Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-21
The RUsSO.Turk ish War.
A LETTER FROM GEN. SHERMAN.


Lieut.. F. V. Greene, L. s engineers who wasS
sent abroad by the War department TO observe
the progress of the late Russo Turkish war from
the Russian side, to-day received a letter from
Gen. sherman stating that he has completed
the first reading of Greenes report-''Russian
Campaigns in Turkey. 1s,I sand as pro-
missed. records his general opinion OF its merits
lie says: Your report Is, in fact. history OF
the recent Russo-Turkish war. with much sta
tistical matter and personal observation on pro-
fessional subjects, and being in the form OF a
printed volume OF text, and another OF
carefully prepared and beautifully exc
cuted maps IS as comprehensive to the
general reader as to the professional soldier
You have divided the subject matter into four
convenient parts, OF which l may speak Sepa-
rately. The first part treating OF the Russian
military establishment, strength In peace and
war, mode OF recruitment, armament and equip
ment, administration and tactics. in my judg-
ment is more comprehensive and satisfactory
than any other have heretofore seen In print
and is In fact more complete than any was able
to gather during a two months visit to the Call-
casus and Russia in 1873, when had unusual
part, campaign in Bulgaria." Is however, the
most vital and interesting to the general
reader, because you were on the spot,
saw with your own eyes, and therefore
described localities and events. as none
can except an eye witness.
The fourth and last part contains your ''conclu-
SionS," or lessons established by these cam
paignS. To this part, which is purely profess
sional. shall invite the close study and atten-
t10n OF our military Schools and OF the army
generally, as well as the militia and volunteers
of our country. Who should keep up with the
progress OF military science, which in these
days OF telegraphs. railroads and OF improved
cannon and rifles, Is very rapid. The fact that
breech-loading rifles has made comparatively
easy the defence OF any building or intrench-
ment by small force against a large one does
not alter the fact that such points must be de-
Tended, or must be carried according to the OBJ
ject aimed at: and your examples at
Plevna and karS amount to demonstra.
tiOnS that such works can be carried
by extreme skill, thorough preparation,
beforehand and tndomitabe courage Modern
war calls for a larger measure OF intelligence
on the part of the individual officer and soldier
than ii did twenty years ago. and although the
great principles of strategy continue the same
tactical changes are forced on U.S. the knowledge
and practice of which must be acquired before
hand. thus neceSsitating more study and prepa-
ration on the part OF the professional soldier
than in former times. Your book in this sense
is most valuable at this very time, especially
the whole of Chapter /, "Conclusionsv from
page 42l to 440. Your remarks about intrench-
ing tools are most opportune, and l agree with
you that it will not do to use the rifle as han
die to any sort of intrenching tool
Nothing can take the place of the old-faShioned
pick and shovel, which are too heavy and awR-
ward to be carried by the soldier, especially In
the bushes, and must be carried along with
every army, or with every detachment, in wag-
OnS or on pack mules.