The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-16 00:00:00

THE TURKISH ARMY.

The Correspondent of The Times, writing from
Constantinople under date March 4, says :

"I have been much interested in making excursions from
this capital to the various positions octinpied by the Turkish
troops in the suburbs. The Ottoman line extends from
alakbi Keui, on the Sea of Marmora, through ludehir Keui,
Nifos Keui, and Vidos, to the Black Sea. The Division of
Nedjib Pasha occupies the left wing line, with head-quarters
at Marki Keui; and the Divisions of Osman Noun Pasha,
Yayals Pasha, and Shakir Pasha hold the right and centre,
the head-quarters of Muklitar Pasha being in a small
house near the Daoud Pasha barracks. Constantinople,
by the way, has an enormous barrack accomoda-
tion and it is said to excel any of the European
capitals in the extent of its buildings constructed as
quarters for the Ottoman soldiery. The health of
the Turkish Army around Constantinople is said to he
good, considering the hardships of the men who have ar-
rived here from the interior. This part of the forces shows
in its clothing and general appearance the character of the
service it has done during the wretched retreat of Suleiman
Pasha's disorganized armies. Tha troops that have been
stationed in and around the capital are well dressed and
clean in their personal appearance, but there is no sign of
the smartness generally associated with soldiers to be
found among the Turkish troops. The sentinels at the
barracks, and even at the gates of the Imperial Palaces
lounge while on duty, lolling over their guns or leaning
in indolent and ungraceful positions against the door-
posts and gateway s. The physique of the men is
good, and far superior to that of their officers. Squad,
company, and battalion drills are very actively kept
up, and English surgeons who have been with the Turkish
Armies during the campaign inform me that they have never
teen so much energy displayed in exercising the troops.
Various reasons have been assigned here for this unusual
activity on the drill-pound, but I am of the opinion that it
is intended to keep the attention of the men occupied and
prevent them becoming too much interested in the dangerous
political discussions now going on. A soldier who has had
three or hours' drill goes quietly to bed, and does not feel
inclined to scrutinize measures of the diplomatists. The
Stafford-house Committee is placing surgeons along the line
held by the Turkish troops, and is also busily engaged in
arranging for the reception and treatment of the wounded
to come in here from the rear of the Russian lines.
"The little war cloud which hovered for a time between
the English and Russian flags appears to be disappearing,
and unless some hot-headed, unnecessary act occurs on the
one or the other side, it will soon fade away beyond the
political horizon of the two armies. In view of the scenes
of horror and unutterable calamity of the closing campaign
It seems utterly incredible and absurd that two great nations
like Russia and England should deluge Eastern Europe with
another flood of 'woe and desolation over any of the points
of controversy now discussed by men who have had no
actual experience of was' in this campaign or are likely to
have it in any succeeding one. Hair splitting and head
splitting are very different occupations, and if some of those
people so fond of the former were compelled to take their
chance in the latter game, there would he much less of both
in this world of ours."

A Moscow letter states that the influence, or rather the
fear, of Russia has acquired a new force in Central Asia, all
to the disadvantage of England in case of war.

Certain districts of Bulgaria are occupied by the Rou-
manian troops. But the animosity shown by the inhabitants
against this portion of their liberators, is such as to render
the position of the soldiers intolerable ; it has, therefore,
been decided to withdraw them, and to substitute Russians.
Vanity Fair.

The Emperor of Russia has sent an autograph letter to
the Cesarewitch, accompanied by the gift of a golden sword,
the hilt and sheath of which are ornamented with diamonds.
The blade bears the inscription, "For the able command of
the Rustchuk detachment."

The St Petersburg Correspondent of the Daily News
writes :—" You can scarcely form an idea of the enthusiasm
with which the news of the signature of the Treaty of Peace
with Turkey has been received in all the towns of this vast
Empire. When the evening came of the grand national
festival—the anniversary of the accession of the Czar and of
the emancipation of the serfs—the news which was expected
that day had not arrived. People had already began to feel
somewhat gloomy at this, when on a sudden, about half•past
eight o'clock, a salute of 101 guns announced the intelligence
to the entire city. It was a festival and also the first day of
carnival, and nearly everybody was in the illuminated streets
or in the theatres. By the aid of the telegraph the news was
at the same moment communicated to all the cities of the
Empire. Everywhere simultaneously the people in the
theatres called for the National Anthem, and the people in
the streets proceeded to the Winter Palace, where the
Ent,neror was compelled to appear at the window to respond
to the cheers of the crowd."

"The number of troops on a war footing still at the Ws-
posal of Russia in Europe aud Asia Minor amounts to
750,000, with over 2,722 cannon. With the reserve troops
she has altogether a million men under arms, cud 3,188 can-
non."—Mayfair.

The number of Russians killed and wounded during the
war amounts to 59,304; 36,824 wounded have entirely re-
covered, and 10,000 others will be able to leave the hospitals
in a few weeks. One soldier in every six has been killed or
wounded—an unusually high proportion.

Public opinion in Belgrade has undergone a sudden
revulsion. A torohlight serenade was given in honour of
the consuls of Austria and England, after which the mob
went to hoot and throw stones at the Russian agent's resi-
dence.—Vanity Fair.

The semi-official Journal de Saint-Petersbourg, in an
article on the peace terms, says that while Russia will have
to watch over the realisation of the freedom which she has
secured for her co-religionaries in Turkey, she will at the
same time do s under such conditions as will remove all
doubts of her good intentions on the part of the other
European Powers.

The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Press of Vienna,
states that public opinion in Russia designates among the
candidates for the throne of Bulgaria the Prince Royal of
Hanover and Prince de Battenberg. Several other Princes
of the dispossessed German Houses are also in the ranks,
Prince Ernest Augustus of Hanover, a colonel in the 42nd
Austrian regiment of infantry, is 33 years old. Prince
Alexander Joseph de Battenberg, first cousin of Louis IV.,
Grand Duke of Hesse, is a lieutenant in the 2nd Regiment of
Dragoons in that Duchy, and was born in 1857.

A telegram from Berlin says that Prince Bismarck, being
exceedingly nervous, and much irritated on account of the
unsatisfactory course of home politips, is about to set out
for his Lauenburg estates, whence he will not return previous
to the meeting of the Congress.

The Russian papers are now boldly admitting that the
Bulgaria of thetfuture will practically become a Russian pro-
vince. "The civil administration," says the Novoe Vremya
"will be organised after the Russian model ; the princi-
pality will be divided into governments and circles, and the
prince will be elected from among the Bulgarians by an
assembly of the representatives of the Bulgarian people
which will shortly be convoked at Tirnova. 'this assembly,
like the Servian Skuptchina, will not consist of representa-
tives of the estates, simply because there are none in Bul-
garia ; and it will in future represent the legislative authority
together with the Prince. The Bulgarian army will also be
framed after the Russian pattern, and not a few Russian
officers and sub-officers will enter it. It is easy to see that
the Bulgarian principality, though it remains, according to
the written law, a dependency of Turkey, will actually and
by moral right stand in close relations to Russia."

Tne Daily Telegraph correspondent at Pera undeestands
that the Russians propose to embark part of their infantry
for Odessa in about five days, the difficulty and cost of
feeding 130,000 men between Constantinople and the Bal-
kans being enormous. The cavalry and artillery are to
return by land.