, 1877-07-28

eentlmetreS, but ten pieces by this maker
are expected soon from Constantinople.
The smaller works and batteries are not in
the meantime armed, and will only in case
OF need be provided with field guns. The
place has an abundant supply of am
muuition, there being on the average $50
complete rounds for every piece de position.
The town OF Shumla itself, however. does
not possess the slightest power of resist
ance, being neither surrounded by a wall.
ditch, n or towers. The area, boun ded by
the line of works en- the one hand, and the
steep ascent to the p~lateaux on The
other, and which is absolutely guard
ed from all observation from with
out, is abe to shelter an army of
more than $50, 900 men. At the pre-
sent moment there are eucamped here
about $1,000 infantry, 5000 horses, %
field batteries, with their respective equip.
ment OF men and horses, and 2,1O0 fortress
0rtiIIery-ln round numbers, 60, 900 men,
These troops, who are under the command
of Achmed Evoub Pasha, compose four
Divisions OF Infantry and one of Cavalry.
Each Infantry Division consists of two
Brlga1es, OF from six to eight battalions,
and one field battery. The first ~inlautrv
division, commanded by Ferik (Lieutenant-
GeneraD Aziz Pasha, numbers 16 bAtta-
lions; the second, under Ferik Nezlb
Pasha, has 16 the third, under Ferik
Safet Pdsha, has Is; and the fourth lust at
present without my commander, has IA
Infantry battalions. The Cavalry Division,
consisting of seven regiments, which is
encamped in the valley of the Akili- KAN
G. TX, is commanded by Ferik Fuad Pasha.
The Artillery has hitherto been subject
to the orders Of Aziz PaSha, commanding
The fortress and First Division. How
many of these troops are to belong to the
actual Corps OF Operation under Achmed
Eyoub, and how many will remain behind
in the event OF the Corps Mobile leaving,
is in the meantime not decided. But the
truth is the Turks hate all hurry, and are
fond Of leaving the settlement of grave
arrangements till the last wOment. The
head quarters OF The 2ud Corps consist of
Nushir (Field MarshaD Achmed Eyoub
Pasha, the commander. his general staff
chief, Liya (Brigadier or Major General
Kifad Pasha, Liva Achmed Pasha, chief of
the Army Service Corps, and Ali Bey,
head Of the Medical Department. These
perscnages, with the exception of the
Corps Commander, are oil too little known
and too little tried in the field for any one
yet to form a decided opinion of their
capabilities. Kifad Pasha owes his highly
important post to the fact of his being the
brother-in-law Of his chief.
From all this it will appear that the
Second Army Corps has at last received
something like organization, though I'M
perfect. From above downwards, indeed,
the corps is practically" formed, and
contains approximately the proper proper
ton Of the various branches of the service
but in judging Of the merits Of ouch a
military organization one must not go by
the standard applicable to other European
armies, and inquire for the necessary ser
vice auxiliaries, sanitary arrangements, field
ambularces, and the like. For here we
have altered circumstances ; and such DIFF
~ciencies OF system as in any other army
would clearly tell upon the fighting power
of the men are with the Turks Jess felt.
At any rate in the interest of Turkey it is
desirable and necessary that the Temporal
ry strength and cohesion impaired to the
I'd Army Corps should prove enduring,
and that it should not, as, however, the
history of past Turkish wars suggests it