The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-05-17
The Turkish Army.


The numerical strength of the military
force which Turkey can put into the field
against her powerful antagonist has been
variously stated, and the statistics on
which the different estimates are based
appear to be more abundant than trust
worthy. According to the StatesSaan's
Yearbook, until 1871 the Turkish mill
tary forces comprised: l. The regular
army, called Nizam; 2. The reserve, or
ReaJ; 8. The contingents of auxiliaries;
and 4. The irregular troops. The regu-
lar active army consisted of six corps, or
"ordou," under the command of field
marshal, or mushir," with their head
quarters at Scutari, Constantinople,
Monastir, Karbrout, Damascus, and
Bagdad. Each ordou consisted of two
divisions, commanded by a general of
division, or " ferik." Each division was
divided into three brigades, commanded
by generals of brigade, or livas." The
ordou consisted of eleven regiments,
namely, six regiments Of foot, four of
horse, and one regiment of artillery.
Besides the six ordous, there were three
detached corps: one brigade on the
island of Gambia, numbering 1000 regu-
lars, $500 irregulars, and 600 native
cannoniers-a total of about 5000 men !;
second brigade in Tripoli, consisting
of one regiment of foot and one of horse,
to the strength of 4, 900 men; and third
brigade, of 1000 men, at Tunis.
In 1871 the Turkish army underwent
thorough reorganization. Under the
new regulations, the military forces are
divided into, 1, the active army; 2, the
reserve; and 8, the sedentary army"
After four years service in the active
army, soldiers may return to their homes
and occupations, and are likewise free to
marry; but they are bound to join their
regiments at moments notice, to serve,
if required, for two years longer. By
this arrangement the number of the
active army, which in time of peace is
still fixed at strength OF 15O, 900 men,
can be raised Immediately, on an emer-
gency arising, at once to 100000. At
the expiration of the sixth year the
soldiers of the active force pass to the
reserve, and have to serve three years
in the first reserve class, and three years
in the second reserve class. The two
classes are oficered, and the soldiers,
though free to marry and attend to their
own business, are called out to drill for
one month every year, for which they
receive pay. This reserve is calculated
at 24O battalions, or 1920 men, ready
to take the field in fortnight's time.
Upon the completion of six years. service
in the active army, and another six years
in the reserve, soldier is attached for
eight years longer to the "sedentary"
army, and is liable to be called cut in
case only of war. The sedentary force
is calculated to SUPPLY SOO,O 900 men, who,
together with the 100000 men of the
active army and the $4,000 of the re,
serve, form a grand total of 100000
available men for war. In times of
peace the troops have neither generals
of division nor brigade. These are ap-
pointed only during times of war.
Formerly considerable portion of the
troops were furnished by the spahis and
other holders of estates on condition of
military service. But the system was
changed in 1S43, since which time the
army is recruited by conscription, which,
however, falls only upon the Mussulman
population. Non-Mussulmans are not
liable to service in the army, but have
to pay a military exemption tax, known
as the Bedel, amounting to about Is. I'd.
per head of population, and producing
altogether s5S0,0O0 per annum. The
capital is totally exempt both from con-
scription and the Bedel.
Only portion of the troops is raised
by conscription, and the rest is procured
by enlistment, which is productive of
many recruits, as the pay in the Turkish
army is comparatively high. The gov
ernment undertakes the task of procur-
ing substitutes, at fixed price, for all
who wish to avoid the conscription.
HosU Far VIII a Green6ack 90.
Mr.. Brown kept boarders. Around his
table sat Mr.. Brown, Mrs. Brown, Mrs.
Andrews, the village milliner; Mr.. Black
the baker; Mr.. Jordan, carpenter and
Mr.. Hadley, -four, feed and lumber
merchant.
Mr.. Brown took out of his pocket-book
ten dollar note, and handed it to Mrs.
Brown, saying:
"Here, my dear, are ten dollars to-
ward the twenty promised you"
Mrs. Brown handed it to Mrs. An
drews, the milliner, saying:
"That pays for my new bonnet"
Mrs. Andrews said to Mr.. Jordan, as
she handed him thenote:
"That will pay you for your work on
my counter.
Mr.. Jordan handed it to Mr.. Hadley
the -four, feed and lumber merchant, re-
questing his lumber bill.
Mr.. Hadley gave the note back to Mr..
Blown, saying:
"That pays ten dollars on board"
Mr.. Brown passed it to his wife, with
the remark that that paid her twenty
dollars he had promised. She in turn
paid it to Mr.. Black, to settle her bread
and pastery account, who handed it to
Mr.. Hadley, wishing credit for the
amount on his -four bill, he again re-
turning it to Mr.. Brown with the re-
mark that it settled for that months
board. Whereupon Brown put it back
into his pocket-book exclaiming that he
"never thought ten DOLLAR bill would
go SO far.
Thus ten dollar greenback was made
to pay ninety dollars indebtedness inside
of five minutes. Who says greenbacks
are worthless
GIURGEvo, mentioned so frequently in