The New York herald., 1870-11-17

certainly exceed 10000. These are pretty well
armed, mostly with breschloaders OF English
manufacture, but the discipline u shamefuliy
lax, and the officers are by no means avery highly
cultured class OF men. II she were amply supplied
with money from without there Is little doubt ths9
Italy could muster an army Of nearly 100000 mcn3
but great part or them would be-, OF course, raw
levies.
the last Power In the alliance and according 10 gent
eral public opinion the weakest. win very posablS
surprise both her friends and her enemies bA
display OF unexpected strength. Even
IN the Crmean war her troops showed
gallantry that proved them the bese
possible raw material. Since that time FOREIGN ofi|
GERS have been constantly employed IN impartv
Ing slrcter form OF discipline and infusing y
higher morale into her forces. Then the army itseia
mas been largely increased aud 1t now NUNS
bers probably at least 100000 men, VI these
$4,000 are Quartered In remote regions Of the
empire. from which 1t would be dangerous TO the
authority OF the Porte 70 remove them, while II
would probably take at least three months
10 bring them up to the ne,d OF hat,
tie. The Turkish navy Is now also .
formidable force, and IT is commanded by an Eng
lsh admiral. II numbers at least nifty ships, twelv0
OF Which are iron-cads, built In England upon very
gsod models The army, IT should be remembered,
Is armed almost exclusively with American breecn.
loading rifles.
THE OPPOSING CONFEDERATION
consists only OF Prussia ana Russia. The strength
OF the former has been proved by the pending strug
gle But Is pretty certain that her veteran troops
have been pretty well exhausted In the
present war, aud the discipline and mo-
,dle OF the army Ia very Inferior
to what 1t was before the outbreak Of hostllnes In
a fresh conflict 1t Is by no means certain that the
Amy would display the same energy and vgor.
The war with Franco has been defensive war in
theory though In fact It has assumed an offensive
character. Still none OF the armies opposed 70 her
will be equal to her in military qualities, and sha
will doubtless prove herself not unmindfu Of tho
victories she has already achieved. Even now, at
the close Of a bloody campaign, she has still 100000
men under arms-no, on paper, but In reality.
RUSSIA
has endeavored to conceal her weakness during tho
past months by the simple but eff sctual methods
Of silence and secrecy. On paper she has an army
OF nearly million and half of men; bur, in tact,
she has certainly not half that number ana even OF
these Il In stated by authorities that 1t would
take her at least three months TO concentrate $4,000
men on her frontier, and further two months To
concentrate 100000 more; but may, perhaps
fairly rate her offensive strength at 100000. The
great trouble with the Russian army IS tbs
extreme difficulty OF mobilizng 1t. Her vast
possessions are as yet miserably deficient
In faclirie. OF internal communication, aud her
troops, scattered from one end OF the land to the
other, can only be gathered together by months OF
patient and energetic labor. The army Is also re.
ported to be very badly armed; only per cent OF
the men are equipped With breech-Ioaders. And the
same inreriority prevails In every brancn o. their
war materel.
THE GRAND TOTALS.
Having thus briefly ana cursoriiy run over tho
estimated strength Of the contendng Powers we
arrive at rough grand totals, follows:--prussia
500 900; Russia, 60o, ,00O-toal, 14O0,00o. England,
100000; France, e50,oo0; Italy, $4,000; Austria
500 oO0; Turkey, SOC, ,00o-tota 1850, 900.
But In such contest as Is now threatened
MANY OTHER ELEMENTS
besides those OF military strength win count AZ
impor ant factors. In spite Of the disparity OF num-
bcrs Russia and Prussia II other things were equal
might triumph from the superior ease with which
their forces can be controlled. partnership OF two
Is infinitely less likely 10 be disturbed by internal
| divisions than o partnership OF Ave. But then on
the other hand, where the funds, the sinews or
war, to come from to support these two formidable
| Powers In prolonged struggle against nearly the
entire remainder OF civilized Europe. England and
France have hitherto been the bankers OF the whole
large share OF the capital OF the world lies In their
hands. In short, brilliant ana decisive struggle,
Prussia ana Russia might perhaps hold their own,
or even achieve decisive victories. But if the strife
be prolonged the wealth OF the parties engaged
more than anything else must govern It's result.
PROM EGYPr
another probable or rather possible actor In tie
Grama, we have yet 10 hear. Reports have been
current for years that the Car anl the
Khedive have been Intriguing against
Turkey. VIII the Vlceroy Loyalty adhere to his ege
suzerain In the present conflict, or will he boldly
strike out for independence He Is by no means
contemplate element in so severe a strife. on
cason he can put into the field at least 100000 men,
well drilled well armed ana olIlcered by foreigners
bred to arms, including among the rest number OF
Americans lie has had certainly 10 give up his
iron-cads to the Sultan, and event OF his being
opposed to England would have great difficulty IN
procuring fresh naval armament. The next few
days, however, VIII probably definitely tell us upon
which side he has made up his mind 10 range hlm-
SELL