War Notes.

Otago Witness, Issue 1355, 17 November 1877, Page 5

War Notes.

EXTRAORDINARY ROBBERY OF RUSSIAN GUNS AND STORES. A correspondent at Sfc. Petersburg, writing under date of the 14th instant, sends to the Globs the following particulars of an extensive robbery of gans and stores at Kertch,. which has caused a great sensation throughout Russia : — A few days ago, as the inspector of artillery stores at Kertch was making his daily rounds, he encountered one of the storekeepers riding in a covered waggon heavily laden. The man returned | evasive answers to inquiries which were addressed to him, but on the inspector stopping the horses and demanding fuller explanations, the storekeeper admitted that he had two mortars, one a 3-pounder, weighing 6 cwt., and the other a 9-pounder, weigt ing nearly half a ton. The inspector's suspicions being aroused, he made the man return to the depdt, where the officials denied all knowledge of the alleged order. The storekeeper and driver were both put under arrest, and the Governor informer! of the attempted robbery. He immediately ordered a atrict inquiry to be made into the affair, and for this purpose appointed a commission. The discovery was then made that eight pieces of ordnance of various s«zes had been removed from the fortress, while the naval and military stores had suffered serious depletion. "Ultimately all the missing guns, except one, werß found secreted in a private house in Kertch, where there were also immense quantities of Government gunpowder cases, of stolen machinery, and sackful* of broken metal. A court martial has been instituted to try the defendants. LEAVE THEIR PUNISHMENT TO GOD. I Correspondents who have just arrived from the front, and who saw the fights at Yeni Saghra and Eski Saghra, are full of indignation at the reports of Russian inhumanity. In the fight of the 31st July, when the struggle surged to and fro, the Russian infantty, returning to positions from which they had been driven, found the wounded comrades whom they had left behind murdered, and, impelled by anger, at first refused quarter; but their officers soon con. trollsd them, and took as prisoners those who threw themselves on their knees and begged for mercy. The command of the officers was, "Leave their punishment to God." The men of one Russian regiment adopted 14 or 15 Bulgarian orphans, and carried them, during the retreat, driving with them a cow so as to have milk for the little ones. — ■Times. A RUSSIAN SOLDIER AND HIS SON. The New Times relates the following story :— "Amongst the soldiers of a battalion of sappers in the active army was one named Kramara, from the district of Vasilikof. Soon after the mobilisation his wife died, leaving a son 11 years old, named Lucien! This child, finding himself alone and abandoned, resolved to go and join bia father. Whilst he was wandering about Bessarabia, the declaration of war was made, and the sapper crossed the frontier. The little lad, however, did not lose courage, and succeeded in passing the Roumanian frontier, but, not knowing the number of his father's battalion, he was obliged to seek at hazard, finding, however, everywhere people desirous to assist him in his search. He arrived on the banks of the Danube when the troops were crossing. A Cossack brought him to the officer of the 7th battalion of sappers, who told him that his father was in the 63rd battalion ; bat as they were a long way off the officers kept the boy with them, and in their company he crossed the Danube. la Bulgaria Lucien was remarked by the Emperor, who heard the adventure, as also did the Czarewitch, and he is now in the service of the latter. Mr Hall, of the Illustrated London News, has just taken a sketch of the youthful soldier, which will appear in his journal." COSSACK ROGUEKY. One of the war correspondents gives an account of the tricks of the semi-heathen Cossack troopers. Pas->i is* through the streets of Galatz, the thin, weary-looking horse of a Cossack fell suddenly, and lay apparently lifeless on the ground. Its master was moved even to tears, and bewailed the unhappy fate which had not onjy deprived him of a favourite, but left him horseleas just at the most interesting moment of the war. A crowd gathered round, and in it were men whoso kind hearts would not suffer them to leave the poor man without somo practical expression of their pity. A subscription was made, and the man, taking the saddle from the lifeless animal, wont on his way with dried tears, for he had actually wept. As the crowd were bending over the little horse In pure sympathy, a whistle was heard at the other end of the street. The horse sprang to his feet, and with a joyful neigh joined his master, whose clever trick was much aduiii'id, even by those who suilered by it. To deceive the good people of Galatz iv any transaction in which money is involved, is no easy task, and demands an amount of cleverness seldom to be found. Another proof of the game doubtful morality was told by an

eye-witness A Cossack having cast his eyes t on a piece of cheese, which he desired to buy t from a Jew, aaked to examine it. While it n was in his hands he asked the price, which y was, of course, exorbitant. He placed it under his arm and began to bargain. As he talked his comrades passed behind him and v each cut off a piece. The Cossack said it was j a small one, the Jew that it was a large one. j But as the Cossack could show it from time n to lime looking smaller and smaller, the Je'.^ Jj afraid to attempt any violence, gave in to the j. Cossack's price, which, unlike that of the Sibylline books, grew ever smaller and smal- jjj ler, as the article he had to buy diminished. \ RUSSIAN LADY NURSES. < I have no great faith in the operating skill ( of the' Russian surgeons. I remember that * in Servia, when a difficult case occurred, " there was always anxiety to have the eeryices of Mr MacKellar, Mr Attwood, or Mr Hume, l the professional representatives of the British ( Society of the Order of St. John. Bat in care for their wounded the Russians surpass ' any nation of whose war making I have had 1 any experience. A great proportion, by far 1 indeed the larger proportion, of the service is voluntary, and tendered with an untiring ' devotion and free-handed liberality which 1 excite the highest admiration and respect. 1 Ladies of rank forswear comfort and the ' pleasures of society to come with the army : and minister to tue wounded. There is no arriere pensee in their devotion to this duty, ' They do not write letters to the Russian papers detailing their experiences, exalting themselves by inferential self-praise, and attitudinising before the world as paragons of self-abnegation. If you want to know of them and their work you mnst seek for them aud it. They dress with the most studied plainness— l can recall other scenes where the coif of a comely " sister " has been made to assume a wonderfully coquettish aspect, and where a little flirtation was not unacceptable a3 the interlude to playing at nursing — and they fare very hard, without a thought of self. The tend Turkish and Russian wounded with equal care, and are zealots in their duties day and night.— Daily News. CORRESPONDENTS BUNKING 4 HOTKL.. Sending sonrn of our eervantg in one direction to seek food wherever it could be got, we gave directions to the others to enter the Hisla Hane at the back, light fires in the kitchens, and prepare to cook whatever should be got. For over two days, in American parlance, we *• ran" that hotel, We had no guests, it is true, and that was not our faulr. We opened the doorsfand were ready to provide every accommodation, even down to the shower bath, which we put into working order and enjoyed three Bueoeasive mornings. Wonder of wonders, however. Aa we were speculating as to what we should charge if customers shouldarrive, two former retainers of Mr Viterbo, the landlord, turned up, and with the information thai they had been deputed to look after the place during the temporary absence on urgent private affairs of the principal, busied themselves in making us additionally comfortrble, and when we left presented us with a bill. We were a little taken aback, as we had some thoughts of charging for our management. Upon reflection, however, we thought it would be a good example to others, and with a mild protest we settled the accounts. Before leaving, the day before, in fact, I nailed my card to the wall ia the large dining-room by the side of the looking-glass with a pencilled message to your Special Correspondent with the Russians. I hope he will get it, and when he takes his morning shower bath bs duly grateful to his colleague who suggested its construction. — Times Correspondent. PITIFUL EXHIBITION OF TERROR. In the middle of our supper I happened to step into the verandah to give some cigarrettes to our Turkish sentrisa and ask if they would eat, when I saw and heard a great j commotion among the Circassians. They were rushing about all over the yard, shouting, cracking their whips and flourishing their rifles, and behaving altogether like madmen. I called my friend and our two dragomans, and we rushed among them to discover what was the matter, the Bulgarians in the meantime hiding themselves anywhere they could get to in an agony of terror. A& first the lunatics took ao notice of us, but upon our all four drawing our revolvers, as had been agreed upon for an emergency, they condescended, as far as their fears would let them, to explain that they had heard ta o shots firer?, and felt convinced the Russians were coming, and that wa should all ba mas-

sacred. Frantically some threwtheirsaddlea on, others struck their horses savagely across the nose, and all screamed at e»eh other in Bed lam tones. I had never before witnessed such a pitiful and complete exhibition of terror, and from that moment any little respect I had entertained for Circassians had completely gone. By a mixture of stern and soothing counsels, and especially by a pointed reference to the calmness of the two regular soldiers who sat on the balcony, and were to be seen in tha dim light hugging their rifles, and smoking with all the unconcern of our own stolid Grenadiers, the fever was reduced, and as soon as the fawning and hand'kissing stage was reached wo left them and tried to get an hour's sleep on the mats stretched out for us. — Times correspondent. INFLUENCE OP FLATTERY ON TURKISH GENERALS.

By means of the grossest flattery anything may be obtained from Turks tilling high positions. I wanted to free a soldier, an old man whose eight children were starving at home, from military service, and so going to the commander of hia regiment I played the followed comedy which was arranged beforehand with my dragoman. The colonel

uuderstood Frsnch, but I aoted as if he did not know a word of it, and said to my dragoman in French, "Please inform his Excellency — " " The coloael is not yet a Pacha," said the dragoman interrupting mo "Well,

if he is not he very soon will be ; for though such a brave man, to whom we owe our victories, may be kept for years from advancement by intrigues, his groat services can no longer be concealed." The colonel, of course, understood every word. X had

scarcely made my petition when he ordered a doctor to see if my proSege was quite well ; the doctor discovered that he had an illness, and the same evening the soldier was not only free from military service, but received

the arrears c( his pay in full. Since them the colonel has really become a Pacha, and now considers mo the eleveresb man in the world, himself always excepted. — SfcandardV HUMBUGGING MUKHTAK PASHA. Our present situation is becoming almost unbearable to me, and I fear we may remain here till the . winter, exposed t» every imaginable privation, and without my being able to report a single fact of importance. The difficulties of communication are daily becoming greater, and the arrival of my telegrams and letters, which, owiog to the pre* sent lulJ, can contain very little of interest, becomes more and more doubtfnl. The great expense of couriers seems to me uselessly incurred. For a long time past I have been, thinking how best to employ my time for the benefit of your readers; and to day I came to the conclusion I would go to Erzeroum, arrange my affairs there, and travel t:> Rhiza (the ancient Rizus) by ways untrodden by I European travellers, and from there find my way along the coast to Batoum. . After reporting the state of affairs there I would .return to Mukhtar Pusba'a head-qnartera by Artvin, Ardanoundsh, and Ardahan.- When half-an-hour ago I begged the Marshal for a passport for my journey, I did not forget to utter some Byzantine compliments on hia paßt victories, and to assire him that I would not fail to be a witness of his next' glorious triumph. The Marshal was visibly annoyed, did not offer me a second cigarette, and refused to give me a piss. My dragoman at once corrected the fault which I had coirtmitfced in not flattering him openly enough. "Yon have misunderstood the gentleman," he said to the Marshal in Turkish ; "he wanted to say that you have" spoilt the world by your innumerable victories in Yemen — only think of Yemen, where you conquered every day — and that the eyes of all Europe are directed to you, and daily expecting a telegram announcing your viotory. How. in your unfathomable wisdom, you have lesolved to grant the Russians a little respite ; Europe does not know that, and accuses the correspondents of concealing your victories ; and in order to escape all complaints my master wishes to travel till you consider it well to defeat the Muscovites again." Tha Marshal was highly pleased, ordered a bowj* ouronldou to be prepared for me, and in« vited my dragoman — an unheard-of honour, for he had only the rank of a lieutenant iv the army — to be seated and take coffee. When the dragiraan afterwards translated to me what he had said to the Marshal I was in some alarm about his allusion to Yemen, but the dragoman assured me tho Pasha now firmly believes in tbe viotoriesj which he never gainsd. — Standard. BUSSIAN SOLDIERS' SONGS. During the return to Bucharest' in the evening trains were mot oonveyirjg troops to the front. The men were for the most part young. Again and again, tne train was d&. layed for long hours, beside ot"b>r trains shunted on one aide at passing places on the Bingle line, and once when the sun. was down, and darkness began to gather over the' fogj- , laden land of marshes, there rose from one carriage, to be quickly taken up by others, , the solemn Evening Hymn — a musical prayer , for their country, their Sovereign, the friend's they had left behind, and for themselves, that their' Creator would- either shield their heads in,, the day of battle, or take them to , d:veli with Him. The hymn was first heard , by me in the camp on the evening before five , squadrons of the very same dragoons who sang it took Tirnova from an enemy superior > in numbers manifold. Superstitious, is it ? . Well, perhaps ; but it is superstition of the same kind as that of Cromwell's Ironsides',and ' it may be doubted whether philosophers have yet discovered the substitute for it which will be equally powerful with an unlearned t soldiery who kiss the cross that they wear 5 round their necks as they gasp out the last l remnants of their life on tbe field of battle i or under the knife of the Turk. There is . another curious Russian song, or music, per- , hap 3, without song, Avhicb. is very common. - A nnmbar of men sing in unison the notes of j a descending minor scale, then hold tha > chord, while oae takes the note an octave ) higher than the highest on the scale. This 3 is repeated constantly, and comes in often 3 between choruses sang on the march ; but fc nothing is so wild or plaintive as tiis rugged fc Plastouny chorus of the cuckoo, which must s have come to many minds when we saw, the j heap of heads on the Shipka Pass.