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    A. VQV&T 4, 1855. J T HE LEADER. 74a - o...

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    Last Year's Asian Campaign. A Oamjpaivn ...

    ^ j sketches country from a strategic point of view , and intermittent essays on the comparative value of particular positions and lines of operation . Now , although there is a fair and indeed somewhat picturesque account of the brief and inglorious campaign of 1854 , yet the greater part of the book is anything but military , and affords page after page of light , entertaining reading rather of a novel kind , such as a description of a ride through the snow from Trebizond to Erzeroum , life in the latter town , and subsequently at Kars ; and the brief and stirring incidents that preceded the unfortunate action at Kurukdere . Very instructive as well as amusing are the accounts of the Turkish pachas , and not less so the accounts of the Turkish peasantry in those elevated regions far removed from the vice and demoralisation of

    Starabottl . So that the general reader who stumbles over the news from Kars or Erzeroum , and who lias confused ideas respecting these places , the surrounding country and its inhabitants , will obtain from these volumes some sound information , which will at once make the l l imes more intelligible , and the time pas * lightly by ; for Mr . Duncan writes a lively , and indeed an elegant styl «* , and conveys to you his impressions with that clearness which results from clear perceptions . A great part of " the contents of these volumes appeared in the Morning Chronicle , and we remember with peculiar pleasure the satisfaction with which we read the letters as they appeared- — decidedly , on the whole , the best-written and most truthful letters of all the correspondents . *

    Before proceeding further with regard to the subject of these volumes , let us present the reader with some specimens picked out here and there , as we ran our eyes over the pages : —

    A TURKISH VILLAGE . On entering a village the news would rapidly spread that a traveller had arrived , ind presently the entire male population appeared , -whilst the females peeped vrith laudable curiosity from behind doors , carts , heaps of 6 re manure , and other romantic situations . The " elder of the village then approached , and we exchanged salutations . A conversation then ensued between the old gentlemen and my dragoman , and directly it was ascertained that I was an Englishman the most hospitable welcome would be offered me . The best house was prepared , a roaring fire lighted , and the wooden banks covered with comfortable bedding . Then dinner would appear , to the preparation of which the united gastronomic talent of the place had contributed . This would probably consist of a soup which had a sour-sweet taste , not at all unpalatable , followed by fried eggs , butter , and honey ; the banquet would be washed down with warm milk . After dinner the host and the whole village entered the room and sat

    themselves down on the ground . I found it impossible to avoid this post-prandial infliction , so in the end I conformed to the habits of the people . Pipes would be produced , and question after question put to the dragoman respecting Stamboul , the Sultan , and other extraordinary topics , to which he replied with more or less adhesion to the strict truth . I then produced coffee and sugar , the sight of which inspired enthusiasm in the assembly . Sugar is a great rarity in the village houses , and much esteemed . The greatest treat of all , however , waa a cup of tea , which was a rarer trtide even than sugar , and of M-hich they were particularly fond . Towards nine o'clock the assembly would drop off one by one , but never -without examining my pistols , Babre , and even my clothes . . . . The host would converse with me until his pipe va-s exhausted , and then , - < vith a dignified salutation , he put on his slippers and departed . Then I commenced my night ' s toilette , which consisted in simply taking

    of his courage , apart from his former splendid antecedents , rendered him the object of universal good-will . In thus accepting the command of the irregulars , General * i . meti performed an act of self-abnegation rarely displayed by military commanders . In preference to drawing the Sultan ' s pay and passing his days in idleness , or , what was still more reprehensible , in intrigue , Kmeti undertook to reduce the bashi-bazooka to utility—with what success shall hereafter witness . Kmeti was indefatigable in the performance of the duties he had solicited . Although an infantry officer , and unaccustomed to hard "ding he now passed his days on horseback , scouring the frontiers at the head of his wild followers , and effectually guarding Kars from a coup-de-main on the part of the enemy . His nights he passed in some ruined village that had fallen victim to the horrors of war , often without a meal , and constantly exposed to capture or death at the hands of the Cossacks . General Kmeti had resided Ions in England , and spoke our language perfectly . His talents as a musician Tvere alonlsurpassed by his qualities as a soldier ; and the only complaint I ever heard him express amidst unusual hardships and disappointment , was the fact that no piano existed in this distant part of the globe .

    OTTOMAN TROOPS . In their present condition they are -worthless , and totally unqualified to engage in the open field . « By the introduction of a strict discipline , by an equitable system of promotion , and under the command of brave and honourable officers , tlie Turkish army could be raised to a point of excellency , second to no European force . The sobriety of the men , their simple wants , unfailing patience , and power of resisting fatigue , offer the most splendid materials for creating an irresistible infantry . The men are both intelligent and courageous . A commander , in whom they possessed confidence , they would follow without hesitation or regret . And this confidence is facile to obtain . A few kind words , a display of interest in his welfare , and honesty of purpose , suffice to gain the poor Turk ' s heart for ever . The Turkish artillery is excellent , even in its present state , but is susceptible of great improvement . In the management of this arm the Turkish soldiers show great aptitude , and the pride of the men in their batteries , and the affection they displav for their respective guns , is

    admirable . At the subsequent battle of Kiirekdere , when infantry and cavalry were in headlong flight , and the Russian dragoons were hewing down the forsaken gunners at their pieces , the latter stood 6 teadily by their cannon , and defended them to the last breath . The Turkish regular cavalry is utterly ridiculous , aDd is not in my conviction susceptible of amelioration . The idea of cavalry drawn up in line , and trained to charge and manoeuvre in a body , can never be realised by the Turk , whose military antecedents condemn that system . . . . Every military man -who has had opportunities of distinguishing both the good and evil qualities of the Ottoman service , will agree with my opinion that , however inefficient the present Ottoman army may be , no finer material for a good : soldier can be offered , than the Turkish private . Alike hardv , frugal , and active , the Turk requires but a good officer and kind treatment to be metamorphosed into a splendid soldier . He supports with admirable patience the greatest hardships and sufferings ; his abstemiousness and contented disposition render his support in the field an easy task ; whilst his sturdy frame defies alike the rigour of climate and the fatigues of a campaign . No soldier can surpass the Turk in that passive obedience to his chief -which is the foundation of true discipline : he will follow -with blind devotion the leader who has conquered his confidence by kind

    treatment or a brilliant example . The causes that have largely contributed to weigh down the existing virtuous elements in the Ottoman army , are the corruption and incapacity that prevail amongst its higher ranks ; and the disgraceful ignorance which distinguishes its subaltern officers . The Turkish pr ivate soldier if well directed , is capable of great deeds ; but the corps of officers and non-commissioned officers , from the corporal to the Muchir , are alike inefficient and unsusceptible of improvement . Promotion by merit alone is unheard of in the Ottoman service . The subaltern ranks are filled by the personal slaves or domestics of the pachas ; and such commissions are often the wages of disgrace . Promotion to the superior ranks is obtainable only by bribery or intrigue i

    off my boots . The fatigue of the day generally procured me pleasant slumbers , the duration of which depended greatly on the inhabitants of the stables and of the matting . At times a revolution -would burst out amongst the horses , and spread over the whole of the assembled quadrupeds . Once I waa awakened by hard breathing on my face , and on looking up beheld a hideous buffalo calmly gazing at me . At other times goats would chose each other about the room , which by no means facilitated hearty sleep . In the morning , at daybreak , I rose , performed my ablutions , and quickly breakfasted . Then a kind farewell to all the village , a distribution of piastres , and to horse . I may observe that never wa * t I subjected to rudene & e in any Turkish village , nor did I ever miss the most trivial article . On the whole , 1 -was greatly struck with the combined simplicity and amiability of the Turkish rural population . Crime is almost unknown there as well as poverty .

    the grade of colonel or pacha is purchased by the highest bidder ; who subsequently recovers the sum he has disbursed by defrauding his regiment , or robbing the Government . The simplest military rules are ignored by the officers , who are often withdrawn from a civil appointment to occupy a high military position . This was the case with the Commander-in-Chief of the army of Anatolia , "Barif Mustafa Pacha ; whose only apparent qualifications for that responsible post existed in the grateful recollections of the Turkish minister of war , in whose service he had passed his tender vears : this commander , to whose discretionary powers were confided the existence of an army and the safety of the Asiatic possessions of the Porte , was a civilian , and totallv ignorant of mano ? uvres , or even of the common rules of war .

    THE Q 1 IEAT EV 1 U I know no country in the world that for fertility of soil and mineral richness can compete with the provinces of which I write , and yet the earth is uncultivated ; and ajcpuntry that could export it * million quarters of wheat , is partly dependent on Banian supplies . Tlie mines of coal , cupper , nud silver which abound , are either nnwoicked , or the produce merely swells the profits of the Greek and foreign bankers , wBoprey upon the government as the Armenian usurers prey upon the I ' achas . I will mention one case which wn-s told me by Haireildin Pacha , who saw with sorrow thW prevailing mismanagement . A silver mine was worked by government near l ^ WtOTid , and the ore was particularly plentiful , ft » d of a superior quality . Besides aftraing work nnd bread to the inhabitants of the country , this mine annually returned a nett profit to government of fifteen times its outlay . By accident ormiamanagement the mint ; overflowed with water , and the works were stopped . For a long period no noticV was taken of the mine , until a company proposed to empty it , and place it in a working condition , for the performance of which the said company Wai to receive a stipulated hum from government . This proposition was declined . The same company then proposed to leiuw the mine from government , and offered to pay a rent equal to the highest profit netted in its inouc prosperous year . This was uprefused , and the mine still remains under water and umvorked . To those who this refusal will

    PLEASANT roiKDICAMENT . There were , unfortunately , no books in the camp ; and no means , beyond a chance game of chess , of improving one's mind . 1 discovered one book , a French -work on " L'Infanterie , " that 1 actually read and reperused until I loathed the very sight of the detestable green-bound volume . If I bear ill-will towards any human being , it certainly is towards the anonvmous author of that work ; and I sincerely trust he has perished by tho bayonets " on which he discoursed so tediously . Talk of the heartrending sufferings of the last man—is not his loneliness surpassed , and are not the horrors of his position exceeded , by those endured by a man limited to one book , and that a work on infantry ? TI 1 K MKltlCAI- 8 TAFF .

    The hekim-bachio , or medical advisers of the army of Anatolia , were not illustrious either for natural abilities or scientific attainments ; neither did they possess theoretical knowledge or practical talents . They had not even the benefit of experience ; for in the Kast a Levantine or European rushes into the medical profession when eventhing else has failed him , nnd with the same pertinacity that unfortunate people in England delight to commit themselves to tho joys and sorrows , the fortune and vicissitudes , of the coal trade . The hekima nt Kars consisted , chiefly of Greeks , Italians and native Turks . There was also a Polish hekim , who was very successful in clearing the hospital that had been entrusted to him ; I will not reveal where hia patients went to . Another wonderful hekim was n stout , jolly Hungarian , who spoke Turkish like a native , possessed two beautiful blood Arabs , and vrns constantly quarrelling with pachas and the muchirs ; yet , in the face of these admirable qualifications , 1 eertainlv should have hesitated in entrusting my cat , had I possessed such a

    • M ignorant of < he venality and cupidity of the higlutst officials , Ppeat inconceivable . Tho enlightened ami aouietiuiea too benevolent measures * topt « dat Constantinople are rarely carried out to their full extent in the provinces , * tar * tho subaltern officials , especially tho . se . of tin ? more remote district * , act with u < Wf » i > of irresponsibility detrimental " to the geiienil interest * . This evil could , how-« NU * easily cheeked by a display of energy on the part of the authorities at Ionstahffii ^ plc . Th « war in which Turkey is at thltt moment engaged will liavo a grand « 4 » e » ce at Its termination on her future condition . Her statesmen hnvo had a good op ^> irtimity of studying her weak as well as her strung point * If Turkey lias proved heWelfto be anything but the mnnlmnto corpse she wn » « i ] . | m >« m 1 , and lu .-s displayed «* fooiir and an energy us admirable as it was unexpected , at tho same time « ho ha « «* JH * Hric « d many Buvcrc lesson * . Her men in power , aghast at tkc empty treasury , W % have derived a little wholeuonie , cxpe . rienco which may prevent tliain in future from ruining tho country bv inline expenditure , mid nmy hi « . pir « them witU tho idea Of profiting by the vast resources of the empire . Hut a tfroat blow will have been Struck ? t tho r < , ot of tho evil which throttle * Turkey—namely , her system of > V » OKNICItAI . KMI'Vl'I . 1 1 J ~»« W Waa tho most popular man in the army . Turks and European * nlike « JJ »«» rod »» fo !<)*& lilra . His handaome soKlier-liko face commanded respect , and the brilliancy A' V ^ i . j ¦ t OU :. . ; -.

    quadruped * , to tho medical oaro of tho abovo good-natured and admirable compaiuon-Then there were some Italian surgeons , who woru tho dread of the poor invalids ; ami Turkish practitioners who sustained the resignation of tho dying soldiers with roiu eymputhy , and with nn Alia Korim !—God is merciful—closed the eyes or tneir departed patients . . At tliis moment there is no doubt that the best , nay , we believe Uieomy ¦ history of the Armenian campaign of IBS * is to bo found in these ¦ voli meg and a * most interesting story it is . The fact is beyond « ' ^ l '"? ' ^ Turkish army entered the Held better Appointed and m 6 < eatci « mnoers than the Turkish army acting in that region ^ ' "' y- ^ Z / Ze tho ' fovcos , 1828 the Turks were surprised , and could not muster any thing _ likc . theforces which assembled at Kars and Ardabun last year . It scorn , but too probable 1 f

    A. Vqv&T 4, 1855. J T He Leader. 74a - O...

    A . VQV & T 4 , 1855 . J T HE LEADER . 74 a - of

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 4, 1855, page 17, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_04081855/page/17/