Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-24
the lieutenant said he must rescue these poor

"they are only common soldiers"
'Iwould be disgrace to the service if / did
not save them,n cried the lieutenant, and row.
ing to them he slowed away the poor creatures
in the bottom Of his boat. The secretary burst
into an immoderate fit of laughter.
"Good Godr' says the lieutenant "what is
there here to laugh at?'
"Laugh," exclaimed the Turkish secretary,
yesterday you English came into the bay
while we were quietly at our coffee; youknocked.
our ships to pieces, killed and mangled all our
men, till our feet is one vast slaughter-house,
and this morning you pretend to be SO hu-
name that you cannot pass 2 score of wounded
soldiers without putting yourself out Of the way
to save them.n
Nicholas ascended the throne in 1926, and
even then he was such an adept in diplomacy
that he contrived, in 1927, to use the British
and French fleets at Navarino, to weaken that
country which he had resolved sooner or later to
possess. In 1928 and 1929 the Russian army was
successful against the Turks. But under what
circumstances? Turkey appeared at that time
fair game for every one to attack her, and the
moral courage of the nation was weake ned,
not only by the loss of her feet and by her own
intestine divisions, but by seeing almost all
Europe combined against her. Let compari-
armies of that day. Shortly before this, the
Sultan had disbanded and destroyed the Janis
saries, who were considered the flower of the
Turkish army, and those whom he brought into
the field in l828y29 were either recruits of the
old regiments which had been newly model
ed, and consequently unfit in q great meas
sure, for actual warfare. The Russian army,
on the contrary, were composed chiefly ofthose
men who had been in actual warfare against
the French army from 1903 to 1914. The
Russian soldier is not entitled to his discharge
till after twenty-five years service; SO many of
the private soldiers, the greater part of the non
commissioned officers, and a large proportion
of the officers, in 1923 and 1929, were veterans
contending against recruits But, even with
these advantages it was with great difficulty
the Russians succeeded; and now it is mat
ter of history that if Russian gold had not been
used in bribing the governor to surrender
the fortress of Varna, the Russians would not
have succeeded. We must recollect that this
splendid Russian army had great difficulty, in
1880, in overpowering the new levies and dis
organized forces of Poland. As far as one can
judge from its appearance, equipment and in
terror economy, the Russian army is most form
liable; but the question is, Is this immense
machine so well arranged, and have the sinews
be able to work when removed from its own
locality ~ Comparatively few of the Russian
soldiers of 1853 have been in actual warfare,
and they are now about to engage with ma
ton naturally brave, who feel they are fighting
for their homes and their religion, and that they
have justice and all right feeling men on their
side. All Turkey seems animated with one spirit
that Of hate and resiste zee to Russia and IN
looking to history It will be almost found an
axiom, that though regular army may over
run country and hold the groundupon which
they are encamped, that nation true to itself
is in the end successful. But, independently of
this invincible national feeling, Turkey, during
the last twenty years, has been making rapid
progress in her commerce and in her civil
and military institutions Her army has been
instructed, and is partly commanded by brave
| and scientific officers Of all nations, conse-
quently, if fight takes place between the
regular armies, nearly equal in numbers, the
Turks should be at least equal to the Rus
slams. But the success of this war will depend
principally upon the irregular troops. The
4 Cossacks, owing to the peculiarly of the war
during the three years prior to the fall of Ma.
poleon, attained higher character in Euro
pean warfare than they deserved. Their su-
periority in a friendly country as outposts, and
protection to an army in quarters, is unde-
/ niable; but as soldiers in action, they are of
comparative little value. But if population
of country is against them, they would be
massacred in detail When they left Russia in
1912, the population of Germany received
them with open arms, and thus they were to
be found scattered everywhere in tens and
twenties, the people giving them true informa-
ton and receiving them as friends. True, on
entering France they we're obliged to be little
more cautious, and to hold themselves in
| greater numbers, although at that time (l814)
the population Of France, exclusive Of those
with the army, consisted entirely of old men,
women and children. But if the Cossacks
enter the Turkish dominions, their real use
will be lost, as they will be under the necessity
| of acting as regular force, thus becoming an
actual incumbrance. The Russian troops have
already shown that the irregular forces of
Turkey are most formidable, as, after twenty
years Of actual warfare against this species of
| force the Russians have made little or no pro-
gress; and if they invade Turkey, these irregu-
lars will infict the same punishment on them
that their Cossacks inflicted on the French in
1872, 1913, and 1914. The noble Circassians,
who have been fighting against Russia, indie
pendent Of Turkey, have been within this short
time taken into the Turkish army and' II nnay
he interesting to give description, by Prus.
sian officer. Of the Circassian cavalry, who are
about to tako prominent part in the coming
conflict. He says:
"The Circassian rears pointed steel he'll
met, with a 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 iutervened. 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 poignard, are stuck into his g.rdie.
He has a 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 long Turk
ish musket are slung behind his back, and two
| cartridge holders across his breast. The skill
| with which the Circassians use their weapons
is really beyond belief / have seen them re-
Il -, n ~c - -. Al