Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-12-02
masbingtan gentinel
Sir Charles shaw on the turkish Army.


Sir Charles Shaw, the officer who drew atten-
ton to the MIME rifle, has published a letter in
the Chronicle, on the Turkish army. He dis
putes the claim of the Russians to military
reputation, and that of the czar to the renown
of moderate and magnanimous king. He
shows that the Turkish defeats in 1923 and
1929, had been preceded by the destruction OF
the Turkish feet at Navarino and the massacre
| of the Janisaries leaving only raw soldiers to
contend against the Russian troops who had
fought Napoleon. At the close of his letter,
he cites some valuable and recent opinions on
the state of the army. To begin with the Cir
cassians, as irregulars, on whom much depends:
The noble Circassians, who have been
| fighting against Russia independent of Turkey
have been within this short time taken into the
Turkish army; and it may be interesting to
give description, by Prussian officer, OF the
Circassian cavalry, who are about to take a
prominent part in the coming conflict. He
says: the Circassian wears a pointed steel
helmet, with long horse-tail pendant from it.
A net Of steel work hangs down from the lower
part of the helmet, protects the front and nape
of the neck, and is looped together under the
| chin, underneath short red vest, cut in the
Polish fashion He is clad in species of coat
of mail, consisting of small bright rings of
steel interviewed. His arms, from the wrist to
the elbow, and his legs, from the foot Of the
shin bone to the knee, are guarded by thin
plates of steel he also wears close pantaloons
and laced boots. Two long Turkish pistols, as
well as poinard, are stuck into his girdle.
He has leather strap with moose, like
Mexican lasso, hanging at his side, which he
throws with great dexterity over the head OF
his enemy. A Turkish sabre and a long Turk
ish musket are slung behind his back, and two
/ ho1I re- eli,
with which the Circassians use their weapons
is really beyond belief. have seen them re-
peatedly FIRE at a piece of card lying on the
ground, at full speed, without ever missing.
| They will pick up piece of money from the
ground while executing charge, by bending
themselves round below the horses belly, and,
after seizing the piece, suddenly throw them
selves back into the saddle. They form the
choicest body of cavalry in the Turkish service,
and have watched them, when charging, at
tack their opponents with sabre in each hand,
managing their reins with their mouth, they
will spring out of their saddles, take aim and
fire from behind their horses, then jump into
their saddles again, wheel round and reload
their gun as they retreat in full career They
are perfect madmen in the attack, and few
troops could withstand the utter recklessness
of danger they evince."
Next take the irregular Asiatics
''Here what that most intelligent and expe-
rienced officer, Captain Nolan, of the 18th
British hussars, says, in his admirable book on
cavalry tactics. Speaking of the British cav
airy he says: BY taking lesson from the
Asiatics, England might so arm and instruct
her dragons as to make them equal to any Of
the people OF the east in single combat OF
the Russian cavalry, Captain Nolan says
Heavy Russian cuirassiers, when opposed to
the Turks, were obliged to form in close col
umns, or in squares, requiring artillery and
infantry to protect them from the sharp scimi.
tars of the Mosem. These Turks had no dis
cipine, no lances had nothing but their own
good swords and steeds to trust to-"
Here is still later information
"All accounts lately received are unanimous
on the superior equipment and efficiency ofthe
Turkish artillery; and the opinion of Sir Chas.
O'Donnel, of the Turkish army now in the
field, IS worthy of every attention. Sir Charles
has seen much service, and he has lately been
visiting the greater part of the European
armies He says: The Turks are physically
a fine race of men, capable of enduring fatigue,
sober, patient, intelligent, and altogether well
conducted. All is completely European, and
the spectator may here fancy himself amongst
the Prussian or French soldiers, in their en-
campments. They are animated by a lauda-
| BILE fervor for their religion and their country,
and aware of the consequences to them of the
coming crisis. Their fatalism has exalted their
courage, and they say they will conquer, or die
with their arms in their hands. The Turks
| have adopted for their cavalry and infantry the
French system, and for their artillery the Prus-
sian system of organization and man9uvre.
The whole army is well armed, equipped, and
organized, and, upon the whole, in good order.
Instructed by Europeans in the various
branches of the military art, the Turks have
totally given up their former system of warfare,
and have made rapid strides towards efficiency
in European tactics The artillery is the arm
| in which they most excel; it is numerous, we'll
managed, and understood. The equipment of
the mountain guns, carried on mules, is we'll
arranged. In 1915, the Duke of Wellington
reviewed the Russian army of 100000 men.
He expressed admiration of them as body,
but was struck with the slowness OF their move
ments, and said to the Marquis of Londonder-
ry, Charles, my little army could move round
them in any direction, whilst they were affect
ing single change The navy of Russia is pow
erful in men and guns, but, having only one or
two months in maneuvring during the whole
year, Admiral Napier need not have much fear
! of that much dreaded twenty-seven ships OF the
line. in the Baltic, of which he speaks so much
as one might say to him, Charley, with five
ships you would sail round and through them
whenever you choose But the Russian fleet
in the Black sea is powerful and well manned
and, for the sake of Turkey, it behooves us no,
to talk and diplomatise, and nothing more, but
to follow the hint given by Lord Palmerston
in his letter of 10Th October, to the Edinburgh
presbytery-'Do talk, but keep your powder
dry, gentlemen.
If this be true-and the witnesses are al
credible persons--the passage Of the Danubt
may not be such precipitate thing as the Rus
sian organs would have us believe.