The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-05-31
Turkeys Army.

Turkeys Army.
The Turkish empire is now passing
through the most dangerous crisis record
ed in its history. 1t will need all the ia
natical courage of its people to keep it in
existence in the face of the powerful foes
that seek its destruction.
The organization of the army of the
Empire is based on the provisions of the
law of 1869, by which military service is
made obligatory on all the Mohammedar
population. Recruiting is carried on by
a system of drawing lots and by volun.
teering. The duration of the service is
twenty years, of which four years are
spent in the regular active army, OF
"nizam," two years in the first reserve, OF
''idatyal," six years in the second reserve,
or "redif," and eight years in the third
reserve, or 'hiyade." Members of creeds
other than the Mohammedan are exempt
ed from service in the army, but they are
obliged to serve in the fleet when called
on.
The Turkish forces are divided as fol-
lows: The regular army, the irregular
army, and the auxiliary troops.
The regular army consists, at present,
of seven corps. The corps commanders
administer the affairs of their respective
commands directly, for the troops in time
of peace have neither generals of division
nor brigade. These latter are appointed
only during time of war.
The present composition of the regular
army of Turkey is:
Infantry-Forty-one regiments of the
line, two regiments Of Bosnians, one reg
iment of frontier Greeks, and one regi-
ment of frontier Servians.
Each regiment of infantry has three
battalions of eight companies. Besides
the regular infantry of the line, there are
forty -one battalions of rif1emen and two
battalions of Herzegovinian troops, two
battalions of Albania, and one Gordon
battery, making total of 179 battalions
of infantry.
Cavalry-There are twenty-six regi-
ments of six squadrons each, one regi-
ment of six squadrons mounted on cam
els, and two independent squadrons in
the Turkish regular cavalry, making u
total of 161 squadrons.
Artillery-This arm is represented by
seven regiments of field artillery of twelve
batteries each and one reserve regiment
of three batteries. Each battery has six
pieces. Total, seventy-fiv batteries and
$50 pieces. There are also ten regiments
of heavy artillery, and one corps of artillery
operatives.
Engineers consist of one bri-
gade of seven companies of sappers and
seven companies of operatives.
After the law of June 90, 1869, and
the imperial firmans of later dates con-
corning the reorganization of the army
the military forces of the Empire should
be carried at 100000 men until the end
of 1878. Of this number the active army
would furnish 100000 men, the first re-
serve $4,000 men, the second and third
reserves the balance-420,O 900 men. This
plan of organization requires an annual
contingent of about 81 500 men.
This force is composed of sixteen reg
iments of mounted and foot police, the
bashi-bazouks, volunteers, Spahis and
Bedouin cavalry, and has total strength
of about $4,000 men.
These are represented by contingents
from the provinces that are not liable to
furnish men to the regular active army,
or ''nizam," and from the semisovereign
States, in all about $4,000 men.
Upper Albania contributes to this force
5000 men Bosnia 10000; Egypt 10, 900,
and Tunis and Tripoli 5000 men.
The peace effective strength of the
Turkish army is 157,687 men and 26,040
horses, and includes the police Q4,500
man Tn TINA of wor euch &c fha uraa
ent, the forces of the Sultan are: