The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-16

The Comparative Strength Of Russia and
Turkey.
The New Fork Times makes the following cal
culation as to the military strength Of Russia and
Turkey, and the probable result of struggle be-
tween these powers The statement is weakened
by the reference it makes to the expectations of
Kossuth, which must be of very small account in
the matter,
After dednctihe a severe discount from the rui
noss about Turkish affairs for the exaggeration Of
'ne stocss -jvnpers, there is still balance large
enough to justify reasonable apprehension A
collision between Russia and the Porte must,
! whenever it happens, be Anal and fatal. How
likely is to happen at present, eupposing our ad
! vices to be correct will depend upon the compar-
alive strength of the two powers in a military
| point of view; and glance at the figures, meagre
and inexact as they are, may at least approximate
our notions to the correct result. 1t has always
been the policy OF the Car to suppress all details
of internal affairs. The Sultan probably knows
little of the real condition of Turkey beyond more
or less reliable conjecture. The snews Of war are
certainly in the hands of Russia Millions of Ural
gold are said to be treasured in the vaults of the
| Imperial Bank awaiting opportunity for SER
vice. With an uncomfortable debt and boundless
resources, no considerations of economy would
probably interpose to prevent quarrel, especially
where the booty promised to outvaue an empires
ransom. Recent authorities state the military es-
| tablishment of the Gear pretty nearly thus:
Cavalry, including The Cossacks. ...... lOl 6g2
Foot, embracing every description of
| troops 64O, 3SS
/ Artillerymen, pioneers, &C.. IS 800
Total. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 80l 900
These estimates, however, extremely crude,
the method being to sum up the several divisions.
corps, and regiments of the army, assigning to
each its FULL complement of men. The fact, we
are confidently assured, differs from this result to
the extent Of about 100000 men; very few of the
established corps being filled up, and many of
them existing only in name. If it be true, as the
German papers stated laet year, that the military
arm only cost the Russian government some
$40 100000 in 1850, VIC may assume the state
ment above to be vastly overrated. The expenses
of France during the corresponding period were
much beyond that sum, with an army of 1894 525
mon. History shows that Russia, under any other
circumstances than those of invasion, which in.
flames the whole population, and calls defensive
legions into sudden existence, never contrives to
set more than 200, 900 men in the field. The truth
probably inhabits in the neighborhood of those
figures
The naval armament of Russia, in the Black
sea, is stated as follows:
| Line of.battle ships. is
Frigates and smaller vessels ..................3l
Steam Irlgates. .................. 3
Smaller steam vessels. .....................15
10
Add to these over 200 gun boats, and an un-
reported force of sailors and marines, and we have
tolerably fair notion of the power destined, for
half century, to capture Constantinople The
navy Hoatlng in the Baltic and northern seas con-
ssting of 81 sailing craft and 13 steamers, with
due allowance of tenders and gun boats, will only
! form an element of the calculation in case of q
| general continental melee
! To resist this potent preparation, the Porte has
an army. finely drilled well differed, and gallant,
of l5c,S8O regular troops; to say nothing Of emer.
gent levies doubling that number. The present
| armament embraces:
Cavalry. Observation-Disclosures. 1890
| fooI; ............. lQ6 500
Artlllerymen, sappers, miners, &c.. Il, 600
The Turkish navy numbers:
Sixteen line of battle ships, carrying AS guns
Fourteen frigates, carrying. .......... 8S8
Thirty smaller sailing vessels.
Eighteen steamers, with a total of 3,700 horse
| power.
An array of floating batteries gun boats, &C..
number unknown
This naval armament is by no means contempt
ibe or disproportionate to that Of Russia. So with
existing resources the prospects of the Sultan are
tar from dlscouragng, nor is the result of single
handed contest fair subject for vaticinaton. But
there are many other elements in favor of the
| Turk. While the Ottoman population of the Eu-
ropean provinces is but tenth of the total and
| Notwithstanding the claims of the Gear are most
atering to themillion of Greeks, it is pretty well
| ascertained that the Bugarians, Wallachians, Al.
|
the empire, prefer the state of quasi independence
| they enjoy under Abdul Medjid to the more rigor.
Gus rule of Nicholas. The extra Danubian pro.
| vnces are captivated with the teachings of Kos
| suth, and, craving entire separation from Russia,
are represented as eager to throw off the present
proectorate. The superstition, therefore, that the
great body OF the population sympathize with the
objects OF the Car hasty and probably incorrect
That similar fidelity will prevail in the Russian
territories in the event of war is questionable. To
tepress Poland will require as large force to
subdue Turkey.
| And again, the ranks of the Ottoman army will
be swollen by important accessions from Hunga-
| ry, Germany, Italy, and France. The republic
| canism oil Europe, with certain cunning in fight
| not even now entirely undistingushed, will mus
| ter strongly in the light of the Crescent. The
Turkish rupture is of the several contingen.
cics for which Kossuth and his friends are eagerly
| waiting. The assistance, whether in the way of
direct enlistment under the great banner of the
Prophet or IN the shape OF instructions, divert
! ing the attention and dividing the force of the
Gear, will be of vast consequence. And last of all,
| there ia the guarantee of Great Britain and France
that the Sultans dominions shall not be impaired.
OF France, whose claim to the protectorate of the
| Holy Places has been trampled on by the peremp
tory acquisitions OF the autocrat, and whose feet
lies conveniently at hand in the ever glorious wa
tiers of Salamis. OF Great Britain, whose CONNER
clal interests must suffer immeasurably in the tri
ump phi of the Muscovie. The fight, if it is to be,
will not be entirely sided and unequal or the
inequality if any, will at least be in favor of the
Turk.
FooD IN PARIs.-Hunt's Magazine for June con-
tains interesting statistics relative to food,
and branches of industry relating to it in Paris
1t states that the number Of butchers within the
ban heute is limited to 400 by law, but the actual
number is SOL. They cannot buy cattle anywhere
but at the authorized markets, and they are obliged
to kill at the municipal abattoirs Of these there are
five The butcher may sell either at his stall at
the market.
Number of butchers 59l, of whom 470 employ
from TO 10 men; 81, only. Amount of business
in ls47, 74,793,4 32 francs. Animals butchered in
lS47, 694 ,2l2 head.
The bakers of Paris form a sort of corporation;
they limited in number to 600, and are under
| the superintendent of the Project of Police, who
takes the place OF the crown officers of former
times, called pcnnetiers. The bakers are obliged
to keep supply of flour in reserve, 10 give six
months previous notice of intention to close bust