The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-29

service and nearly all that was to be soen Of the
Turkish army"
s'About how many
ENGLISH OFFICERS
were serving the Sultan in similar capacilies2"
asked.
"Oh, perhaps sixty. But they were mostly in
artillery and engineers. There were only four
or five besides myself at work upon the sultan's
cavalry. The foreigners who were working on
the infantry we're Austrans and Poles
.Were you well paid ?"
"Yes, until about the time Murad was deposed.
Under Midhat Pashas administration foreigners
were welcome in the Turkish service. But Red
Pasha belongs to what liz called the old Turkish
party, and is insanely jealous OF foreign braine
and influence. As soon as Redif got control he
began systematic policy Of freezing all the for
eigners out OF the service"
"But Redif is only the War Minister, while Mid.
hat was Premier"
True true. But
RED1F rs THE DICTATOR or TURKEY,
or was up to my latest knowledge of the siiua.
tion."
"What sort of man Ia hep"
"a thorough European himself In culture and
habits of thought and methods of action, he af-
fects the most bigoted attachment to the old
Turkish institutions and fanaticisms. He is a
perfect hypocrite and thorough dssembler.
The Old Turks look upon him az the savior of
pure Mahometan institutions and as the real de-
fender OF the faith. Meanwhile he is at heart q
thorough infidel, and laughs in his ample sleeve
nj the success OF his hypocrisy. His sole object,
OF course. 10 power. The Sultan Murad was be-
yond his reach, and ho could not hope to sup
plant Midhat Pasha as the champion Of reform,
40 he went to the other extreme of reaction. l
know from most unimpeachable sourches that
Redif Pasha is at heart believer in the Europe
m system-even more radical than Midhat ever
was. But he is reactionist in policy because he
could best promote his own fortunes by pursuing
that course. He is, as you see, q man of desper-
ate ambition and thoroughly devosd"of scruple.
Just now he Is
THE IDOL OF THE ARMY
and OF that large faction OF the eoftas who OPP
posed to the constitution and Parliament. But he
would butcher all the Sofas in stamboul and
present their heads to Parliament 10 minute IL
he could thereby win that body over to his own
fortunes. He aims to be the Mazorin Of Turkey
The Sultan Hamd IL completely subjected to
him: and he is rapidly acquiring an absolute
ascendency in the army. Abdul Kerim stands in
his way thus far, but he has already isolated old
Kerim in the midst Of swarm of his own ad-
herents, whom he has promoted everywhere.
Mukhtar and suleiman are Redif's especial fovor-
ties. and you may depend upon 1t that at the first
signal reverse suffered by the Turks in Bulgaria
Abdul Kerm will be removed. and either Mukhtar
or Suleiman made commander in chief"
"He must BIO man Of something like genius2"
remarked, inquiringly.
stalking into account the difficulties he has to
contend with, Kedif must be regarded as the
superior OF neven Carnot, or your Mr.. Stanton,
as an organizer of forces and manipulation OF
men. Is terrible fellow to deal " it'll. His
selEcontf6l Is q miracle. have seen him scare q
poor quartermaster nearly out Of his wits with a
perfectly fiendish outburst Of passion and tor
rents Of abuse, and the minute after the poor
man had left his presence, Redif would light a
cigarette, take q sip Of coffee, and laughingly
inquire OF his companionsif that was not admira-
bly, done-remarking that that poor devil would
need no more discipline for yearl"
"What of Mukhtar2 He seems to be doing
vel In Armenia
"Mukhtar is
THE MURAT OF THE TURKISH ARMY
He is q vainglorious, snowy soldier, fond Of a
gaudy uniform and curve.ting horse. Ho is,
moreover, rough, brutal fellow, sensual to an
extraordinary degree, even for Turk but he
has keen military mind and q good strategical
and tactical education. In camp he is jovial and
hilarious with his pets and parasites, stern and
riu with hia in mo aud familiar
and patronizing with the common soldiers. l
have never seen him in battle, but those who
have say he is brave as lion and ferocious as
Bengal tiger. He is feared and hated by his in
ferior officers, and generally adored by his rank
and file, whom he slaps on the back, chucks under
the chin and handles slang with necessarily when
among them. He is just the m IN to defend the
Armenian mountain frontier, and to handle the
turbulent masses Of Koords, Tcherkess and Ana
tolians, who make up the Turkish army in that
quarter. think Redif will make mistake il he
supersedes Abdul Kerm with Mukhtar.
sULErMAN
command
"What is Suleimans style of man ?"
81 suppose may say that he is like Stonewall
jackson IN many respects. Suleiman would be
respectable gentleman anywhere. In Turkey he
is wonderful gentleman. To begin with, he is
q sincerely pious Mahommedan, and o devoted
Turkish patriot. Iregard him as the most fin
ished colder in Turkey by far, and one of the
first soldiers Of Europe if he ever gets an oppor-
tunity to develop his abilities on large scale.
He is patient, panstaking disciplinarian. a good
judge Of the capacities Of other men, knows how
to estimate the capabilities Of his soldiers, is
careful straegist, quick tactician and of infinite
resource and energy. In manner he is the exact
reverse of Mukhtar; quiet, solemn, polite and
modest. He is by all odds the most methodical
soldier, and the most cautious and discreet COM
mander have seen in the Turkish service"
SLOW old is he"
swell, dare say about forty-two. Both he
and Mukhtar, as we'll as Redif himself, are young
men or men in the high prime of life. Abdul
kerim, Osman, Ali, Raouf and Chefket Pashas