THE RUSSIAN BATTLE WITH THE TURCOMANS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1827, 30 December 1879, Page 3

THE RUSSIAN BATTLE WITH THE TURCOMANS.

By way of Berlin accounts have been received of the battle * Geok Tope, in which the Russians suffered a severe defeat at the hands of the Tekke Turcomans. It seems that the Russian van having failed to take the fort, the main force was ordered into position, command of the whole being assumed by General Lomakin, The main force, under General Count von Borcb, having to attack the northern and more important front of the fort, monopolised the greater part of the artillery. The battalions formed into companies, throwing out a cloud of sharpshooters, and proceeded to the attack. When within two hundred and fifty paces of the wall they were greeted with a steady and well-aimed infantry fire, murderous to the first line, and injurious even to the second. The sharpshooters, crouching upon the earth, returned the fire. This lasted till five o'clock, when a signal round being fired by the fourth half battery the whole mass took to the bayonets, and rushed forward against the hostile works. The Russians at the critical moment, in accordance with their habits, intoned half - sentimental songs. The Turcomans responded with the cry, "Allah il Allah!" to the call of the Imam standing on the minaret of the fort and waving the green standard of the Prophet over the heads of the Believers. Upon the charging host getting close to the breastworks, that portion of the Tekke who had no effective firearms to use against the enemy burst forth from the open portals and joined in a hand-to-hand conflict. The mas.sacre that ensued was fearful. Though they had no better arms to wield against the rifle and bayonet than the broadsword and pike, the Tekke all but destroyed the front battalions. They leaped forward with fury, and slashed right and left with irresistible rage. Bewildered, benumbed, cut to pieces, and reduced to despair, tho Russians absolutely ran away, allowing the Tekke to get into tho batteries and cut eown the artillerymen at their guns. "The defeat was complete. Thanks to the action of the Reserve Artillery the rout did not end in total destruction. As it was the slaughter was fearful, and part of the guns had to be left in the enemy's hands. Hotly pursued by the Turcoman cavalry the Russians retreated some forty versts to Beurm, where it appears they were subsequently attacked by Nul Verdi Khan of Merv, who had come up from Ashabat with fresh forces. The Russians admit a loss of 483 dead and 'wounded, which, according to their method of calculation, means about twice as many. To the Tekko, though victors, they attribute a loss of 2000, among them the son of the Khan of Merv, who commanded upon the pot. A correspondent in St. Petersburg writes to the "Daily Hews": preparation* for tho proposed Afghan ex pedition have reoeived a check at the outset. General Kaufmann, after leaving St. Petersburg en route for Orenburg, represented at headquarters that without cash and supplies the preparations could not be proceeded with. It is reported that he received a significant answer from Livadia that it was perhaps better not to proceed with them. I hope this information is aa trustworthy as the original intelligence received respecting the expedition being planned and ordered to bo prepared. Corroborated and confirmed as that was from more than one authentio quarter, it could not admit of doubt, wild as the plan was, and ruinously costly as it would have been. It is well that such schemes cannot be carried out without great outlay, and it is known that the finances of Russian Turkestan are unequal to the ordinary expenditure, so that it is quite certain no extra armament can be provided from local xesources. I am also informed that on the

1 proposal being made to furnish Abdurahman Khan with a considerable sum of money, which with the accumulation of the yearly subsidy, twenty-five thousand roubles, allowed by Russia would amount to more than half a million roubles—to be employed preliminarily in judicious distribution amongst tho native chiefs —an absolute refusal was given to any such proceeding during peaceful relations with England, this decision causing disappointment if not surprise. I hear that the irritation that was shown, not only in the Press, but in official circles, on the occasion of JiOrd Salisbury's speech has subsided. Under the influence of the anger and annoyance first experienced, the question was even raised of withdrawing the -Russian Ambassador from London, but that idea was at once authoritatively negatived, on the ground that the speech could not be regarded as official."