Year: 1877

An officer of the Turkish army has
discovered that the most effective way
to beat off enemies torpedo boats from
an ironclad is to use torpedoes against
them. The Russians became aware of
this new plan of their enemies upon at
tempting to destroy Turkish monitor
stationed near where the Aluta River
flows into the Danube. 1t was while
their troops were crossing the Danube,
and as the monitor had caused them
much annoyance by constantly shelling
their batteries and destroying their
boats, it was deemed necessary to drive
away the too active monitor lest she
should infict infinitely greater damage
by destroying the only bridge across the
river. A correspondent of the London
Neacs describes the conflict which fol-
lowed. The Russians built four torpedo
boats, and the crews put the boats in
ambush behind an island. When the
monitor came steaming along out, the
torpedo boats dashed upon her. To the
surprise of the Russians, the Turkish
sailors exhibited none of that confusion
which usually characterizes them upon
the sudden appearance of an enemy's
vessel. Evidently they had a trained
and cool commander. The crew quickly
prepared the vessel for action, and then
defended her with a bravery and skill
that won the admiration of the Russians.
Her commander began his defense by
thrusting out from the monitor torpe
does on the end of long spars, thus
threatening the boats with the danger of
being blown into the air first, at the
same time opening terrible fire on them
with small arms and mitrailleuse. He
moreover maneuvered his boat in a very
skillful manner, and with such dexterity
that, with the torpedoes protecting the
monitors, the Russian boats were unable
to approach near enough to it to dis
charge their torpedoes. He besides tried
to run the boats down, and nearly sue
ceeded in doing so. The cause of this
magnificent defense was soon apparent.
The commander of the monitor was an
European-the Russians thought him to
be an Englishman-a tall man, with a
long blonde beard He stood on the
deck of the monitor, with his hands in
his pockets, giving his orders in the cool
est manner The commanders of the
torpedo boats continued their efforts to
destroy the monitor for over an hour,
fitting around the monitor and con-
stantly seeking to get at her, but with


out success The monitor was equally


active in running them down; avoiding


collision by quick movements, backing


and advancing, turning, and plowing


the water into foam as she pursued OF
avoided her tiny antagonists-a lion at


tackled by a rat. At one time torpedo


boat found itself between the monitor


and the shore. The monitor instantly
began backing down on the boat with the
intention of crushing it against the bank


Just at this moment the engineer of the


launch was wounded. There was som,
5 delay in starting the engines, while tn,
l current carried her head around in sucl
5 position as to make escape apparentl,
{ impossible. One of the crew sprang on
9 into the shallow water and pushed tn
= boat, and at the same moment the en-
e gines were started. The boat scraped tn
e monitor, but escaped. Meantime Rus
: sian officer had sprang ashore, and ha
2 emptied his revolver, firing at the eS
;, posed captain of the monitor. The CAP
2 tain finally took off his hat and bowed
5 evidently not having been struck by
|, | bullet