Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-15

THE TURKISH ARMY.

Herr Won Wickede, the military CORES.
pondent Of the Cologne Gazette, con.
tributes to that paper some interesting par
ticulars about the Turkish army. In order
he says to form an accurate Judgment as
to the military value of the Sultar's troops
an entirely different standard should be
taken from that which is usually applied
to disciplined European army. II we
compare Turkish infantry regiment as
regards outward appearance, the maneu-
ver!ng power of its soldiers, and the edu-
cation of its officers, with one of the regi-
ments of any of the great European Pow
ers, we shall find that it is immeasurably
inferior. A squad of raw landwher re-
cruits has more martial air than the best
Turkish battalion of regulars that / have
ever seen. On open ground, where good
man9vreing is in these days the most i'm
portant element of success, the Turkish
army would be simply useless against
well-disciplined European force.
A single German corps darmee would
beat 100000 Turkish troops in the open
field. But these badly clothed and armed.
Unlocking, undersized, slouching Turkish
foot soldiers possess many qualities which,
under good leadership, would make them
equal to the best soldiers in the world. In
the first place, their bodily wants are sup
piled with amazing facility, and their pow
ers OF endurance are immense. A cup Of
black coffee, small hard biscuit Of maze
and few handfuls ofrice boiled In water
suffice for their daily sustenance, and ii
they get piece of half-dried mutton once
or twice week in addition, they look up
on it as delicacy. Their dress and
equipment are equally simple. II shoes
are scarce a whole company marches bare
foot; and if there are no cloaks in store,
then men remain in their thin Jackets
without murmur.
During the last war in the east saw
Turkish battalions which had not received
any pay for six months, whose clothing
was in rags, and among whom pair OF
sound shOes-even among the officers
was rarity; and yet, though thus wretch
edly clad, and rationed in way which
could hardly supply soldier OF West.
phalia or Mecklenbnrg with breakfast,
these men marched for weeks up and
down the steep snow-covered mountains
OF the Balkan, bivouacked in the midst OF
storms, in snow and in ice, and never
grumbled at their fate or shirked their du-
ty. The Turkish soldier never drinks any
spirits, he never reasons. executes all his
orders Obediently and submissively, and
regards all his sufferings and dangers as
inevitable dispensations of Providence
which should be borne without murmur.
Another of his characteristics is religious
fanaticism. Under the influence Of this
sentiment he shows extraordinary courage
and determination, and it is probably that
these qualities will be strongly devel-
oped in the struggle with the "ChrIstian
dogs of Bosnia and Herzegovina. How
ever much we may admire the efficiency
Of our present German army, it may be
doubted whether 20, 900 German troops in
herzegovina would do as much as the same
number of Turks. If our men had to fight
day and night against an infatigable enc
my, in half-desert country, without pay
or sufficient food, badly equipped, man
9vring up and down hill, ON the borders
of deep precipiees. in blazing sun or an
icy hail-storm, always without roof to their
heads. and often without wood or water,
their military looks and spirit would soon
disappear.
Another very important quality of most
Turkish soldiers is an innate sharp sighted
ness, an almost instinctively accurate
mctSuTtIueut VI ulsttHCeS, anu the cOI0-
plete absence Ofnervous excitement. This
is the reason why so many of them are
either excellent shots or could easily be
made SO. In the Crimean war the Turk
ish infantry were for the most armed with
old flint muskets, in so decayed a state
that:it seemed almost impossible to take
aim with them, and yet they shot better
than either the English or the French.
This great quality in the Turkish soldiers
has also, as have been assured by several
German officers who served in the Turkish
army as artillery instructors, considerably
facilitated their training as artilerists.
Like most unci .ilzed nations, many Turks
of lower classes have good hearing as we'll
as good sight. AS is the case with the
Cossacks, they have sort of Unborn in
stinct for la petite guerre, and do excel
lent service in outpost or patrol duty il
they are led by tolerably good officers,
which is but seldom.
On the other hand, most OF the Turkish
subalterns, and even many staff officers.
do not use maps or other scientific appli-
ances, so that in this respect, even for
mountain warfare, they would be placed
at a great disadvantage in conflict with
w .fraipod EIrnnaan army