The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1853-07-22
THE TURKISH QUESTION.

THE TURKISH QUESTION.
The New Orleans Delta says: In all re-
views of the relative positions of Russia and
Turkey, in the pending controversy, the wri-
ters Of the day are apt to underrate the ca
pacity of the latter-despairing altogether Of
her ability to cope with her great antagonist.
This is wrong. 1t is jumping too soon to
conclusion. 1t is not doing justice to the
Ottomans, who have shown so much courage
and sef.reliance, up to this, in all their diff
culties-and perhaps it is exaggerating the
military resources of Russia, to suppose that
the Car has only to will the subjugation Of
nationality to effect it. The Turkish arma-
ment is too extensive to be whitfield away by
the breath of an Autocrat; and the Turkish
nationality is consolidated enough not to be
shaken to pieces by the tread of an advance
ing foe.
Let us look to facts for n moment. The
regular force of Turkey, at all times available,
has been computed at l3S,6SO men; the re-
serve amounts to about tho same number; the
irregular troops muster 81 500, and the "aux-
Hilary contingcnts" may be marked down at
10000, making total of 448,s6O fighting
men. The "contingents" in question are
probably the battaions offered to the Sultan
by the Viceroy of Egypt, and the Albanians
who have volunteered for his service; but,
even leaving them out of the question as
doubtful, the army is still n very formidable
one, and not likely to be swept away by the
first charge Of a foreign enemy. In war of
defence, it is certainly extensive enough, one
would suppose; and, if the case of Car rersus
Sultan must be tried on the battlefield, it is
not folly to regard the issue as somewhat
uncertain. 1t would be more foolish to con-
sign the Turk to defeat, Us is the fashion of
modern journalists, before a gun has been
fired or a sword flashed.
The fleet Of the Sultan is by no means in
significant. Already he has in commission
and manned four line.of.battle ships, some of
which mount 100 guns-several steamers in
good trim, a great number of small war.ves-
sells, and two frigates of American build,
which arc n match for any four ships in the
Russian squadron. The whole force is under
the command of Admiral Adolphus Slade,
formerly an officer in the English navy, and
an expert and experienced commander. The
Turks were not the most handy sailors before
his time, but he has drilled and disciplined
them into availability, and they are rapidly
becoming proficients in gunnery and naviga-
ton. The Russians have no advantage over
them in seamanship. They are lubbcrly on
shipboard, have only slight knowledge of
naval contests, and, in short time, intelligent
observers assert, the Ottomans will be able
to whip any given number of them on the
water, whatever they may do or fail to do on
land. Another English officer, Capt. Berlasc,
is giving lessons in gunncry to the "salts" of
Constantinople, and he is quite proud of his
pupils, who are in his estimation, as quick in
handling their guns as any people in the
world-Yankees, we dare say, excepted!
Looking at these facts, even without re-
garding the diplomatic necessity which drives
England to the aid of the Sultan, it is rather
premature to sign his death-warrant, or to
calculate on his abdication. lie may, accord
ing to the eastern formula, ''live thousand
years" yet, without fear or favor-for he has
powerful nation to back him in any course
which he may pursue, whether he accepts the
policy of peace, or plants his foot upon the
war-path.