'The development of the military strength of Turkey. [Translated from the "International Revue" for November 1893 and "Die Reichswehr" for February 1894.]' [‎6v] (12/16)

6
Extract from “Die Reichswehr,” dated 11th February 1894.
From an article on Captain A. Liposcak’s lecture at Vienna the other day-
dealing with the armed strengths of the Balkan States, we take the following
extract relating to Turkey :—
Exclusive of the Asiatic Provinces, Turkey has five corps of the 1st line
always at disposal, viz., those at Constantinople, Adrianople, Monastir, Erzin-
ghian, and Damascus,—
representing a strength of—
170 Battalions ^ 220,000 men.
150 Squadrons 20,000 horsemen.
130 Batteries J 600 guns.
Of these, 125 battalions, 98 squadrons, and 118 batteries are already distributed
(dislocated) in European territories, and in a comparatively short time could
be reinforced by 56 supplementary lledif Battalions of the 2nd line.
The armament is at present very unsatisfactory owing to vacillation and
indecision in choosing a rifle of the repeating class
The regulars are still armed with the Henry-Martini, whilst the whole of
the repeating rifles (new small bore) lie uselessly in the depots at Constantinople.
The lecturer says that no real theoretical and practical training for
officers exists, and that the question of the leading of the army is a serious one.
He also deals with the system of fortification and defences of the Empire,
particularly with reference to the recently suggested possibility of a direct
Russian attack on Constantinople.
Die Reichswehr, dated 21st March 1894.
This paper’s regular Turkish correspondent, “ Hassan Ahmad,’* writes as
follows from Constantinople on the 11th February 1894:—
Although exact and reliable details of the “dislocation” of the Turkish
army are next to impossible to procure, still we are now able to give a revised
table of the distribution of the troops, showing some slight changes to that
published in our number dated the 10th April 1893 :—•
In the Ordu (Corps, Division)
departments of—
Lino Infantry Battalions.
Lino Cavalry Squadrons.
Horse Batteries.
Mountain Batteries.
Field Batteries.
Constantinople (I) ...
28
28
3
6
20
Adrianople (II) ... ...
34
30
3
6
30
fill Ordn
39
30
3
9
30
In the Western Section
of the Balkan Penin--( I ,,
10
5
sular.
tv „
11
...
...
12
Erzornm (IV)
34
30
3
6
30
Damascus (V) ' ...
18
30
3
2
15
Bagdad (VI)
34
30
3
6
12
Yemen (VII)
30
1
8
1
Tripoli and Benghazi
17
10
•••
2
4
Hejaz
12
1
•••
2
Crete
13
2
...
3
3
Belonging to the I Ordn, 1 battalion in
2
Smyrna, and 1 battalion Island of
Chios (£hios).
Total
282
197
18
48
159