The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-11-22
Two Wars Of Our Times.


man operations i'm the Ffanco-German war.
When that war broke out. France was CON
sidcrcd the first military power in Europe, |
aud its army the most accomplished in the |
art ~ war. with prestige which seemed |
to assure an easy and speedy victory, with !
unbounded financial resources ~ the pay |
ment of its immense war indemnity has |
since proved, with n powerful centralized
Government unhampcrcd by hostile and !
alien populations at home. and secure from |
attack from abroad by any nation eX-
ceptng the one with which ii was at WIZ.
nothing was wanting to insure success
Long jealous of Germany aud determined
sooner or later To attack II. the French had
the great advantage Of being able to choose
their own time for declaring war, and their
own plan Of campaign. The result OF six
months operations was the loss Of nearly
half million OF prisoners composing al
most their entire regular army. of four thou
sand cannon. Of a million of Chasscpot rifles,
of innumcrablc flags and eagles, OF all their
principal fortresscs. including Metz, Stras-
bourg, Bcfort, Thionvillc, foul. aud other
minor places. to say nothing Of Paris itself,
and the military occupation by the enemy
Of half the entire country. Such achieve
ments In so short time were unknown In
the annals Of modern warfare, and utterly
defeated all previous calculations on the
part Of the European Governments.
The Russo-Turkish war has been no leeS
astounding in its development 50 far, and
has disappointed public expectation In
still more remarkable degree. 1t las al
ready lasted one month longer than the Fran
co-(icrman war; and it, end j. not yet APP
parent, while the conditions are in some
respects reversed.
Turkey, Instead II being supposed To- bee
the first military power IN Europe, was c"n-
sldercd to have no political, administrative,
or military vitality whatever; her army
was looked upon as little better than horde
Of unframed barbarians; her financial con
dition was 50 deplorahlc that she had been
compelled TO repudate some Of her national
debt; while her central Government was
weak and disorganzcd, owing TO the some
what tragic fate of two Sutans in few
MONTHS and 10 court cahals, resulting in the
Punishment Of her abeet Minister. For two
years previous to the declaration of
war by Russia, the Turkish armies had
been engaged la supprc--ng formi-
datle rebellion within her own from
| tiers, largely supported by foreign
/ money and soldicry; she was prevented by
the diplomatic pressure Of other powers
from sci2ing the moment most advantageous
to herself for making war, aud compelled to
accept it when Il suited her powerful enemy
to declare it. This enemy was regarded by
Europe as the military rival Of Germany
which had so speedily and easily crushed
France. and if not fully It's equal in tine art
Of war certainly superior to it in the NUM-
Der Of trained soldiers at its command
Backed by the moral support Of the whole
OF Europe, and by an enthusiastic and homo
gencous population. animated by great
national aud religious principle, Russia, after
an uninterrupted peace Of twenty-five years.
gathers up her colossal forces, chooses her
own moment. and hurls two armies upon
widely distant points Of Turkey; and after
seven months Of the most arduous military
operations, with what results
Instead Of half Il million Of prisoners she
has not captured above six or at the out
side seven per cent. of that number. In
stead Of four thousand cannon, she has not
taken four hundred, Of which three hun
dred were taken few days ego at Kars
and only about nfty ON the field of battle
and during the Franco-German war tn,
French never succeeded in taking a single
gun. Al the end Of seven months sho has
taken only one important fortress. with a
garrison Of 1900, Of whom 5000 were in
valids in hospital; and the prospect Of tax
ing Conetantinople, the Paris Of her cam
uaign, is ms remote as ever. Instead OF a
military occupation extending over half the
Ottoman empire, she holds only n SINAI
triangle in Bulgaria and few barren val
lcys IN Armenia.
In bringing about these results she has in
cured Il loss, according to her own olllcia
statements, Of nearly 10000 men, not mclGd
ing about 10000 killed and wounded Of he
Roumauian allies, thus exceeding alrcad,
by over 10000 mon the entire loss In killeC
. and wounded Of the German army in thci
war with France. In these returns nothing
is said Of those who are disabled by disease
While Franco had 10 enemy hut Gcrmau,
to think of, Turkey, lighting the Northern
Colossus is engaged at the same time IN al
arduous campalsn against the Montcno
grus in their mountain businesses; she i
g compc He'd {, keep large corps Of obsoNa
tlOn on tine SCrVian frontier, for she Il
} mcuaced by an Invasion at any mOmrn
{ from this quarter; she is obliged to main
/ tain another force On the Greek frontier i
/ The sally, whore the population is ripe for
r. revolt in support Of declaration of war o
p the part Of Greece, Crete has to be strong
y garlsoucd; and finally, another corp
c d'armte is posted along the Persian frontier
4. lest advantage be taken by her perlidioI
n ncighbor to make an lncursion into her ter
?, ritory in alliance with the lawless Ara
s tribes on her border.
S Russia, on the other hand, has none
s these eXgencies to contend against She
70 relieved from all fear Of u Polish insure,
. ton by the German surveillance ov,
" that part OF her empire; and IL