United States or Guadeloupe ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
For example, a Russian army that wishes to cross the Balkan is obliged to leave a portion of its forces to observe Shumla, Routchouk, and the valley of the Danube, whose direction is perpendicular to its line of operations. However successful it may be, a respectable force must always be left toward Giurgevo or Krajova, and even on the right bank of the river toward Routchouk.
By daybreak that morning we drew near to the town of Giurgevo, on the Roumanian or, I may say, the Russian side of the Danube, and soon afterwards entered it. Considerable excitement was visible among its inhabitants, who, even at that early hour, were moving hurriedly about the streets.
It is a fact worthy of record that of all the people killed and hurt during this bombardment of Giurgevo, not one was a Russian! This arose from the fact that the soldiers were under the safe cover of their batteries. The Turkish shells did not produce any real damage to works or men.
Having parted from our escort, Nicholas and I refreshed ourselves at the Hotel de l'Europe, and then went to an hospital, where my companion wished to visit a wounded friend "one," he said, "who had lately taken part in a dashing though unsuccessful expedition." This visit to Giurgevo was my first introduction to some of the actual miseries of war.
A monitor shelled Varciorova, Turnu Severin, and Giurgevo, situated on the Rumanian bank, and some small craft were captured at Zimnita. On the other hand, the Rumanians were reported to have begun a general bombardment of Rustchuk, an important Bulgarian port on the river.
The Russians were already at Giurgevo, building a bridge of boats with intent to cross the Danube, and the Turks were gathered in force at Rustchuk and Schumla. So much I knew from I the newspapers, but no further intelligence of the opening campaign had reached me.
Word Of The Day