The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-04-25
THE EnROPEAN KAR.

from the n. Y. Herald, in regard to
the European war, will be interest
ing TO many of our readers:
SHOULD Europe be involved, as
now seems probable, in oneof the
greatest wars of modern times. it
will become a matter of great inter
est 20 know something of the strength
of the belligerent armies. A late
number Of the New York Herald has
an exhaustive and interesting arLi-
Gle on this subject, from which we
compile some interesting facts and
figures. The point OF difference is
now between Russia and Turkey,
but it is hardly possible that hostili-
ties will continue long without Eng
lard becoming involved. In point
Of population and area, Russia is
simply colossal. The nearest est
mate Of the true area Of the Russian
Empire was made. perhaps, in 1874,
when it was put down at 6.304,767
square miles. This does not include
the Kingdom OF Poland. the Grand
Duchy of Finland, or the Caucasian
Provinces. The population OF Rus
STA, including all its possessions, is
in the neighborhood of $4,000, 600.
The organization OF the Russian
army consists Of infantry, chasseurs
or rifemen. cavalry. foot artillery,
horse artillery, engineers, military
train, the reserves, complementary
troops, local troops, and irregular
troops. The strength Of the army
! is thus summarized in the Herald:
The regular army, on peace footing,
stands as follows: Officers IN active ser
vice is, PSI; of reserves, 102; of depots,
400: of local troops, 1858. Total num-
| Der of officers, %, 526. Soldiers in ac-
tive army, 49,, $40; in reserves, 1862; in
depots. II 1870; local troops, 40. SOB.
Total number of soldiers, GAG. 1O5. Non
cOmbatants, 90, SS1; horses, 80, 2S9; guns,
sos. Total strength in men, 4IO, jl2.
In the irregular army the peace eHec-
tive is l, 740 officers, 1897 soldiers, /,
512 non-cOm batants. Total 1909 men.
This strength added to that of the reg
ular army gives total peace effective
of SO7, sci men, guns, 1 400, and horses,
120, 4S7.
The strength of the army, on war
footing, is as follows:
Officers for active service in the reg
ular army, IL, 557; for reserves, 1922; for
IayCfs GDE.. for local frpprs ID T1.3
Total officers, 4l,477. Soldiers for ac-
tive service in the regular army, 3d.
3S3; for reserves, III, 1OS; for depots,
273, 1872; local troops, 3jU, $3.50. Total sol
diers, / ,641 1929. Non-com!5atans, 1885,
24S; horses, $40, S38; guns, 2,60G. Total
number of men in regular army, 1885,
9J4
The strength of the irregular army
will he ? sos officers, 131 300 soldiers,
5,79S non cOmbatants; fetal, 40, 1913.
Added to the regular force this will
give a grand total Of the war strength
Of the Russian army at 2,O2f ,447 men
361, 837 horses and 2,786 guns.
This does not include The strength
of the Prusian army, upon which the
Gar counts in this emergency if the
emergency should arise. The total
effective strength of the Persian
army on war footing, is set down
at 65. 900 infantry. So. 900 cavalry and
1000 artillery, making in al 12l,-
600 troops. In the pending cohtro-
versy. Persia bars the way TO an
Anglo-Indian army. moving west
ward, and Notwithstanding her usual
weakness as a military Power, her
position gives her great advantage
in this quarrel.
Add TO the total effective strength
of the Russian army, 2,021.447, the
strength Of The Persian army. l2I,
600, and we have grand total of
2.I43.o47 troops, Formidable force
indeed.
We have been accustomed to
look upon Turkey as weak |
Power. not much to be dreaded by /
the more prosperous Nation of the
Eastern Continent, but when we
come to look at the statistics, we
find that it is not so weak. The
Turkish forces are divided into the
regular army, the irregular army,
aud the auxiliary troops. The to-
tai war strength of the army is put
dawn in the Herald's article. before
us, at 616.1OO men.
But. as we said at the outset, it
is hardly possible for England to re-
main neutral, are the main struggle
will be between England and Russia.
The actual military strength of the
British Empire. on a peace footing.
is something over 100000 men. The
regular army numbers 228,62S men, !
nearly ten times larger than that
Of the United States, X
With reference to the fighting char
acter Of the Turks, the Herald clo-
ses an editorial as follows !
The Turkish army is a thoroughly re-
liable one for the defence Of Ottoman
territory against a Russian invasion.
The troops are stout, brave and fanati- 1
cal-three military elements that have ;
before now combined to win great vic
tories against desperate odds; but once Z
fairly on the run before a eonquering
Muscovite army not the Bosphorus it. c
Ielf can stop the retreat of the Turkish