The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-09

have TO be done sesin and again, until rsyah OF
nizsm 10 totally exterminsted.
| just here we touch the fatal weakness which
parslyZss the Ottoman army the conspicuous
decisive inferiority Of on1cer to soldier. Faith
ful, tractable, and rcsolute, never dis
| GUSHING the command OF a superior, but
submitting to the most exhaustinR marches and
| severe privations with the resignation enforced
by his religion, OF a sobriety proof against temp
tation ana gifted with astonishing physical en-
| durance, the nizam. properly led, would be per
| haps the equal Of anv soldier In Europe. He has
been rcproached with lending himself but
| awkwardiy to vehement offensive movements In
close column, and with a certain unntness for
| carrying intrenchments by assault; but in such
cases tho morai influence Of leaders and the con-
tagion OF their example count for a great deal
In the ardor OF troofs; nor Is II strange that the
nizam, unassisted as he Ia by any such stimulus,
should fail to exhibit an enthusiasm which Is
naturally alien to his oil aracter 1t Is incontest
iblo that among their officers, men OF
energy, insight, and adequate education
ire rare. Only those who have emerged
from the ranks and won each step Of prom ION
In active service, inspire any confidence in the
Mohsmmedan soldier. II has too often been
his fate to see generals who had never received
the FIRST rudment of military training accept
with the Indifference Of Ignorance the ersvest
responsibilities OF war, and ms a consequence
hopelessiy compromise the safety OF their ar
mics. To the normal incapacity Of Ottoman
commanders there are doubtless many excep-
tons In the Guard, the majority OF whose ON
GERS have been instructed In European military
schools, or selected from those veterans who
took pirt in the oampaigns OF b2 and "a, and
acquired practical acquaintance with the art
OF war.
Before taking leave Of our French traveller we
would direct attention to some data which he
was enabled to collect resrecting the present
constitution ~ the Turkish forces. Until re-
Gently all military reforms inaueurated by the
sultan were studiousy framed upon those
sanctioned In the French army. but since 1870
the Porte has taken North Germany n. Its model.
Under the new system every true believer Ia sub
ject to military service, which covers perlod OF
twenty years, four OF which are spent in the
regular infantry (nlzam). two In the so.calIed
first .eserve (datyaD, six more In the true land
wehr (redf, and the eight last in species OF
home guard CORES pondrig to the Germs an lands
thurm. withstandiUe the apparent riror OF
this law which in theory admits Of no exemp-
ton, tnose who c procure a moderate sum Of
money may easily evade II. and the result IL that
the mass OF the army represents the destitute
class OF the population. Non-Mohammedan
subjects are relieved from service, but are re-
qured to pay the bedel or specific exemption
tax.
Computing the population OF the emrire a.
z70oo.ooo. somewhat moro than half. or 100000,
may he assigned to Islam. We must deduct,
however, 100000 OF nominal subjects belonging
to nomad tribes, who will neither pay the bedel
nor endure CONSUMPTION, ana we should further
atfl hA tph anti Of fho aat,lf 4 rla
have secured immunity from both exaciions. In
practice, therefore, 1e,O0o.O0o OF citizens must
support the whole burden Of recruitment On
war footing the regular army may include
10000 men. and II an adequate supply Of arms
and equipments were attainahle, the reserve
n light furnish 100000 more. The arms allotted
to the nlzam are tolerabiy effective. comprising
rides OF the Enfield, Snyder, and Martini pat
terms. Besides the auxiliary light horse-the
spahis, bedouins. ana bashi-bazouks, above
mentioned-the Ottoman military system pro-
vides for 5000 cavalry, including lsncers, dra-
goons, and two regiments OF Cossacks. Finally,
the artiles y, which is by far the best appointed
arm Of tho Turkish service, and which at silis-
tria ana elsewhere. In the last Russian war.
compelled the admiration OF experts, presented
at last accounts $40 breech loading cannon, to-
esther with several batteries OF Calling guns,
the whole worked by some 5000 men.
IL NAV be noted In conclusion that acts OF vio-
lence and fraud are very rare among the regular
soldiery, and that the crimes Of mutiny and de-
sertion are unknown. The profound sincerity
OF Moslem fatallsm entails comparative indner
ence to separation from homo and country. 10
physical pain and death. Transported from the
confines Of Persia or Arabia TO the most north
ern frontiers of the empire, the nizam calmly
yields TO the stress Of destiny. H. wounded
on the neld OF battle, he is nkely to die with
out once more seeing the beings who have been
dear to him or the scenes In which mis- early
years were passed, he still nnds in his resigna-
ton to the will OF Allah the consolation OF ac-
oomplisned duty.