THE WAR IN THE EAST.

Dunstan Times, Issue 758, 27 October 1876, Page 3

THE WAR IN THE EAST.

Tho Servians are very cleverly overmatched. If their strategy had been more skilful than it 1 has shown itself to be they cohid hardly have resisted tho overwhelming numbers of the Turks. But as it is they have shown a want of everything but bravery in the struggle, and are now being forced back upon their capital, while the district from which they retire are exposed to tbo rapacity and tho revengo of the conquerors. Vce victis it ever is. Much more must it he so when the belligerents on both sides are inflamed with religious unci national animosity, are at best hut half civilized, and take little care of even their own wounded. The ferocity of the Turk is proverbial, and that he will maintain his terrible character in the country of his invading enemy is only too certain. But it is hardly less likely that his enemy will not be far behind him. A correspondent of the Daily News tells us that a lady of Servian extraction has followed C»ncral Zach’s army from the beginning of the war, and, “ when there is an engagement, she is always on horseback in tho van hacking at the Turks.” On the other hand we’rcad in tho Standard that “ boys six and eight years of age are armed and following the Turkish army.” What a war must that bo in which even women'and children join ! Belgrade, August 10.—An oflicial account of the series of engagements between the Turkish forces under Dervish Pasha, and the Servian army under Teholak Antioh, gives the following particulars On the Bth instant, Dervish Pasha, at the head of sixteen battallions, commenced an attack on tho Servian army of the Yavor district. The engagement, which has been going on during the last three days, has had no decisive’resulfc, which is chiefly to be attributed to the efficiency of the Servian artillery. A Servian detachment, under Captain Hish, was engaged throughout the conflict, which was of a‘most obstinate character—on the Bth from 3 p.m. till II p.m., and on the 9th instant from 8 a.m."until 4 p.m. The Servian artillery had been handled throughout most effectively. The Turks have, up to the present, lost 2000 men. The loss of the Servians is 250 wounded. The number of killed is unknown. The None Freie Presse, of Vienna, makes the statement that the Prince of Montenegro receives a daily subsidy ot 1,1000 from the Czar’s private purse, aud LSOO from that of the Czarevitch. Prince Milan is said to receive a similar sum. Horrors of War.—The Daily News correspondent continues his recital of horrors. Mr Baring goes with a Turkish escort, and the Bulgarian villagers are, it is said, afraid to apeak openly. The report from the town of Batok is that skulls of women and children may he counted by the score at tho roadside. The church and churchyard were full of nnburied bodies lying in heaps. The writer says he never imagined anything so fearful. There were three thousand bodies in the churchyard and church. Many were the remains of children and girls. Batok was it town of 9,000 inhabitants, only remain. This was written on the Ist of August, and the date of the massacre was on the 12th of May. The bodies had been left in the streets to rot. Tho Servians bring similar charges against the Turks to ■the Bulgarians. They say that the Turkish soldiers carry petrolium and burn every place they come to, aud that the wounded are most shamefully mutilated.