Kagul

a city in Moldavian SSR, 5 km from the Prut River. Railroad station. Population, 26, 500 (1970). Wineries are located in Kagul. There are plants for the production of smoked fish and dried fruits and a brewery; building materials are also manufactured. The Kagul experimental station for irrigated agriculture and a zonal agrochemical laboratory are located there. The city is the site of medical and pedagogical schools, as well as a sovkhoz-technicum for land improvement. There is also a museum of history and local lore. Kagul was founded in 1835.

a lake in southwestern Odessa Oblast, Ukrainian SSR.Area, 103 sq km; length, 13 km; width, 6–11 km; maximumdepth, 7 m. Its northern reach is narrow and funnel-shaped; itssouthern reach is wider. The lake is fed by rain and melted snow.The water level varies considerably, but during the low-wate rperiod it usually ranges from 1.5 m to 2 m. The bottom iscomposed of fine gray mire; the banks are sandy. The KagulRiver flows into the lake. The Vekita Channel links the lake withthe Danube River and with the lakes in its delta, Kugurkui andIalpug.

a left-bank tributary of the Danube. On July 21 (Aug.1), 1770, during the Russo-Turkish War of 1768–74, a battletook place along the river near the village of Vulkane§ti (inpresent-day Moldavian SSR). The battle was between the Rus-sian First Army of General P. A. Rumiantsev and the mainTurkish forces under the grand vizier Khalil Pasha. Accordingto clearly exaggerated estimates, the Turks had 150, 000 men and130–180 guns. Furthermore, the Russian rear was threatened byCrimean Tatar cavalry, numbering approximately 80, 000. Ru-miantsev assigned an 11,000-man contingent to guard the rear.He then used his remaining forces (27, 000 men and 118 guns), grouped in five units in a square formation to attack the Turksfrom the front, flanks, and rear. After a hard battle, the Turkishforces were driven to flight. On July 23 (August 3), the Russianscaught up with the retreating Turks as they were crossing theDanube at Kartal and scattered them, capturing 30 guns and thebaggage train. The Turks lost about 20, 000 men and 130 guns, while the Russians lost 1, 500 men. The battle of the Kagul has become an important example of the destruction of the superiorforces of an enemy. Rumiantsev used the most advanced maneu-vering tactic of his day—an assault by separate but mutuallysupportive units.