"الحرب الروسية-التركية، ١٨٧٧. العمليات في أوروبا." [ظ‎‎١‎٠] (٦٦/٢٠)

20
Jan. 1877. at Kipintna; 11th, at Mejibuje ; 13th, at Pestchanka ; 16th, at Roono ; and
17th, at Mejibuje.
Gendarmes. —Third squadron, at Kischinev.
Transport of Mobile Commissariat. —Divided into 14 sections, of 350
country carts each, in course of formation at Kischinev, Pender, and Akerman.
Artillery Reserve. —For the first line, destined for repairs only, at
Kischinev.
Artillery Depot. —For projectiles and powder, at Kischinev.
Mobile Workshops.—At Kinchinev.
Mobile Laboratory. —At Kischinev.
Hospitals. —Within the districts of the armies of operation and obser
vation are 30 Field Hospitals; 22 with horses, 8 without. The first 22 are
as follows:—
48th Hospital, at Bieltsy.
49th Hospital, at Tiraspol
50th to 57th Hospitals (8), at Kiev (provisionally).
61st to 72nd Hospitals (12), at Krementchuk (provisionally).
The last 8 are thus distributed:—
43rd Hospital, at Vinitza.
44th Hospital, at Balta.
45th to 47th Hospitals (3), at Kiev (provisionally).
58th to 60th Hospitals (3), at Kischinev.
The official statement from which the above is taken does not give the
numerical strength of the force described. For information under this head
we have to depend on various and conflicting estimates. Probably more
reliable data may reach this country by degrees.
It is estimated that the six Army-Corps just mentioned number 216,000
men, with 49,200 horses, and 648 guns ; and that if four Army-Corps move
forward in offensive operations, this active force will number 144,000 men, with
32,800 horses, and 432 guns.
Reinforcements said in January to be in process of organization for the
army of the south w r ere estimated at 110,000 men, the intention being to raise
the entire strength to upwards of 300,000 men.
About the middle of January news came of the reinforcement of the
Regular Cavalry of the Southern Army by seven regiments.
Towards the close of the month, the Grand Duke Nicolas was said to have
at his disposal a force of 200,000 men with which to commence hostilities, and
measures were being taken for organising a strong reserve; this reserve, it
was stated, w r ould consist of five Infantry Divisions, 8,000 Cavalry, and 150
guns, and be provisionally stationed in Podolia and the Ulkraine.
Among the reinforcements reported to have reached Kischinev, and
to have been sent forward towards the Pruth, were 16 Companies of Marines
from Kronstadt and four of seamen.
The anticipated movement of the head-quarters of the Southern Army
from Kischinev to Chotin was reported as having taken place, but the report
was not confirmed. Its outposts were stationed on the Pruth, the line of which
appears to have been occupied from a point south of Chotin down to Leovo.
The line of the river from the latter place up to Ungheni, near Sculiani,
was held by troops thrown forward from Bender.
In January, orders were issued for the formation of the depot battalions
of the following Infantry regiments : 51st, 52nd, 69th, 70th, 7lst, 72nd, 141st,
and 144th ; of these the 69th, 70th, 7lst, and 72nd Regiments belong to the
Infantry Division, ordinarily stationed at Riazan and Tambov, in the Moscow
circle, and not forming part of the six Corps first mobilized. The depdt
battalions of the following Infantry regiments were described as complete
in their formation: the 53rd, 54th, 121st, 122nd, 129th, 130th, 131st, 132nd
and 164th. '
Intelligence from Bessaiabia in lebruary announced little change from the
state of things in January. Eye-witnesses reported favourably of the physique