The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-13
onward movemen. may be recommended with renewed

onward movement may be recommended with renewed
vgor
PREPARING ERzERoUM A SIEGE
The rapidity with which Erzeroum is being prepared
to withstand siege, and the extensive works Of iort
ncaton being executed different points intervening
between this and the 'front.' argue anything but
lief on the part OF the authorities that the present u
is hopeful sign OF the future. The great gaps n tho
ramparts here allowed to remain up to-day arc be-
ing filled up with feverish energy. The ramparls,
only short time ago armed with u few Indifferent
field guns and garrison pieces of the most
primitive type, now brstle with heavy Krup
artillery. The road from Trebxond is blocked
with artillery conveys. Guns, both field and position
throng the way, and seriously embarrass the little
commercial traffic which exists This sudden ana
spasnodc activity, this Lurrying up OF guns-sadiy
needed during the last lew weeks lighting whom tho
artillery element may be said TO have been almost
entirely absent on the Turkish sdcspeaks eoquontly
OF secret fears oil hostile movements recognized by
the authorities though carefully screened from the
people.
Apart from the scarce seen lines OF shelter trench,
visible only TO the practised eye, along the marty
plain and sun scorched grass OF the hlIl slope aud
here and there squat redoubt, easily mistaken Tor
one OF the tumuuslkc houses Of the country, there
Is little TO tell Of the proximity OF conendng armies.
The Armenian peasant sits istessly among his flocks
or plods on alter the sixteen buhaloes drawing has
through his village He lifts his head ana stares at
them with tho same hopeless discomfort he would
ut any other hostile troop that came byas he would
stare at the CosSacks for instance, should they make
their way among his mud hoveis Every traveller
you meet along the staring, dusty plains is moving
arsenal, and should he be unaccompaned he edges as
far possible out OF the path and you his
anectedy tranquil eyes that the hand ready for tho
sabre hilt pistol butt at a moments notice; for
this IS the normal state OF things during peace
peciay.
Discomfort AT TURKISH ExAcroys.
One looks eagerly for the peaceful salutation
'Seam AliK' as he would IN mid-Alrcan desert;
and every man he meets Is Toe until assurance is
you look in vain Tor those long provision conveys and
hourly activity ever found in the OF great Euro
shepherd or whole savage Kurd. half robber,
half farmer; and unless previously assured
by ocular demonstration that the army OF
Mukhtar Pacha but leagues in advance, one
would DO apt to consider as creation OF the imasi-
native Oriental mind. How tho army ordinarily ex-
lists 1t Is easy to divine, and from my own experience
OF individual rcquisoning on the part OF the rrcgu
lar troops surprised that the peasantry Mus
sulman as well as Christian, long Tor any change
that might vary the mourniul monotony of
heir abec, lives The Christian peasant is too tm,d
10 speak but in murmurs. save whom he meets with
assured friend; the Mohannedan, on the contrary,
accustomed 10 greater boldness, is ranker in his
pressions, and many hearty curse have heard be-
slowed by chcrif and maum on the auxaries sent TO
fight their battles for them ny the Padshah. The
license allowed TO the Circassans and Kurus passes all
comprehension One could, perhaps, understand tho
policy Of government desrous OF terr0rIZing REBEL
lous population; but among true believers and sub
missive Armenans and Greeks-thc DESTROYS only
Of being allowed TO follow their ordinary avocations
in peace and toerabo security, the other willing up
holders OF Ottoman supremacy-tis difficult 10 under
stand Why unruly mob Of undiscplnod savages has
been unclaimed. II the sublime Porte were dosirous
OF deliberately alternating the sentiments OF its north
ern Anatoan sui jects could not have taken more
effective OBJECT its end alude especially
to tho Mohammodan population, and when they are
forced to language such they have feared to
use speaking with me, Giaour and an enemy TO the
Prophet, could scarcely overrato the extent OF their
irritation.
ATROCITIES By cIRcAssIANs AND KuRps
AS regards the Christians OF tho province Of van
every day brings us fresh details OF atrocities which
rival II they do not surpass tho doings IN Bulgaria.
Violation Of female children OF tender age. wholesale
pilage OF villages deliberate torture and mutIlation Of
both sexes, tales which have become hdeously ia
miliar 70 our Did not fear to expose to tho
wrath Of the msdoers the persons who have furnished
me with the details would give authority for my
worst statement that unprepdiced persons could not
hesitate 10 believe Perhaps OF tho most eloquent
facts could adduce as to the terrorism wrought by the
irreguars that the authorities counsel every stranger
TO take with him on the shortest journey guard of
zaptiehs, lest the kurds or the sCrcassans should
moet him the road. OF one thing the Ottoman
government may rest assured, Russian invader Will
be welcome TO the population OF Armenia from Kars
TO 1rebizond. do not pretend for moment that
among the Circassans themselves there not some
Of The better classes who depore the OF the
great bulk OF their companions, ana who would If pos
sblc restrain thor misd0ngs; but their wishes
vain. Even the military authority Is unable " effect
this f tried to do So BY nature the Circassian Is
hardy and audacious soldier. Years Of strife In the
Caucasus Injured him to life and deeds scarcely
compatible with civilized usages. In exile along the
frontier Of Greece and plains OF the Danube, he
has been tho peted protege of tho Ottoman govern
ment, and the habits, excusabc perhaps in his own
country whilc nghting an INVADER he has begun 10
consider his nalienablo right 10 practise. In his
capacity as volunteer In the Turkish army he taxes
fresh liberties and tho result is sad contemplate
STILL there Is some germ Of good underlying all this
and though the Circassian Ia no match for the more
disciplined Cossack at bottom heis brave enough and
in other hands aud under different management would
be capital soldier. s"
KURD AN UNMIuGATED SAVAGE
With the Kurd II is different Atroop OF Kurd horse
men, with their barbarous horse trappinRs hairtucd
lances and wild gestures might easily be mistaken Tor
sausage nose aud crocodile eye, the bloated face,
scanned with lines Of brutal sensuality, bespeak the
unmitgatod savage, without single trace OF those
barbarous virtues which often more than haif
redeem the child OF nature In his widest extrava-
gances. There IL cnivalry which naturally belongs
most savage 1t totally absent the hordes
which dwell beyond the Araxes, ana the unhappy
Armenian Christians oil the province of Van can tes-
tiIy by their hacked limbs aud powder blown cheeks
that 10 be fellow subject OF the Sultan is protec-
ton from such neighbors when atrocities can be
practised with IMMUNITY. The Ottoman government
has armed and tribes whose ordinary avo
cation Is plumber. The summer permit scanty
existence among the mountains while pas uragc is
green The remainder Of the year blackmai exacted
from the villagers OF the plans and from the Persian
caravans, affords subsistence TO these robbers BY ma
ture The cause Of ''lslam In dunger'' may excuse
many extreme measures In the eyes that turn toward
Mecca but At Juncturc like this while Turkey seeks
redeem past forfeited before civilized Europe IL
has done i'll TO let loose upon her peaceful and
industrious subjects whose very existence Is
blot upon the escutcheon OF the Empire.