Notwithstanding the serious events which this declaration must produce, it was impossible for the Porte to refrain from laughing at the bare-faced manner in which the Emperor attempted to impose on the understandings of the rest of the world. The declaration of war was read to the Imperial troops in Croatia on the 9th of February, and the same day Dresnick was attacked by them. The garrison consisted of only seventy men; but this little corps made a most gallant defence, and, small as their numbers were, they obliged the enemy to set fire to the place before they could compel them to surrender. At the same moment a second detachment made an attempt on Sturlich, another inconsiderable post. The Turkish Commandant reserved his fire till the Austrians were near enough for every shot to take place, he then gave them a volley, which destroyed a considerable number of the enemy. The place, however, was afterwards taken; and, it is said, that in revenge for the loss the Imperialists had sustained, they put all the prisoners to the sword. I cannot believe this report, notwithstanding the following account published by authority. Vienna, Feb. 27th, 1788. "During the attack of Dresnick, a detachment was sent to summon the Turks posted at Sturlich to surrender. They invited the Commanding Officer to advance within fifty paces on parole, when they made so brisk a fire on the detachment, as to kill fifty men, which so enraged the Imperialists, that they put the whole Turkish garrison to death." I do not think this account at all extenuates the severity, which it admits to have been exercised; for I never knew that it was the custom to accompany a flag of truce by an armed force; neither was it very military in the German Officer to advance with his whole detachment, even had he imagined the place was going to surrender, before he sent a party to receive the post from the enemy. The Imperial army now took post with their left flank on the river Korana, near Dresnick, and their right towards the mountains of Plessivicza, so as to have the road to Bihacz open before them. In the mean while, a considerable corps under Colonel Kesnowick passed the Unna, and attacked Turkish Dubitza, but were repulsed with a heavy loss. The Austrians themselves acknowledge to have had 431 men killed and wounded.