The Hickman courier., 1877-07-27
THE rURKTsn SOLDIER.

The life of a soldier in camp is some
thing to study, but nothing to envy. At
4 O'Clock in the morning he is dragged
out to drill, and most numerically is he
"put through" until or o'clock. If
his officers are exceedingly industrious
he is given another dose of it in the
evening. Twice week he has field day,
when his whole division is marched out
and countermarched in the hot sun.
During the day the soldier lies about his
camp in listless, lazy, dog-like way. He
is seldom seen polishing his arms and
accoutrements, but in the familiar occu-
patton of hunting for vermin he seems to
vie with the most practiced soldiers of
Europe. His chief delight is apparently
to lie on his back in the sun and sleep.
His religious observances are never
neglected. 1t is one of the peculiarities
of the Moslem that he is never ashamed
of his religion, and when the hour for
prayer comes he spreads his rug and goes
to work with as much Indifference to
surroundings as though he were in the
middle of the Sahara. All over the
camp the little squads of prayerful
soldiers may be seen, and wherever
springs or wells are found there he is at
all hours of the day washing his feet
and preparing himself for heaven. I am
sorry to observe that the Mohammedan
eats no pork. This is bad for Cincinnati
spectators, but it is painfully true.
Neither will he eat salt beef Because
| of this popularity it is difficult to send
Turkish man-of war on a pTOtracted
voyage. The sailors put up with beans,
rice, and olives when they can't get fresh
meat, and the soldier worries along on
his black bread and such vegetables as he
is able to pick up. I haven't seen
four-legged hog in Turkey. So far as
my observation extends it is impossible
to conceive this Turkish army making
any sort of sustained effort. For a light
campaign or a dashing fight I would
willingly trust the Turk; but when it
comes to painful marches and pitched
battles, | am sure that he will be found
lacking. When cornered, the Turk is
always ready to die, but his ferocity
oozes out when he is compelled to face
an enemy for any length of time. DR..
Roy, who has seen them under fire in
Servia, says that they are quite panicky.
Lacking in intelligence and discipline,
the Turk is utterly incapable of pro-
ionged effort. He wants a light bout
and then lots of sleep and rest. | must
say that the average physique of the men
in the Turkish army is better than that
of the men of the French, Austrian, or
Italian armies. Boys and striplings are
uncommon I wonder sometimes where
all the sixteen-year old boys are who are
always filling the ranks of the European
armies. Perhaps these people are born
old. Yesterday a gang of five hundred
volunteers arrived in camp-pure Asiat-
! les. They were ragged aud dirty, but
there wasn't bad constitution in the
lot. They were sent " from Stamboul,
and are to be clothed Shere. Desertion,
l am told, is quite common here. This
morning about twenty poor devils, who
were caught at the railway station, were
marched back to camp tied to a long
rope. They will end their days, doubt
/ less, shovelling dirt on Notifications l
saw for the first time yesterday a display
of the fighting qualities OF the Turkish
soldiers. A row OF some sort broke out
in the main street Of the town near a
sort of cook shop where roasted sleeps
heads are sold to soldiers. It's origin /
did not learn, but the melee was quite
! interesting. About a dozen men partici-
pated 1t was very much like a Chinese
combat, wherein the man makes the most
noise is accounted the best man. They
clawed each other vehemently, but
seemed incapable of striking a manly
blow from the shoulder. AT one time
they we're all down on the ground rolling
and biting together. At length one chap
drew his sword -bayonet, and began laying
about him in vigorous style. He cut one
man on the head quite severely, and, but
| for the timely arrival of the town-guard,
might have done some damage. The
man with his bayonet was an Arab. The
whole party was marched away under
guard, in the midst of intense excitement.
was told that this was.quite an unusual
occurrence, for the Mohammedans are
not much given to fighting among them
Selves iShmaIa Cor. Of the Cincinnati
Enquirer.
M4LEVOLENT W.T.