The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-05-31
War Power Of Turkey.

The latest advices from Europe Indicate
conflict with Turkey. A decaying power
as it has been assumed to be, and tagging
in civilization as it certainly is, as war
power it is still formidable; and with all
its religious fanaticism aroused, as would
be the case in struggle with Russia on
the present issue, the success of the lat
ter, gigantic as it is, would be very
doubtful.
The character of the Turkish soldiers
has scarcely changed any for the last fifty
years, or indeed in the whole course of
their history. The famous Mahmoud the
Second once said to the English ambas-
sador about leaving Constantinople for
the noted Congress of Verona, II wish
you the blessing of God, and success in
your efforts for peace; but if it is Gods
will that there shall be war, man will not
be able to prevent it," And that very
moment Russia was threatening, with its
colossal power, to crush and annihilate
the Osmanlis for the violation of the
treaty of Bucharest.
In this expression Mahmoud gave vent
to the universal feeling Of the Turks,
namely, the absolute predestination Of
human fate through the will of God.
And this conviction lends to the Turks
marvellous capacity for resistance, both in
the cabinet and the army. Their indom-
liable warlike spirit is the essence of their
religion. Allah gave to Mohammed, as
the symbol of his Office, not the tables of
the law, as to Moses, but the sword, with
which to annihilate all unbelievers; to
unite the entire human race under one
symbol.
According to the Koran, the padishah
is the shadow of God, and the rule of the
world belongs to him alone; and this,
bOundless assumption is rooted in the
breast of the entire Moslem world. They
will thus live through u series of defeats
that would crush other armies, and be
satisfied with final victory, as they recent
ly were after campaign Of four months
against the Servians. Thus far the Turk
ish officers and diplomats have consid-
cred the war as one of political char
acter, and in this capacity it has wanted
means. But the moment that Russia
would declare war, religious fanaticism
would unlock Golfers that have hitherto
been closed. A holy war in defense of
Islamism will summon to the contest
every treasure that the Turk possesses.
Since the commencement of the present
century the Turks have been endeavoring
to reform their army after European mod
els. For long series of years the noto-
rious corps of Janissaries were the stand
ing army of the Turks, and finally became
their tyrants, even entering into the poll
tics of the country and seating and I'M
seating rulers. They were bitterly OPP
posed to every effort to reorganize the
army on popular basis, and when it was
done, they brutally attacked and muir
dered many of the soldiers from the peo-
pie in their very barracks in Constantine
pie. This so exasperated Mahmoud that,
in 1926, he caused them to be collected
in a public square of Constantinople,
when he ordered all the other troops to
surround them and cut them to pieces.
In this way desperate fighting corps of
forty thousand men were annihilated, and
disappeared from Turkish history.
Since that period the obligation to serve
in the army has been quite general on the
Moslems, not on the Christians-these
have been forced to pay heavy head-tax
that goes to the support of the fighting
III ms. AL icoiity thC ouiucu VI HuitItoiy
duty hangs over about sixteen million
Moslems, but by the time these are sifted
out, for a variety of reasons, not more
than four hundred thousand men are in
active service in the regular army. This
number can, of course, be greatly in
creased by reserves and volunteers, which
is always the result when the conflict as
sumes religious character.
There are now stationed in various
parts of the realm seven army corps, I'm
der the command of generals of the
battalions of gensdarmes, or armed po-
lice, and to these may be added the irreg
ular infantry known AS the Bashi- Bazouks,
aud the irregular cavalry bearing the APP
pelatiOn of Spahis.
The active army is now largely in and
around CJnstantinople, where they often
live for months without cent Of pay.
Nearly all the money that has been lately
collected by the state has gone for steel
cannon of the Krupp make, and for all
kinds Of noted fire arms from our own
country. The Turkish army will be very
strong in the defense. Russia will find il
giant task to travel over Turkish roads
and force the passages OF the Balkan
mountains, which are natural fortresses,
to say nothing of the bristlipg guns along
the Danube; while the Turks feel conf
dent in the protection of Allah.
THE womanly woman is not ambitious
of personal display outside the perfect
conduct of her house and her own legit-