THE ASSAULTS ON THE TURKISH REDOUBT IN THE SHIPKA. PASS.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 250, 22 October 1877, Page 4

THE ASSAULTS ON THE TURKISH REDOUBT IN THE SHIPKA. PASS.

London, August 30. The Daily News correspondent, telegraphing from Shipka Pasaon September 27, gives a detailed account of the Ruaaiaoß' attempt to capture the redoubt which the Turks had constructed so as to sweep the road in the Russian rear. This redoubt is still untaken, and it constitutes a great danger to the Russians, as it gives the Turks possession of a range running parallel to that up which the road winds 1500 yards distant. The redoubt enfilades the road at several places, and the Turkish infantry, by extending along this ridge, which is thickly wooded, can practically render the road impasssable. It was on this road lhat General Drogetniroff was was wounded, and that to-day General Drogetskey was killed at a point fully a mile on our aide of the summit of the Paas» Men are picked off by Turkish skirmishers two miles behind the Pass. It will be seen, therefore, that the Russian position still remains most critical, iv spite of the reinforcements of General Radetzky. Indeed, he informed the commandant of Gabrova the day after his arrival that he had better warn the inhabitant, to be ready to fly at a moment's notices General Radetzky, as appears from the news in a telegram of September 25, attacked the Turkish redoubt frona the direction of the Pass, and aUo from the Gabrova side, aod there was a continuous musketry and artillery fire for hours. The Russians advanced under cover of trees, which, however, were too small to afford good shelter. Iv a short time they reached within fifty yards of the redoubt. Here they found the Turks had cut down trees around \ the redoubt, making an abattis over which it was almost impossible to pass. They gathered around the edge and suddenly made a rush for it, but were driven back with fearful loss. Then the soldiers became entangled with tbe masses of brushwood and trunks and limbs of the trees over which they were abliged to scramble, while the Turks poured in a terrible fire upon them at this short distance, and mowed ihem down like grass. In tha first assault against the redoubt, in which one company was engaged, very few got back to tell the tale. General Radetzky sent reinforcements, and the attack began again, and dispositions were made to place the forces in such a position that a heavy fire could be poured into the redoubt to cover the assault. The assailants were almost up to the parapet, and this attack seemed almost at the point of success, for the Colonel in command said that if the reserves were given him he could take the redoubt. The officer in command of tbe reserves let them go, but they were nevertheless repulsed. The nest assault was made under the eye ot General Radetzky aod part of his staff. Geueral Demitraffsky, chief of the Staff, placed himself at the hoad of the storming although he had to be supported by two men, as he had just previously been stunned by earth thrown up by an exploding shell. The Russians advanced steadily. They rushed over or through tbe abatlis, and even got into tho redoubt, and actually held it for a few seconds, but were driven out again. They surrounded the place on all sides, pouring into it a (errible fire, but were again driven back. In the meantime the Turks began in their turn to attack the Russian positions in the Pass from front to rear. The Russian losses must be very heay, for the fight continued till late at night, and the wounded were coming back steadily all the time. To sum up, the attack has been unsuccessful. Reinforcements ara arriving, and the fight will be probably continued tomorrow, Sunday.