Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-11-25
Correspondence Of the London Times
Turkey and Neutrality-suspicious. IF the Turks
ssszz@. for War.


Correspondence Of the London Times
Turkey and neutrality-suspicious. Of the Turks ''.
= CoSsrANr1sopLE, Oct. 10.
From the late momentous events and the agita-
ton of the public mind on the questions involving
the very existence of the Empire, it might be sup
posed that petitions, public meetings. crowds in the
streets gathered round fanatical orators and even
riots would have followed in the natural course OF
things; and such would doubtless have been the
case in any European capital Hitherto, however,
any observer might have traversed the most ire
uuented haunts of the city without seeing any
change from the state of things which existed last
year at this time. Such, however. is not the case
since the issue of the manifesto; STILL In the midst
of population aroused to war. no lawless act what
ever is heard Of European travellers, with their
wives and daughters, walk fearlessly about the ba- |
zaars have we to record single instance OF IN
suit to Christian, either native or foreigner Is is
we'll known that Turkey has required no little to
arouse her martial spirit Aggressions insults. and
actual violation of territory took place ere war was
talked of. anything elected beyond the depreca-
tory notes of Redschid Pasha. From all appear
ances it will now be as difficult to allay the dan
gerous ardor that has taken hold of the population
stranger cannot walk through the streets without
seeing the most evident signs of war. Troops OF
the line marching and countermarching; steam
ers are daily embarking men, horses, and baggage.
The narrow streets and ricketty wooden houses
trembo to the roll of heavy ordnance dragged over
rugged pavement. But these are the preparations
of the Government, the mastering of the organized
forces of regular warfare. Besides all this, see
| the numerous volunteer corps OF citizens armlng
themselves to resist their northern foe. The ire
men of Stamboul-ss stout active, and rough set
of men as any city could furnsh--march past,
armed with heavy pistols, much like the ancient
janissaries Troops of lazy apprentices. joined with
gray bearded, and respectable shopkeepers, who
have bucSled On their fathers grandfathers'
swords, and FURNISHED up some ancient freock
repairing the Seraskier tender their services
while rude Turcoman sheppards from the mountains
of Anatolia, armed to the teeth, gazing
with stupid wonder the strange city life into
which they are introduced for the first time. Bo
dies of irregular horsemen, Kurdish, TurcOman, aud
Arab freebooters, whose costumes and
those of the middle ages from time to time OBJ
| served following some bearded warrior the barbaric
grandeur of whose arms and dress mark him as the
chief of clan. Those who have travelled the
length and breadth of the Turkish Empire, and who
fancied they could recognize it's various tribes and
peoples, are now at fault since the alarm of war
has called from unknown sOtudes, tribes of whose
existence were ignorant. The other day troop
of strange people from a far country appeared,
whose arms were scimars and bows and arrows ::
they were clothed in loose white garments and peak
ed caps, probably from some remote valley of Dag
hestan or Northern Kurdisan. How far such saw
ages will be of service or otherwise leave to mill
tary to determine. 1t would appear that Tur-
key will have ample means to meet the irregular
force of Russia, though the regular cavalry of the
latter is vastly superior.
| Mehemed Ali, the Seraskier, has promised an ad-
dition of 100 900 disciplined Redif and $4,000 in
Ronmelia. On the 9th 1887 troops arrived from
f Beyrout by the Medide steamer, part of the "or
dou," or corps dareme, of Syria. About 5000
more expected from the place On the
same day, the steamer ShGiki- Shadt brought from
Tripoli 1857 troops of the line.
l About ], 700 troops just embarking for Ire
bizond. A steamer is at Varna waiting for the
answer of Gen Gortschakof to the summons he has
received to quit the Ottoman territory. In the
event of the answer being negative, the Captain has
instructions to proceed at once TO Batoun, to order
the commencement of hosties. Six frigates are
sent 10 defend the latter port. About the 25th of
this month, the term given to Gen. Gortschakof
expires.
The old Admiral, Achmed Pasba, has gone into
the Black Sea with squadron, composed Of four
frigates, corvette o brig, and steamer, with Il
double allowance of captains and lleutenants, in
order to practice evolutions and gunnery.
An ancient custom requires the Sultan to march
to battle against the nfdel at the head of his sacred
troops This custom has degenerated into fiction.
In accordance with it. however the Padsha is pre-
! pairing to quit his palace and during the war he
will inhabt the kiosk at Therapia, which his father
Mahmoud occupied during the late Russian war
and which is being prepared for his reception, and
+ is, we may add, vastly more comfortable than the
: tent of his great ancestor, Suleiman the Magnih'
, cent.
1t is said that the Turks are about to- or have al
ready applied for loan in London of 100000 purs
es f2,5OO,OOO sterling, at the enormous interest
of 10 per cent. The late affair of the loan has Civ
4 en- a bad name to Ottoman credit, and we think un
deservedIy so, since all claims connected with the
, late affair have been honestly paid.
Accounts from Bucharest speak of the frghtul
mortality of the Russian troops from typhus fever
The houses used hospitals being constantly
changed in order to mitigate the Infection from which
about ten per cent. fall victims This has always
e been the scourge of an invading Russian army ir
Turkey and may be traced TO the bad clothing anG
food of these wretched troops, joined to the fatigue
8, they i'll able to support, with, perhaps, the
), change of climate.