The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1886-11-26

Flovno 0nu tho country Nv 20
tho westward OF the Osma in 1877 Less
impetuous than the Bosnians. they did
not yield to them in the stubbornncss
with which they would advance to or
repel attack. War largely diminished
their numbers, and some mot many)
have remained In Bulgaria and Roume-
lia Tho majority Of tho survivors have
returned into Asia, from whence, five
centuries ago. their ancestors crossed
over to spread the terror and power Of
tho Ottoman namc in Europe The Mus
sulman Bulgarian, tho Pomak. lacked
many OF the better qualities Of the true
Turk; and there is evidence that some
of the worst crimes committed during
the atrocity time of 1876 were the work,
not of the descendants of the old Otto
man Turks, but of the Pomaks. Fol-
lowing these came the Albanian contin-
gents to the Turkish army. Here three
very diverse clements were found under
one designation, varying in courage
and submissivcness to discipline. The
best of these men are the Tosks Uhc
race which gave some of It's most re-
nowned and distinguished leaders to
Albania and Epirus, the country OF the
Souliotcs and Ali of Tepelen. After
them may be reckoned the Arnaouts OF
northern Albania and the Ghegas of the
center These last were held in little
esteem by the Turkish commanders. by
reason of their want of discipline and
the difficulty of controlling them in gar
rson or among the Christian popua-
ton. They are, besides, much under
the influence of the desire for platchbd,
or loot. and the prevalence OF vendetta
between the members of different fami-
lies and tribes often rendered it diflicut
to preserve peace among the northern
Albanian regiments. For this reason
they have always been among the first
troops disbanded after war.
Coming after these men, but at some
distance, are the Syrian Arabs. The
Syrian troops that formed portion of
Mchemet Ali's army in 1877 showed
very little ardor in fight, and many of
them took advantage of any skirmish
to nnict on themselves slight wounds
to escape n service that was distasteful
to them. Among the most worthless
of the contingents sent from Asia to re-
inforce the army in Europe in 1877
was that composed of Zcbccs, drawn
from the country behind Smyrna.
These picturesque but cowardly and
bloodthrsty warriors were utterly use
less against the enemy in the field; but
VOC to the prisoner who fell into their
hands. Long before the war had ter
minated they were sent out of Bulgaria,
to the great relief of the Turks and the
population generally. But the element
which most completely belied its rcpu-
tation was the Circassian. Va;nglori-
Gus and truculent, the conduct of the
Tcherkess throughout the war was
bitter disappointment to the Turks.
more unfortunate hospitality was never
exercised by the Turkish government
than when they gave refuge to those
mountaineers of the Caucasus after
their subjugation by Russia. Planted
along the banks of the Danube and in
.he Dobrja in the hope that they would
be useful against Russian invasion,
they proved scourge to their neigh
,ors, and were detested alike by Chris
tian, Turk, and Tartar. Cattle-lifting
was common with them, but horse
stealing was preferred. so systematic
were their arrangements for passing
on their booty that they completely
evaded the ordinary authorities, who.
however, were suspected of being in
collision with them. They never could
be got to face the Russians insopen
fight, but occasionally stampeded their
horses and surprised Cossack vedettes,
who invariably paid for their want of
vigilance by the loss of their heads.
Such are the races from which the
Ottoman army is still drawn. They
do not all make good soldiers, but
some of them do supply first-rate men;
and properly commanded, regularly
paid, decently fed and clothed, the
Turkish army is still capable of hold
ing its own against the soldiers OF the