WAR SCENES IN SERVIA DURING THE TURKO SERVIAN WAR —BY AN ENGLISH VOLUNTEER.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 804, 11 August 1877, Page 3

WAR SCENES IN SERVIA DURING THE TURKO SERVIAN WAR — BY AN ENGLISH VOLUNTEER.

[Specialiy Wbittejt *ob thb Waikato Times.] No. H. Continued front our issue of the 7th inst. Before continuing these " Scenes" it might not be anadvisable to Btate some of the reasons which induced Servia to declare war. In order to do so I cannot do better than quote a ; few extracts from an official document m my possession, namely, a letter of instructions given by the Servian Cabinet Jo Colonejjjfaclvert. Chief of ihe.3ec^i«rrco.y&lrY, previous to Tils departure for England on a diplo* , a matte mission. The extracts are as fol» / lows: '• f to obtain that hearty sympathy it is necessary that the British / public should be well informed as to the / rear etate of' things, not only m the ' interior, but also at the theatre of mili. tary aciio.i. We know well what dependence can be placed on the communications of correspondents, how very far they are sometimes from the truth, and how frequently they misrepresent facts which cannot oe contested." «« Tell your countrymen that Servia, which counts no more than one million of inhabitants, has undertaken this war with the sole object of compelling the Porte to ameliorate the sad state of brethren m Bulgaria, Bosnia, and ; that, menaced by the arnifld force of a considerable empire, Servia has defended hersel successfftlly- . for morejihnn tUrf «"""+t»«-fEt"> despatch """ is datedTßelgrad, Oot 9th, 1876) again the invasion of a numerous hostile army ; that the entire male population is nnder arms, that the country is deserted, the crops are destroyed, the fields are uncultivated ; that there is not a Servian who has not brought to the common cause his eharo of mater al sacrifices, the total amount of which, f»r a country so young and '30 pW a9 ours i surpasses almost the limits of. belief j „and.. that, nevertheless Servia 'will continue the contest, as her oauso ia that of jusvioe and humanity." These are the reasons as stated by Servia herself «nd we cannot but admire her for her disinterested.e ss and noble self devotion 10 (.because of "justice and hunanity." But revenons a nosmontons, to return from this iiigreasiou to our march to headquarters at Deligrad. After leaving Belgrade our routi lay through some of the grandest soonery' m Servian territory. On either bide mountains flunked our path, many of them verdant and fruitful with wi»e and melon-girdens, others crownei with, dark and somlre pitfe forests; and- as we proceeded through the valley of ihe Jiorava, the beauty of the landscape became indescribable m its wild and native grandeur. A beauty too perfect and too lair to be marred, even by the devastation of war. Peaceful villages smiled uyon us from their sheltered retreats m the mountniu side ; white and . rustic spires were there, pointing heavenward, as though, thither to direct our < hopes, whil-t an ever-winding river reflected iv its silver; waters a smilii-g image ot peace. A beautiful scene, indeed, but rendered sad and melancholy by tbe sight of those wretched groups <»f refugees wijose pitiful condition I have tried to picture. On the eveiiing'ot the fourth day wo reached Deligrade. Nothing occurred to disturb our tranquility until the following morning, when the lurks made aa attempt to cross tbe Morava -m the vicinity of Alexinutz. As tue operations of our company were not required 1 gladly embraced the opportunity of personally testing tbe qualities and cabalities of the Servians when m action. From line to line the command re-echoed, and m response they charged the enemy right, gallantly, nut, perhaps, with great enthusiasm, for they are a quiet people* but with a Bteadiuesß that considerably raised my opinion of the military qualities of the race when properly organissed. The charge was eminently successful, the Turks bein B repulsed with great; slaughter, and it is with pleasure that I testify to a dauntless courage whioh I myself saw thioujjhouc the whole engagement. One instance of personal bravery I may mention. During tbe fusilade which preceded the oha>ge of the Servian in* fantry 1 observed a young soldier suddeuly leave the runks, rush out into the open, exuoseil to the fire of both' aroiies, ' pick up the body of an old man, place it on his shoulder, and supporting* the ex* tremititts m his arms, carry his burden within our lines. I was afterwards informed that they were father and son. The father was one of the picket which was driven m on the first approach rpf the Turks. He had been wounded tin the knee, and left behind. On tbe advance of the infantry, the son had recognised bis father, and rescued him m the manner described. The fight was, howevt r, not without amusing incidents. One of our company, a young Irishman named Booney— this is not his real name, but, I believe, it is sufficiently Irish ; I only hope that if any of my readers may happen to answer to that euphonious cognomen* they will not think 1 am striving to inflict a " thrust m the dark ' — hid riddea but ni>h us to witness tbe s fight. We had ohmbed a slight eminence, m order to have a better view, and being sighted . by the enemy, we reoeived a volley from a. party of shirmishers. We were, however, out of range, so their balls fell short. The horse which was ridden by our friend Koouey, was a young mare, and quite unable to stand fire. Immediately, therefore, that she heard the "ping" of tbe rifles, she made an attempt to bolt. Rooney ; who, by the way, showed himself a capital horseman, fittcoeeded m subduing henamibringing r*, — -«.>—*-***- l . ., iii immmm

her back to *bere we were standing j wa 8 saluted by sundry jokes at the expense of his gallant charger. One $>entloman m. quired "if the horas bad a bit of Turk m her. Rooney, mistaking the;; tenor of the question, replied sogely : " Och ! be jabere! and I believe she's all Turkey, and tbongbt the varmints were after cooking her goose." A few days after this, I *as transferred by the order of General Tchernaieff, to his ftaff, and, while so serving, I had opportunities of witnessing and Btwdying the oharaoter of the native offioials. No'tbing could possibly exceed their hearty hospitable reception of myself, or the kindness and consideration I received from thorn ; each day brought roe new testimonies to their courtesy, their kindness, and their hospitality, . aod with feelings of pleasure I make this record of the same. , At this period an armisfcioe of ten aays was announced. Repudiating numerous statements to the contrary, T must here emphatically state, m defence of Servian h^nor and integrity, that the obligation of that armistice was strictly maintained and respected by the Servian troops, whil«s contrary to certain published and noocepted reports, it was dishonorably violated by Turkish treachery. ! . Some days before its termination intelligence was received at headquarters that th 6 enemy were actively engaged m erecting a bridge across the Mprava, which bridge was actually completed before the conclusion of the armstice. Nevertheleif, strictly, maintaining his honor as an officer and a commander, General Tchernaieff, with a forbearance that was aost noble, refrained from interposition until the armstice had expired. Immediately, however, upon ite close, under cover of nigbt, a detachment of troops, including a portion of our company under Captain Paul, advanced and fired the bridge. Our advance nnd intention. were speedily discovered by the Turkish ou* posts, but the mission was already executed— the bridge was fired. The enemy's batteries opened fire, but wit hno success ; and though volley after volley of .musketry was fired upon us, they .only resnlted m tbe loss of one man. I mention this fact to show that it was the Turks and not the Servinns who first infringed the lawn and, rpgnintiona-flf an -armiiitfceTnnfiilingly^ccepted by us. (fo be continued.) PS.— ln my last, by some blunder, I gave a wrong date, for September 23th, 187«, read August 29th, 1876.

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