Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1885-11-25
Strength of the CGmbatants.

The various forces of Servia are as fol-
lows: Field army, G0,2Ss men, with 264
guns; reserve formation, 1855 men, with
"a guns: reserve army of landwehr, 81, ,270
men, with 120 guns: landsturm, $4,000 men,
or total of 170.412 officers and men and
AIS guns. The infantry is armed with the
Mauser rife, improved by Major Mecovaro-
witch, which is of caliber of 1915 mill
meters. The artillery is variously armed
with muzzle-loaders and krupp guns. The
total cavalry force included in the above
numbers 1900 men.
The Bulgarian field army consists Of a.
900 infantry, ], 400 cavalry, two regiments
and one company of arlillery, 2,340 men; O
battalion of engineers, $50 men; a detach-
mcnt Of train, 1000 men. and a force OF
gendarmerie, l 600 men. or total force of
80, 220 men, with 10l guns. The infantry
is armed with Berdan rifles. and the batter
les have Krupp guns and guns of the latest
Russian pattern. The reserve force con-
sists of "a 900 men. There are also IL
battalions of landstrum of GOO men each,
or 200 men, making total force Of 10000
men. There is no want of arms, but there
is scarcely sufficient force of cavalry and
artillery. The cavalry numbers l 500 men.
The scarcity of officers, since many of the
Russian officers returned home, is also a
serious matter. Prince Alexander is an
able and energetic soldier.
The Eastern Roumelian army comprises
1924 men of the first levy, l9,187 Of the
second, 23,197 of the reserve, and 8, 3,422
men of the active reserve, making a total
of g., 1880 men. The number Of officers
available is altogether out of proportion to
the number Of men. There is no scarcity
of arms, as there are about $4,000 Kruka,
1000 Berdan, and 5000 Martini Henry
rifles in the province. The artillery con-
sists of four guns. The Bulgarian arsenals
at Rustchuk and Rasgrad contain a good
supply Of arms, uniforms, and equipments.
The arsenal at Rustchuk is turning out
10000 Berdan cartridges day, in addition
to ammunition for artillery.
Feeling in France and England.
The Independence Beige (Brussels)
prints dispatch from Sofia describing an
affair which took place between the Ser
vians and the Bulgarians at Tzaribrod, o
few miles over the frontier in Bulgaria, in
q southerly direction from Prot, on the way
toward Sofia. The heroism of the Bull
garians is dwelt upon, as is natural in
Sofan dispatch. They had only one
infantry battalion against six Ser
vian battalions supported by two
of cavalry. The cavalry, which be-
gan the attack, suffered in its attempt to
charge on and dislodge the Bulgarian bat
TALON occupying the bridge over the River
Nischava. The dispatch continues: "They
were deeimated, while We had only thirty
four killed and wounded
The same dispatch describes second
affair the same day at the village Of Jzoord
in the district of Kenstendil. further south
than the place of the first affair Here SIM
pie Bulgarian militia, in defending the
place, lost eight men, while the Seryian
loss numbered seventy.
Each London paper bristles with war
maps and gives from five to seven columns
of what is called war news, but is in reality
merely collection Of rumors and opinions
of correspondents. A Telegraph editorial
| is as follows: "We have to bear in mind
| that the real contention at the bottom of this
business is between Russia and Austria.
| Could they be excluded, which in the nature
of things cannot be done, sanguinary
| quarrel between Balkan States would be q
small evil; whether Austria, and through
| Austria Germany. wants or does not want q
solid path to the sea at Salonica it needs no
| profound seer to lind out that Rnssia's con.
| slant aim is ascendency in big Bulgaria,
| with the ulterior purpose of seizing It and
| Of dominating on the Dardanelles and the
Bosphorus.
The Standard says: sWnr has bean
| hndled in the Balkans. We soc the be-
ginning, but no human intelligence can
| pretend to get limits To the area or inksnaitg
| Of the 6re. We see Rnssia's eager Gye1
Axed on the Besphotns. and Aaistsis starl-
| ing down from Bosnia toward Salonica a6d
ths Egean.