The Republican journal., 1877-05-03

Frs ARE REQUESTED TO SEE THAT THEIR
DATES ARE CORRECT Subscribers in arrears
are requested to forward the sums due
The Coming Great War
In ;he great war now fairly inaugurated
in Eastern Europe. the position of the
United States, in accordance with its ira
ditional policy, will be one Of strict neu-
trality. But the sympathies of our people
will be very largely with Russia 1t was
the ease in the Crimean war, of twenty
five Years ago, and it will be 50 now. The
reciprocal good feeling that has always
existed between the two countries will in
a great part account for this besides, we
fee! that something of the kind is due to
Russia for her hearty sympathy with our
troubles during the rebellion, and the
fact that her attitude kept England and
France SO much in apprehension as to
| prevent them from actively interfering in
our affairs. Naturally we sympathize with
our allies and friends, as against our enc
mics
Beyond all this there is Il reason quite
as strong for the sympathy of this country
with Russia and that is Il feeling for the
| oppressed Of the race everywhere, and
| particularly with those who suffer be-
cause Of their political or religious opin-
ion Russia takes up arms i'll the cause
of the oppressed Christian subjects of the
| Sultan. who, 10y these ''malignant and
| lurbaneG Turks have been made to suf-
fer the most terrible outrages. This is
| by no means a new feeling with our peo-
! pie. When in 1921 the Greeks revolted
against the outrageous tyranny OF the
| Turks, the excitement i'll this country
was at fever heat. Money and other
| forms OF substantial aid were contributed,
many ardent young Americans enlisted in
the Greek army and navy, and the best
efforts of Webster and Clay in Congress
We're directed towards recognition of the
independence of Greece.
During the war, which was carried on
by the Turks in Il manner disgraceful to
humanity, the Christian nations of Europe,
and especially England, looked on with
Indifference 50 long us her commercial in
tcrests We're not affected. The ndigna-
ton which this course excited on this side
Of the Atlantic is well expressed in the
lines of FitZ Greene lIalleck-
The age OF bargaining said Burke.
Has come: today the turbaned Turk
sleep, Richard Of the lion heart
sleep nor from your cerementS start.)
Is Engands friend and fast ally;
The MoSlem tramplcs on the Greeks
And on the Cross and altar stone
And ChriStendom looks tamelv on.
And hears the Christian maiden shrek,
And see the Christian father die
And not sabre blow is given
For Greece and fame, for faith and heaven.
By Europes craven chivalrv.
The fact is that while England has very
rights of fellow Christians, she is always
ready to fight for her commercial advan-
tages. Therefore she was found fighting
by the side of Turkey and against Russia
in 1853, and during the subsequent Cri-
mean war. But the whole power of Tur-
key, France, England and Sardinia were
required to overcome the splendid army
Of Russia, and the talents of their leaders.
How long the present war will continue,
what nations it will involve, and the re-
suits thereof, can be at best but matters
of conjecture. That it will be long and
eNhausting, there is no reason to doubt.
1t will be interesting to survey the re-
sources Of the combatants, as giving in
dication of the power with which they
will move in the conflict in which they
are or may be engaged. Russia is grow
ing power, while Turkey is decaying. AL
ready the Russian empire extends over
onc-sevtnth of the entire surface of the
globe. Its population is steadily increas-
ing. Progress is evidenced in all things
and everywhere but that her policy is
to wrest England's Asiatic possessions
from her grasp has always been dis
,ldlllit't, LilSlilll, lloNtNtl, CllOoStS u
doubt the peaceful possessions of the ear,
seeing only in his conquests her ultimate
ruin. TO this fact then must be attribut-
ed Englands willingness to aid Turkey
i'll arresting the aggressive policy Of Rus
sia and hence it is desirable to know the
military strength of the countries that
will contend for the mastery The sub
ject is treated eXhaustively by the New
York Herald whose statements show that
the strength of the Russian army on war
footing is:
Officers for active service in the regular
army, 81 ,557; for reserves, 1892 for de-
pots 6,G05; for local troops, 1878. To
tai officers, 44,477. Soldiers for active
service in the regular army, o45, 4s3; for
reserves, III, 799; for depots, 273, 1872; To-
cal troops, $50, S6G. Total soldiers, 1,64l,-
329 Noncombatants, 1885, 49, horses,
24O,6:}S: guns, 2,6O6. Total number of
men in regular army, l,88O,954.
The strength of the irregular army will
be ;5,5O5 officers, l3l ,29O soldiers, 5,69S
noncombatants total, $40, 493. Added
to the regular force this will give grand
total of the war strength of the Russian
army at 2,O2l All men, ;}6l 1897 horses and
1886 guns.
The Turkish regular army consists at
present of seven corps. The corps com
manders administer the affairs of their
respective commands directly, for the
troops in time of peace have neither gen
erals of divisions nor brigade. These lat
ter 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