Exploits of Gen. Komaroff.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 108, 27 June 1885, Page 6

Exploits of Gen. Komaroff.

Ge>", Komaroff distinguished himself by military tact, audacity,and resourcefulness, as well as personal bravery, in the IlussoTurkish campaign in Asia Minor in 1877, when he won his present rank of Goneral. After the capture of Ardahan, near the Russo Turkish frontier, Col. KomarofF was left in command of a detachment svhich had the difficult duty of defending a coneiderable tract of the neighbouring mountainous country, and of protecting the Russian frontier aa well ag covering the flank and rear of the aimy then operating against Kars. When the movement urged by Loris Melikoff was made against Erzeroum, Col. Komarolf executed a very bold and success ful manoeuvre. With a flying squadron he advanced from Ardahan, passing rat idly round the enemy's (lank, and came down upon a pa r t of the Turkish force which was holding the Panak Pass on the Sahanlough Range, which commanded access to the town of Olti on the northern side, whence the Turks intended to attack Ardahan, Col. Komaroff's unexpected appearance had such an effect that the enemy retreated at once without fighting, and the Russians were enabled to occupy Panak and Olti, and to capture 2,000 rifles and 500,000 cartridges. When at a subsequent period of the campaign the Russian troops were ordered to retiro from Hadj Vali, Col. Komaroff, with his detachment, found himself placed in a very perilous position by reason of the withdrawal of the main column of the Russian force, from which he became separated by a distance of from four to five miles, while he was exposed to Turkish fire from the twin heights of Great and Little Yalta. By a dash he drove off the 200 Turkish cavalry who held the Great Yalta, stationed a bo^y of his own men in their place, and under cover of their fire brought the main part of his own force round to the eastern slope of the hill, where after a time they were joined by re-inforcements from the RuFsian army under the very noBO of the Rnetnyj and the whole force was enabled to retire in order. During the attack of the Turks on the night of July 3\sb (August Ist) upon the camp at Kiouriouk Dara, Col —or rather at this dato Gen. —Komaroff, for he had already been promoted to that rank, was charged with a detachment to take up a position at Mount Karaal, four versta from the Russian camp, and there to act at his discretion. It was on this occasion that he received a wound in the breast, which, however, did not prove Berious, tho bullet having struck a religious medal which he wore. Gen. Komaroff subsequently took part in the storming of Kars, and contributed no unimportant share in that celobrated action. At the conclusion of the war he was made Commandment at Batoum, on the Euxine, and after the Akhal Tekke Expedition ho was placed in ooramand of the trans- Caspian army The Russians attribute the peaceful annexation of Merv in a large measure to Gen. Komaroffs tact and skill in other than military matters.—- "Pall Mall Gazette/