Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-15
TarEs nad Russiana as Fighters.

Turks and Russians as Fighters.
Such a wide difference OF opinion
seems to exist in regard to the respective
fighting qualities of the Turks and Rus.
SLAMS, that a few remarks on the subject
may be interesting to our readers.
The Turks are undoubtedly a brave
race, and three hundred years ago, when
their power was in It's prime, no nation
excelled them in military prowess. In
spired by the belief that every one who
died in the cause Of Islam went straight
way to heaven, the Turkish soldiers
marched to the field Of battle as il going
to a banquet; and amid the shock Of
arms fancied he raw the dark-eyed
houris waving their green scarfs and
beekoniDg him to the immortal Joys OF
the Mohsmedan paradise. Death was
not only stripped OF all its terrors, but in
vested with irresistible charms; for it was
the door through which he entered to the
celestial gardens, where grew ever-ripen-
ing fruits and ey~er-blooming flowers,
where silver water flowed forever over
sands Of gold, where the soul Was sown
with diamonds and 'emeralds, aud where
maidens fsirer than mortal eye has seen
lavished upon the hero the smiles, the
kisses and the embraces Of a perfect and
perpetual love. In those days the chill
dren Of the prophet was practicable ire
sistible. They combined cool, calm cour-
age With desperate dash, and in a charge
or a storming party seldom failed to
sweep all before them. But latterly the
Turks have lost the most of their pres.
tige. For a long time they adhered to
the old-fashioned tactics, refused to
adopt the modern improvements in guns
and ammunition, and so labored under
disadvantage impossible to overcome.
Within the last fifty years, however, the
Turkish government has revised its mill
tary system and provided its troops with
the best attainable material; so in these
respects they are nov on a level with
other nations. But they have not recoy
cred the position they once occupied.
and in the Crimesn war, in which Turkey
was the most deeply interested, the Turk
ish soldiers was considered unreliable
aud contributed little TO the very small
amount Of success gained by the allied
powers. As the danger is now mucl
nearer home, and as Turkey must de
pend upon herself, we are inclined t
think her army will DO much better.
The Russians have always distinguish
ed themselves as hard fighters. The,
have not the hot-blooded enthusiasm o
the French and the Americans. or tn
quick intelligence of the English aut
Germans; consequently are not good 70
those rapid, headlong springs which 81
often decide the fortunes Of battle. Blu
they have the bulldog temper in perfeC
ton, and it is exceeding difficult to max
them understand that they are whipped
They will stand for hours exposed to ID
hottest fire without hinchiBg, and Their
Is hardly an instance on record where
Russian army was thoroughly stampeded
They are as dangerous in retreat IS i
advance, a sullen determination whic
keeps the enemy at q distance Ate
Eglau, where the genius OF the FIRST M
poleon was only able to win q barre
victory, the position Of the Russia
squares could be accurately traced b
the lines Of dead bodies. The men ha
fallen where they stood without breakin
ranks. Looking at the ghasily sight, th
French emperor is reported to have sal,
Give me Russian soldiers and Frenc
officers and ! will conquer the world.
The campaign Of Moscow, which LITERAL
broke Napoleon in peices, illustrates ii
characteristic stubbornness and indom
table energy with which the Slayon'
people make war when pushed to Il
wall. Religious zeal has almostas muc
influence upon the Russian as the TurI
The car is not only his Amounted 30
ereign, but bis spiritual lord-the cons
Grated head Of his church, the vicegerel
Of God on earth. To die fighting u
enemies Of the car is a passport TO Il
8 mansions Of the blessed.
II the two nations were equal
8 strength, and the result turned on Il
question which was the brayest, the fin
. outcome would be involved IN the grave
y doubt. But Russia eau furnish at lea
( three soldiers to Turkeys one; her q
mics are better organized, better disci
lined, and probably better equipped
and behind them is a longer purse and
better credit. Unless reinforced fro
re outside, Of which there is no prospect
rs present, it is safe to predict that Turk.
will, in the end, be hopelessly defeate
D. Another Paris doctor, NJ. Lonis q
rere, has died from sucking the windoi
Of a patient, q little girl, suffering fro