The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-06

uAAS vi VAAD AMS - AA6 VAS o~AsAV 70
which saw the destruction of the Jnnissa-
rieB-that IL, OF the only army Turkey had
to rely upon-saw also the complete de-
struetion Vt her feet. The Bosphorus and
Constantinople itself were TINS placed at
the mercy OF Russia, and the natural result
Turkey and the treaty Of Adrianople Of 1898
and 1929. t
Although he was compelled to acknovl-
edge the independence of Greece by this
treaty, the sultan lost moro in renown than
in aotual territory by its provisions. Tbs
Christians was generally regarded by his
Moslem subjects % . direct admission of
weakness and defeat. Mshemet Ali, the
powerful vail Of Egypt. was the frstto
show this. He declared himself practically
ilndspsnSd nd Of the porte, nd invading u.
defeatod BY his able son. Peace was only
obtained from the rebel pashaa by the ces-
SION of Syria to Egypt. This WAS, indeed,
a grievous humiliation to the proud head
Of Islam.
But Moltke found upon his arrival at
C%onstantinople that not only was Turkey
weak both BY land and sea, but her finances
also were in a most deplorable state.
1t was not long before tho Seraskir, and
then the Sultan. recognized the rare mill
tary genius of this Prussinn captain. His
services were asked for officially and his
leave was extended in consequence, to en-
able him to help the Turkish war office in
the heavy task of reforming the Sultan's
old fashioned army. He was asked to draw
up regulations to establish q new system OF
military administration in accordance with
recent experience and modern ideas. He
very naturally took the Prussian army and
its system as his mode in the work. It was
not long before he was officially consulted
upon all POINTS that bore upon the military
strength Of the widely extending Turkish
enpire. He travelled a great deal, and
wrote largely to his friends at home about
all he saw. His powers of description were
considerable, and his reflections upon the
conditions of things, and especially upon
the crying evils of the Turkish empire,
are we'll worth reading. A collection Of
these most interesting letters was published
in 1Y41. Without doubt they were only
meant for those to whom they were ad-
dressed, and are therefore all the more val
liable as iefecting the writer's thoughts,
unchecked0y any feeling of responsibility,
and uninfluenced by any desire to shine as
an author.
When Moltke had been two years in Tur-
key. the Sultan became %seriously alarmed
by Mshsmet Ali's proceedings in the Per-
sian gulf. The dispatch of q Turkish army
under Hatz Pacha to Asia Minor was ths
result, and Moltke went there to joint at
the snltan's request. - $ 4
II .Ithe Observation-Disclosures worse
trained, and badly found in every respect
was in a wretched condition and suffered
heavily from sickness, death and desertion.
In fact, it could not then bo regarded as a
real fighting body. Theirs were three com
manders of equal rank and authority, a
fnct which alone was sufficient to cripple
It's power and render it nearly useless. The
Egyptian army, commanded by Ibrnhim
Pacha, WAS in very little better condition,
though it was much better found in artil-
lery and had the great advantage of being
under the command of one general.
The campaign ended in thu disastrous de-
feat Of Nisib. Hnfz had hesitated, lis
tened TO the advice OF his mollahs, who
knew as little about war or it's science as
they did of the polarization Of light; he
shilly-shallied, would not take Moltke' ad-
vice, allowed himself to be surrounded,
defeated at that place. How often upon
other occasions in the history of Turkey
might she nave been saved if her generals
in the field had been but honest soldiers,
and had taken the advice Of the able Eng
lish officers serving with them? When tho
Turkish army broke and fed Moltke was
only abba to escape by hard riding. Tn,
victorious Egyptian army was almost in as
great a state of generalization as the army
OF Hafz, SO hat all immediate pursuit was
out Of the question. This was, l think, the
only battle or active service in the field
which Moltke shared in until he had at
tanned the age of sixty-four. Embarking
at Sarusun, IL the Black sea, Moltke
reached Constantinople in August, 1889. The
following month he quilted Turkey, and,
returning homo, resumed his former posi-
ton rs captain Of the army general staff in
Berlin.
His four years. service in Turkey had
given him an insight into public affairs and
q general experience which he could never
have acquired in Berlin. He thus obtained
what the great bulk of the English officers
secure early in life BY service in our colo
MES and in India. The grooves of ordinary
raeimental life, and even our staff work at
home, are apt to stitle individuality and
originality. The life led by our young
officers on foreign stations ia, on the other
hand, calculated to develop self-confdence,
quick. perception and sound judgment.
Many indeed are the positions at our DIS
have to think for themselves and to act
.'off their own bat,'' aa we have lately seen
in M%anipur. This is one of the many cases
which conspire to make our young officers
by far the best in the world.
The experience gained BY Moltke during
his four years service in Turkey was of in
estimable value to him through his subse-
quent career. H
Promoted to the rank of major early in
1924, he resolved to mary. His choice fell
upon an English girl, Mary Burt, the step
daughter Of his sister. Three years later
he went with his wife TO Rome, where he
remained foul years attached to the house,
hold of Prince Henry, the crippled uncle of
King Frederick William Nv.
In 1886 he returned to Germany and
joined the staff of the Eighth army corps at
Coblentz. ~%@rp
In 1866 Moltke WAS promoted major-Qen-
eral. and toward the end Of 1857, when the
late Emperor William l., then Prince Of
Prussia, became regent FOR his invalid
brother, Moltke was made provisional chief
OF the general atatf OF. the army. This was
almost rs important q military position as
that of minister of war in the Prnssinn
military hierarchy. He was directly under
the king as commander-in-ohief and not
under the minister of war.
The war between France and Austria of
1869 was naturally watched with intense III
terest by Moltke. Every phase OF it, every
move made, was closely acrutinized by the
general staff. whom he WAS then training
under his daily superintondenoe. 1t was
made the subject'of q most detailed and
elaborate history brought out by the gem
aral staff under his supervision. That his
tory may be said TO have been tho first Of d
Hsries OF great official records of current
wars which have been so published. They
are, without doubt, tho most accurate,
truthful, and for the military student, tho
most usefully detailed renorts of oam-
palgns hat have ever been published.
In January, 1861, Frederick William Nv.
died and his brother succeeded IN William
i. A soldier of considerable ability md of
much experience, tho now king was deter
mined TO make Prussia a first ratio power.
first requisite was a strong, we'll organ
lied army. He had ut hand tho best men