Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-24

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 guns 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."
This account of the Circassian cavalry by the
Prussian officer may appear incredible to our
Life Guards, Blues, and heavies but do not
forget that. while in 1851 and 1852 | first
brought before the public the power Of what is
now called the Mimic rife" the admirers OF
old Brown Bess attacked it right and left, and
now there are nearly, in 1853, upwards OF 10000
Of this improved musket in the British army.
The greater proportion ofthe irregular and regu-
lar cavalry of the Turks are Asiatics. Hear
what the most intelligent and experienced Of,
icer, Captain Nolan, Of the 18th British hussars,
says in his admirable book on cavalry tactics.
Speaking of the British cavalry, he says;
By taking lesson from the Asiatics, Eng
land 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, Capt. Nolan says:
"Heavy Russian cuirassiers, when opposed
to the Turks, were obliged to form in close col
umns, or in squares, requiring artillery and in
fantry to protect them from the sharp scimitars
of the Moslem. These Turks had no discip-
line, no lances had nothing but their own good
swords and steeds to trust to-"
All accounts lately received are unanimous
on the superior equipment and efficiency Of the
Turkish artillery, and the opinion of Sir Charles
O'Donnell, of the Turkish army now in the
field, is worthy of every attention. Sir Charles
has seen much survice, and he has lately been
visiting the greater part ofthe European armies.
He says: .l
The Turks are physically a fine race of
men, capable of enduring fatigue, sober, pa
tient, intelligent, and altogether well conducted.
All is completely European, and the spectator
may here fancy himself among the Prussian or
French soldiers in their encampments. They
are animated by laudable fervor for their re-
ligion and their country, and aware of the con-
sequences 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 Prussan system Of or
ganization and maneuvre. 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 mill
tary 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, well managed, and un-
derstood The equipment Of the mountain
guns, carried on mules, is well 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 movements, and said
to the Marquis Of Londonderry, Charles, my
little army could move round them in any di-
| rection, whilst they were effecting single
chang Eary of Rnssia is powerful 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 feet
/ in the Black sea is powerful and well manned,
and, for the sake of Turkey, it behooves us not
to talk and diplomatise, and nothing more, but
to follow the hint given by Lord Palmerston in
his letter Of 18th October, to the Edinburgh
Presbytery-" Don't talk, but keep your powder
dry, gentlemen" .g