken alto
gethcr BY SURPRISE. On their being driven
tcrt. the artillery was dragged through tho
breaches. and. being mounted on tho wall.
interior III the cnccinte, while the cavalry
moved round outside to cut of the retreat Of
tho fug!tives. Organized resistance having
ceased the Russian infantry descended into
the cnceintc; and. orders having been issued TO
give no quarter, some 5000 to 1000 Of the enc
shot or cut down by the Cossac,s and dra-
goons outside while attempting TO escape.
Many OF the Russian officers themselves
were completely sickened by the slaughter
which was horrible. The Cos-acks. as usual
spared no one and madn no difficulty about
cutting womens arms on to get their ban.
gioS. and So forth. As continHents from the
Akhal, SAILOR and other Turkomnns were in
made common cause Sainst tho Russiansl.
this severe lesson joined to the subsequent
objects of the Tekkes. completely broke the
spirit OF these hitherto uncunuuered nomads.
In lfw days az taG frGns 9snt in delegates
Skobcen 5 loss during the s!"ge md assault
amounted to LOO killed and wounded. among
whom We're many good officers; and one Gen
era! iPetr'~aievitchl. man Of considerable
litrrraly ability. who vas much regretted.
Terc i that the Russians having determined
To annex Turkomania II severe example was
absolutely necessary; IA war oi II very hnrasslng
and prptracteu nature would otherwise have
probably dragged on for years. involving great
expenditure both OF men and money. And
then. IN the storming Of fortresscs held by war
like and tnnatical AsihticS. who Invariably rN-
poet To b. killed if tho place is takon. isolated
resistance is 9oinl: on throughout. Few If any
GhnZls Will accept quarter: il Is even danger
GUS 10 pass near them when they are lying
badly wounded
On tho conclusion of the camnaiSn Gen. Sko-
belief repaired to st. PETERSBURG whore il is
said he Very colby received 10y the En-
peror. Anyhow, he almost immediately applied
for leave and went to Paris. made his famous
speech against the Germans, and returned to
l;ussin. whore he received an ovation on mr.
rival and On route. HIS sudden death is gen
orally thought to be rather mysterious: and
certainly no man alive seemed less likely to de
six months ago than Skobcleir and none more
likely to be rnterin. upon new career