TURKISH VICTORY SOUTH OF THE BALKANS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 196, 20 August 1877, Page 4

TURKISH VICTORY SOUTH OF THE BALKANS.

A telegram dated July 11, the day | before the mail steamer left San Francisco, reports a Turkish victory over Russian forces south of the Balkans. The New York Herald's cable correspondent at Jeni-Soghia reports that Monday afternoon the Turks, under command of Leman Bey, had an engagement with the Russians, defeating them and driving them back into the Balkans with heavy loss. The battlegrouud was at Febitch, twelve miles from Jeni-Soghia. At first tbe Russians seemed to be successful, but the determined fighting of tbe Turks afterwards appeared to promise a Turkish victory. The' Russian forces consisted of infantry and cavalry, outnumbering the Turks, whose first attack was repulsed, and the flanking column of a force of dismounted dragoons greatly imperilled the Turkish position. The Turkish artillery was splendidly bandied, raking the columns of the Russians, and thinning them at '■'every discharge. Perceiving the terrible havoc caused by the Turkish fire, General Gourkha ordered the Russians to charge. A fearful hand to hand conflict ensued. The Turks formed a hollow square. After losing several guns, the Russians attacked.desperately, and fearful carnage followed on both sides. The Russian flanking movement and its desperate onslaught threatening to exterminate the Turks, when suddenly brisk firing on the left announced the arrival of Turkish reinforcements under the command of Raouf Pasha. The Russians had no artillery, and the rapid advance of the Turkish reinforcements compelled them to face the new enemy, thus affording the opponents an opportunity to abandon tbeir hollow square, and throw forward tbeir flanks and renew the attack vigorously. The Russian line, thus held between two rows of bayonets, was completely overwhelmed. The Cossacks made a splendid resistance, fighting with the utmost but unavailing bravery. A Turkish cbarge wa. made over heaps of dead bodies, driving the Russians back into the mountains. The flight was precipitate. The Turks pursued the flying Russians until the mountain pa6S was recovered. The Russian advance column consisted of Circassians and Cossacks, commanded by Colonel Judomin. The main body was commanded by General Gourkha. They were in light flying order, without waggon transports or artillery. It ie impossible to estimate tbe loss. The Russian main body intended to cross (he Balkans at this point, the eight corps leading. It is not known what effect this repulse of Gourkha's flying column will have on the main advance.