The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-02-01
Russia and Turkey.

key. lie last formal sittlnS Oh the Ileuafy
Conference Of the plenipotentiares of the
European Powers was held in Constantine
pie OIL the Goth. The Grand VizIer, Safvet
Paslia, appears to have said, aim ost careless
ly, that the Porte might come to an under
standing with them ION certain points in
the detail.'' but vouchsafed not u word in
regard to the main points OF the proposals
OF the Powers. Concluding, he remarked
that settlement OF questions in regard to
Secvia and Montenegro could be reserved
for later determination. Whereupon Lord
Salisbury promptly declared that the pro-
posals Of the Powers having been rejected
by the Porte the Conference vas at an end.
He WAS followed to the same general effect
by the Russian ambassador, who dwclt upon
the responsibility resting on the Porte, and
hoped tina. Turkey would not undertake to
renew hostilities against Servia and Mon
tenegro. This, it will be remembered. Tnr-
key has given notice to Serva that she will
certainly do so as soon as the armistce is
ended, which will be Oh the 28th proximo.
Safvet Pasha justified his communication to
the Conference by the decision of the Grand
Council on the 18th, after which he, of
course, had.no discretion. The departure of
the Ministers does not necessarily involve a
cessation Of intercourse, as the Charges
d'Ahaires will remain in Constantinople
In vie% Of the strong probability of hos
tiiities it will be a matter Of interest to the
intelligent and obseryant reader to learn
something Of the comparative strength OF
the two powers in a military point of yiew
A Vienna dispatch in the London Times
contains long review of the condition of
the Russian modified army, derived from
letters Of an imperial foreign officer, who
trayersed the Russian lines from Prutll to
Odessa. and had ample opportunities OF OBJ
servation. The correspondent says, that the
letters gave decided impression that the
Russian Army, thanks to the two months
armistice, is in far better condition than was
generally supposed, and is certainly inco,n-
parably filter to take the field thar in any
former campaign against Turkey. The prin-
cipal defect seems to be in vehicles. as those
which have been impressed for the service
OF the army are unsuitable for the formation
OF military train. 1t has therefor. been
decided to form a regular train of from 5000
to 5000 vehicles, which will require 10000
draft animals. Not 10000 animals have yet
been secured. Thus another month or six
a1-c, hot -
the army can be considered as really as
sured. The Roumanian railways would only
aid the Russians advance to the Danube
very slightly, in consequence OF the differ
ence of gauge and the paucity Of rolling
stock. 1t would take forty days to carry
the whole Russian army and stores to the
Danube.
| The letters show that, although the six
army corps when first modified were con-
siderably below their nominal strength,
they are now little, if any thing short OF
their full number, viz: 240, 900 men. 1t was
first intended that only four corps should
operate on the Danube, and the two others
defend the Black Sea coast. Now, however,
in consequence of the dimunition of appre-
hension of Turkish attack on the coast and
the unexpected magnitude Of the Turkish
preparations on the Danube, two coast corps
have been added as reserve TO the army
operating on the Danube, and other forces
have moved from the interior for the defense
OF the coast.
| Advantage has been taken OF the armis-
tice to arm all the regiments in the same in
fantry division with the same kind Of guns.
Most of the batteries of artillery have also
been supplied with new breech-loading can
non. All stores OF clothing and accoutrc-
ments are now complete, but the ambulance
and hospital service is still deficient.
1t is estimated that the active army OF
Russia will number about $4,000, while in
addition to these there are about 300, 000
garrison troops and reserves, and 5000 de-
pot troops. Russia, indeed, has the largest
standing army in Europe and her whole
available war strength is nearly two millic rs
of men. The population of Asiatie and Ell-
ropean Russia and its dependencies is about
s2,000,OOO.
The European Turkish army, with the
whole of the reserve in the field, is estimated
at 100000, or about half OF the active army
of Russia. The Turk however is naturally
inclined to war, and stimulated by religious
zeal, will contest every inch of ground with
desperate determination against his hereGi-
tary foe. La this connection it will be III
Structive as well as pleasant reading to look
at the resource, extent and power of Euro
pean and Asiatic Turkey, whose forces will
be combined to resist The encroachments OF
Russia upon the territory Of European Tur-
key, and the religion OF the Mnsselman, COM
mon to the Turk whether European or Ash
ate.
European Turkey, Whose approaching fate
attracts the attention OF Christendom and
the world, is bounded on the north by Aus
tria, east by Russia and the Black Sea, south
by Turkey in Asia, the Archipelago and
Greece. and west by the Adriatic and Dali
malta. Its population is 1G,400,000. Its
area is 100000 square miles; that is, it has a
territory equal to all New England, the Mid
die States, of New York, New Jersey, Penn
sylvania, Delaware, and Virginia besides.
Its chief cities are Constantinople, ], 200,0 1000;
Bucharest, 12l 900; Adrianople, 100000; Sa-
lonika, $4,000; Tassy, $4,000; Bosnia Serai,
$4,000; Gallipoli, $4,000. The northern and
central provinces and tributary principali-
ties of Croatia, Bosnia, Servia, Wallachi,
Moldava, Herzegovina, Monte negro, and
Bulgaria contain more than half its popula-
ton. or about 100000, who are of the
Greek Catholic faith, intensely hostile to the
Mohammedan religion, and intensely op-
pressed by Turkish rule. They hate :he
| Horse-Tail and the Crescent rs much as the
Garibaldians hated the Crozier and the Tiara.
Asiatic Turkey, whose fate is woven with
that of European Turkey, is bounded on the
north by the Black Sea, east by Persia, west
by the Mediterranean and the Archipelago,
and south by Arabia. 1t includes, the He'd
jay, or sunny Arabian plateau, bordering
the Red Sea, and extending southwark to
| Yemen and Arabia Felix. The chief Cries
Of this Oriental part Of the Otterman En-.
| nire are SMYRNA 150 600. Damascus 90( ,