Year: 1877




on the Fulgerul, which boat led the way,
reported that . village was in sight. 1t
proved to be the small Turco-Bulgarian viii
lage of Boundwack, situated close to the
bank of the Danube, near an island. The
appearance Of the village did not indicate
that the expedition had been observed,
although the fog had now been COM
pletely dissipated. People could be seen
walking about as unconcernedly as if hos
tile force was not within q hundred miles of
them. Children played around tho door
ways and q woman was observed to be
driving some goats apparently toward their
feeding ground behind small group Of
houses at the eastern end of the village.


rHE ENxMY's CAMPS.


''Steaming further up the river tho expe-
dition discovered on the hill just above the
village large camp Of Turkish cavalry out
posts. The number of men occupying this
position could not have been less than two
hundred, To the surprise of the. Russian
officers they discovered on the hills beyond
the village another camp of not less than
three thousand troops, chiefly infantry.
Here, then, was one of the first fruits of the
expedition, which was one of reconnaissance.


AN UNFRIENDLY SALUTE.


.'Lieutenant Dubashoff laughed when he
told meuof the way in which his little fleet
astonished the Turks. You know said he,
that common courtesy forbade that we
should pass an important military post
without saluting it.. As soon as the torpedo
boats were near enough to the Bulgarian
shore their guns were turned on the camp,
and q shell was sent whistling over the
heads of the astonished Turks. 1t exploded
right over the centre Of the encampment,
and. jndging from the scattering that took
place in the immediate vicinity, must have
torn good deal Of canvas.


'vAMosr


SAT the second shot the Turkish cavalry
fled as if the arch enemy himself was after
them, for in the twinkliug of an eye the
camp was tenantless. Another shot and
cloud of dust thrown into the air showed
that it had struck the ground near the top
of the slope down which the frightened
Turks had disappeared. The fourth shell
set the tents and shelters on fire, and these
blazed up fercely as the wind spread the
flames.


AN UNEXPECTED RENCoNTRE.


"The Russian boats then advanced up the
river and rounded the point of the island in
front Of the village. The object was to get
within range Of the large camp on the hills
beyond and treat it to similar salute to
that which caused the hasty flight of the
cavalry. But here the expedition came sud-
denly upon Turkish gunboat, which was
lying under the island bank with her two
smokestacks hidden by the trees.


AN UGLY CUSTOMER.


s'The enemy's vessel was casemated and
carried four cannon of sixteen centimetres
(about six and quarter inches) bore. Her
stern was down stream, owing to the river
current, but she had steam up and was evil
IDENTIFY prepared to move at the shortest no
tice From her position her crew could not
determine the actual cause of the confusion
and firing going on below the island, but as
soon as the Russian torpedo boats turned
the point the Turks on the gunboat saw
them and prepared for action.


THE BATTLE.


II repeat the exact words Of Lieutenant
Dubaschof in describing what followed:-
She Immediately opened fire on us, which
we heartily returned and with immediate
effect, because we had the larger target
The shot and shell from the Turkish vessel
fell very wide of our boats, her guns being
generally aimed too high. Our men con-
ceived at the beginning Of the action thor
ough contempt for the enemy's marksman-
ship and did not throw away shot in reply,
but coolly and deliberately aimed and fired
as if ut practice.


CONFUSION ON THE HILL TOPS


"'There was now immense confusion in
the camp on the hill tops behind the
village. The light troops moved rapidly
from place to place, and it became very ap-
ing to make an attack upon us with ar
tillery. But we were quite free from un-