THE SHIPKA PASS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 233, 19 October 1877, Page 3

THE SHIPKA PASS.

A London News correspondent writes :— " It is now a question of endurance, but I adhere to the impression that the Shipka Pass as now held by Radetzky is safe, and that, unless Suleiman Pasha can run a a column through another pass, regarding the practicability of which I know nothing, he will wreck his army by thus dashing it continually against Shipka." He says that on the 21st August, when the fighting commenced, the Russians were probably a little over 3,000 strong, with 40 cannon. The Russians on that day had laid mines in front of their trenches, which exploded just as the head of the Turkish assaulting partios were massed above them, and it is reported that a number of Moslems were blown into fragments. By Thursday evening the Turks had worked around on both Russian flanks. At this supreme moment the two Russian generals, expecting momentarily to be environed, sent a last telegram to the Czar, telling him what they expected, how they tried to prevent it, and how, please God, when driven into their positions, they would hold these until reinforcements should arrive. At all events, they and their men would hold their ground to the last drop of blood. At six o'clock there was a lull in the fighting, of which the Russians could take no advantage, since the reserves were all engaged. The men were beaten out with heat, fatigue, hunger and thirst. There was no water within the Russian lines, and the men lay panting on "■ the bare ridge, reckless that it was swept by a Turkish rifle fire. Others doggedly fought on down among the rocks, but were forced to give ground. The cliffs resounded with the triumphant Turkish shouts. At this juncture reinforcements under Radetzki arrived. Radetzki took command of these, with others, who arrived subsequently, which brought up the number of defenders of the pass to about 13,000. The road, even in the rear of the Russian position, was swept by Turkish fire, and the reinforcements suffered heavily The object of Friday's battle was to clear the Turks from a wellwooded position, which flanked the Russians on the road. The fighting was solely confined to musketry, and continued all day most desperately. The Russians could make little impression by a front attack on the Turks. Occasionally at some point the Russians would be hurled back clear out of the woods altogether. " I could," says the correspondent, " mark the Turks following them eagerly to its edge lying down while pouring out a galling fire. The troops charged with -making this front attack merely succeeded in preventing the Turkish efforts to work round to the Russian rear. It was therefore decided at noon to deliver a counter flank movement. The two battalions executing this movement had to advance under a tremendous fire from the Turkish mountain guns. The fighting on the Turkish front and flank lasted fully an horn-, but at last the Turks were seen withdrawing their battery of mountain guns near the right flank, which was a sure sign that danger menaced it, if it stayed longer. Their left battery followed their example, which showed that the Russians had gained the ridge on the Turkibh left also. There remained but the central peak of the Turkish position. That carried the ridge would be ours, and our right flank be set free from the dangerous pressure ou it,"