The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-04-25

tuere Is, tncIcloIci possibility tDdt dCbuni
hostilities may be averted. Still the proba-
bilities are against such conclusion. and as
a consequence, those who take any interest in
the question are anxious TO know near rs
possible the military resources Of the powers
likely to be engaged. While it is generally
believed that the war. if once fairly under
way, will involve all Europe before its close,
there seems to be little if any doubt that
England will be the first of the great powers
professedly neutral to take part in the con-
test. This early assignment of England to a
prominent position in the controversy
grows out of the fact that she
is jealous of Russia and suspicious of the
Asiatic policy of the car. The interests of
England in Asia, it is said, ''are so extensive
and important that they entirely control
her policy toward other nations. By aban-
'doning all interference in European affairs
except so far as they bear in the least degree
ON her Asiatic interests England has almost
ceased to be considered a European power,
and her wishes are scarcely consulted in the
adjustment of European quarrels. But
with her mighty power directed toward the
protection of her eastern possessions and to
guarding with jealous vigilance all the
avenues leading thereto Englands inter
'vention in the eastern question must be re-
'garded as highly important to its solution.
The moment it ceases to be so then England
'abdicates her position as mistress of India.
1T has been the boast of her admirers that
the drum beats of her armies of
occupation increasingly salute the rising
sun, but this is only accomplished by
"a distribution of her force which tends to
weaken her locally wherever her flag floats.
BY means of her magnificent fleet England
keeps open Accommodation between her
widely separated strongholds, and thus
maintains herself against what might other
wise prove irresistible combinations of pow
'ers jealous of her wealth and influence.
While all but invincible on the ocean, her
land forces are feeble compared with those
of the nations with whom she is liable atany
time to come in conflict; but it must be ad-
United that her armies make up in valor
what they lack in numbers"
The purpose of Russia is to obtain an I'M
INSTRUCTED southern outlet for her
commerce and naval operations, to
accomplish which Turkey must
be Enthusiastically wiped out
In no other way can the problem be solved,
and that this ambition of the Russians will
eventually be realized there can be little
doubt. Russia is a growing power, while
Turkey is decaying. Already the Russian
empire extends over one-seventh of the
entire surface of the globe. Its population
is steadily increasing. Progress is evidenced
in all things and everywhere; but that her
policy is to wrest Englands Asiatic posses
sions from her grasp has always been dis
claimed; England, however, chooses to doubt
the peaceful possessions of the car, seeing
only in his conquests her ultimate ruin. To
this fact then must be attributed England's
willingness to aid Turkey in arresting the
aggressive policy of Russia; and hence it is
desirable to know the military strength of
the countries that will contend for the mas
terry. The subject is treated extensively
by the New York Herald, whose statements
show that the strength of the Russian army
on a war footing is:
Officers for active service in the regular
army, 81 ,557; for reserves, 1922; for depOts,
6,605; for local troops, 12,7T3. Total officers,
4,477. Soldiers for active service in the reg
ular army, s45, 4s9; for reserves, III, 79s; for
depots, 273, 1872; local troops, 35O,S66. Total
soldiers, 1,641, 329 Noncombatants, 1876, 14S;
horses, 24O sSs; guns, 2,6O6. Total number
of men in regular army, 1,SS0,954
The strength of the irregular army will be
3,505 officers, 13l, 290 soldiers, 5,69S noncom-
batants; total. lao. 499. Added to the regular
force this will give grand total of the war
strength of the Russian army at 2,021, All
men, 361, 1877 horses and 2,7S6 guns.
The Turkish regular army consists at pres
emit of seven corps the corps commanders
administer the affairs of their respective
commands directly, for the troops in time of
peace have neither generals of division nor
brigade. These latter 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 Bos-
mans, one regiment of frontier Greeks and
one regiment OF frontier Servians. Each
regiment Of infantry has three battalions of
eight companies. Besides the regular in
fantry of the line there are forty-one
battalions of rihemen and two battalions of
Herzegovina troops, two battalions of
Albania and one Gordon battery, making a
total of 179 battalions of infantry. Cavalry
There are twenty-six regiments of six
squadrons each, one regiment of six squad
rons mounted on camels and two independ-
ent squadrons in the Turkish regular cav
airy, making a total of 161 squadrons.
Artillery-This arm is represented by seven
regiments of field artillery of twelve bat