The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1877-06-06
Condition OF tho Turkish Army.

London, June 5.--The Times cores
pondent with the Turkish army sends
the following particulars of the army
of the Danube 1t is rather deficient
in artillery and very deficient in caval-
ry, the only eason being the want Of
money. The Turkish government have
still more than four hundred breech-
loading cannon lying idle at CONSTANT
nople, for want Of horses and harness,
and there are multitudes of well quail
fled dragons, but no money to mount
them. The armament of troops is all
that is perfect. The infantry have
Henry rifles, and the cavalry Winches-
ter rifles.
According to most trustworthy in
formation, the present strength of the
army, exclusive Of reserves in course of
formation on the other side of Balkans,
is 23o battalions Of infantry, % squad
rons of horse, 800 cannon, and about
5000 fortress artillery and engineers.
OF these, 45 battalions are stationed at
Widdin, 3G at Rustchuk, CD at Shumla,
rs at Varna, and SO at Siberia. The
remaining battalions are divided be-
tween Nikopolis, S~istona, Aurtukai,
the Dobrudscha and various other
places of less Importance in Danubian
Bulgaria. Every battalion, on an aver
age, may be assumed to contain $50
men. Contributions from Nisha are,
indeed, considerably below this stand
ard, but, on the other hand, numerous
relief battalions have 1000 men and
even more, therefore the total number
of infantry is about 172, 500, and the
cavalry, reckoning 100 men to q squad
ron, 1900. Accordingly, the army Of
the Danube; including fortress artil-
lery and engineers, is close upon 200,-
600 strong.
As to organization, there is a want OF
everything that is indispensable in tao
teal unity and system. Until within
q few weeks there were 10 divisions,
brigades, or regiments. The Balkans
lay scattered about, without often
knowing from whom they had to re-
ceive orders. 1t is true that, after the
declaration Of war, divisions and brig
AIDES were formed, but it is of but little
practical value, when it is considered
that the troops and commanders are
changed about at the caprice Of one
superior officer. The army is virtually
directed from Constantinople, where
all movements are planned and orders
issued by 4 so-called council Of war,
composed of a number of generals, who
are mere puppets in the hands Of a few
ignorant upstairs. Abdul Kerim Pa
sha is the mere executor Of the will of
this body. Un~deniably, he possesses
military experience and u sharp, judi
cious eye, but is wholly wanting in en-
ergy and power of rapid action. To
the natural incapacity of the command
er-in-chief in this respect, must be adj
ded the circumstance that he is sec
onded by no general staff. As regards
the fortresses in the European ter rito-
~, incredible results have been accom-
plished. Widen, Rustchuck, Silistria,
Shumla and Varna, especially the last
two, are now quite formidable fortifi-
cations, and almost ;entirely consist OF
independent works, mostly of earth,
but constructed in strict conformity
with modern principles of armament
and leave nothing to be desired.
1t is very probable that the Russians
will succeed o in forcing the river,
but it is equally certain, in face of the
tough. enduring qualities Of the Turk
ish soldier, they will only after she'd
ding much blood, force the barrier OPP
posed to their onward progress, in the
shape of the fortresses Of the Danube.
The Times, In q leading article, says