The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-06-06
The Turkish Army---A Mass Of
Good Material Without Organ
ization or Efficient Officers.
Minister PlerrepOnt's Reception
of Ex-Presidsnt Grant
Brilliant Affair.
The London Times on the Issues
Presented by the Eastern
Question.
WAR NOTES.

AH%SlOuA1 NutCu luG tkuj L. M,1 buyF
that Russian scouts have been seen from
the heights Of Jevesky.
The retreat OF the Ottoman corps from
karakelessa 10 Prokkateh and Deleba-
bais Is threatened by an anvancc detach-
ment OF the Russian centre.
News received at the Russian head
quarters at Ploejesti from Asia is very
meagre from the army operating in the
neighbOrhoOd OF kars. II ia announced
that heavy fighting has taken place al
Otter, on the Lower Boder river, but nc
details are given. The fighting arose
from an attempt Of the Abchaisans to
pass the river.
A dispatch from Rustchuk says that
Notwithstanding the reports published in
the English Journals, not single Russian
soldier has yet crossed the Danube. At
tention is now concentrated on Nicopolis
and Oltenitza, but everything Is now
comparatively quiet at those points.
LONDON, June 5.-The Berlin corres-
pondent Of the Times telegraphs as fol.
lows: II ia asserted on good authority
that Count Won Moltke regards Russia'a
chances as steadily improving in conse.
quence Of extraordinary negligence and
lack Of foresight of the Turks.
MANCHEsTER, June 5. "A Vienna
dispatch says that the Turks exaggerate
their troubles. 1t is believed that the
main body Of the Russian centre is still
near kars, and that the recent panic at
Erzeroum was provoked by II flying corps
OF Cossacks and irregulars.
New YORK, June 5.-A London special
says: A dispatch from St. Petersburg
says that Prince Gortchakotl7s note to
Lord Derby, Of which Count Schouvalotl
ia the bearer, states that the Car does
not want any territorial increase in Eu-
rope, but only desires autonomy for
Bulgaria, and the independence OF Rou.
mania and Servia. He also demands the
cesslon OF Armenia, from Bayazid to the
coast, but not including Erzeroum.
New YORK, June 5.-A special from
Rustchuk says: The Turks took posses.
sion Of the heights in the rear of GiurCe.
vo and opened fire on the enemy this
morning. The aim and accuracy Of the
Turkish fire was remarkable. Three
boats were destroyed by it, and il seems
evident that they have some gunners Of
other than Turkish extraction directing
their cannons. No Russian response was
made.
CETTINGE, June 5.-There was battle
to-day near Maljat, lasting seven hours.
Tho Turks were defeated and lost 500
men. The Montenegrin losses are not
Ascertained.
TURKISH ARMY ORGANIZATION.
LONDON, June ga letter from n
TimeS correspondent with the Turk.
ish army has the following particulars
Of its organization: The Turkish army
Of the Danube is slightly deficient in ar
tlllcry and very deficient in cavalry.
The cause Of this is exclusively the want
OF money. The Turkish government
has still over 400 breech.loading cannon
lying idle at Constantinople for want Of
horses and harness, and there are multi
tudes Of men we'll qualified to be cavalry
men, but there is no money to mount
them. The armament OF the troops is all
that is perfect. The infantry have Henry
rifles and the cavalry Winchester rifles.
According to the most Trustworthy infor-
nation the present strength OF the army
OF reserves in course Of formation on the
other side Of the Balkans is $50 battalions
Of infantry, ~ squadrons of horsemen,
800 cannon and about 5000 fortress
artillery and engineers. OF these 45
battalions are stationed at Widkin, 30 at
RustchuCk, 6j at Shumla, 2S at Varna
and sc at Silistria. Tie balance are
divided between Nikopolis, Sistrona,
and Turturki. Every battalion on an
average may be assumed to contain $50
men. Contributions from Nish, it ia
true, are considerably below this stand.
ard, but on the other hand numerous re.
lief battalions have one thousand men
and even more; therefore, the total mum.
Der OF infantry is about one hundred and
seventy.two thousand, and the cavalry
reckoning one hundred men to squa.
dron, is $4,000, accordingly the army oi
the Danube, including the fortress
artillery and engineers are close
upon 200, 900 strong. As to organization
there is a want Of everything that is in
dispensable in tactical unity and system
Until within a few weeks there has been
no divisions. Brigades, regiments and
battalions lay scattered about, often
without knowing from whom they had
TO receive orders. It ia true that after
the declaration OF war divisions and
brigades were formed, but this is Of little
practical value when il is considered that
the troops and commanders are changed
about at the caprice Of one senior officer
The army is virtually directed
from Constantinople, where all the
movements are planned and orders issued
by the so.called Council OF War. This
council is composed Of a number OF gen,
crals, who are mere puppets, in the hands
OF a few ignorant upstairs. Abdul Kerlm
Pasha is a mere executor OF the will ol
this body and 1t cannot be denied that he
possesses military experience and .
sharp judicious eye; but he is wholly
wanting in energy and power OF rapid nc
tion. To the natural incapacIty Of the Com
mander in Chief in this respect, must be
added the circumstances that he is sec,
onded by no general staff. As regards the
fortresscs In European Turkey incredible
results have been accomplished inWidkin
Rustchuk, Silistria, Shumla and Verna
especially. The last two are now quite
formidable. The Notifications are almost
entirely Independent OF earth, but are
constructed in strict conformity with the
modern principles OF armament and leave
nothing to be desired. That the Rus
SLAMS will succeed, perhaps at no distant
date, in forcing the river is more than
probable, but it is equally certain, in the
face Of the strong enduring qualities oil
the Turkish soldiers, that they will, after
spilling much blood, face barrier opD
posed to their onward progress in the
shape OF the fortresses Of the Danube.
UHFouNDED.
Sr. PETERsnuRGH, June 5.-The state,
ment relative to the death Of the Polish
leader Kryssenki is declared 10 be totally
uniounded.
TURKEYS SUCCESSES.
CoNsTASTINorLE, June "a telegram
from Suliman Pasha, dated Monday, the
4th, announces that he has marched from
Gatchika and taken several Montcnegrin
positions and the especially important
Notifications around Kristdahe, probably