THE RUSHAN ARMY.

Dunstan Times, Issue 785, 4 May 1877, Page 4

THE RUSHAN ARMY.

(Melbourne Argus.) Hie question now occupies nil Europe—The next step, what would it be? Statesmen and diplomatists were silent. The winds of rumor found not an atom of news, and the general mind, after the extreme tension of the previous few weeks, seemed to collapse into a state almost of indiffer. ence. But Russia was already committed to action. What would she do ? It devolved upon her to speak the next word. At last it came in the form of a circular from Prince Gortchakoff. This dispatch was a concise recapitulation of the events and negotiations of the last year. It described the present state of things as an aggravation of former evils, and concluded by asking what further steps the guaranteeing powers were prepared to take. Beyond this point we have not advanced Whether as regards Turkey or as regard Russia, whether in the interests of the oppressed races, or for the sake of checking the supposed ambitions which the most pacific of Czars cannot •control, the wisest statesmanship must bn now directed towards preserving the European concert already established. But how far this can be carried, and in what practical measures it may result, are probably questions in the solution of which the proverbial unforeseen ” will have a large part. Among the curious falsifications of recent history must ho numbered the reports assiduously circulated as to the condition of the Russian army. We have heard much as to the defects of its mobilisation, as to mutiny and •discontent in its ranks, and as to the

ravages of disease Tho conciliatory attitude of General Iguatief, at Constantinople, was ascribed to his know ledge of these facts. Wo have now, however, authentic information. The Russian army is ready. Even the correspondent ot the Standard speaks of it as in splendid condition. The Daily News lias despatched a special correspondent to the o' the troops at Kischonk lie writes that “ all the reports about officers and men discontented are tho purest nonsence. The soldiers have good quarters, often among friends and relations, with plenty to eat, and Generally too much to drink The roads have been frozen hard, enabling the whole army—infantry, artillery, and cavalry—to exercise for health regularly.” He does not see how tho army can reach the Danube under a month from declaration of war. But in another letter he states that everything is ready for the army to take the field at a moment’s notice. “ A thousand horses have be p n bought for the train, a bridge for crossing the Danube, boats, barges, steam launches, and torpedo boats to operate against the Turkish gunboats have been provided. Masses of ammunition of all kinds are heaped up. Long trains of railway waggons are standing in sid ings at every station as well as here, awaiting the word which shall set them all moving. Nothing, in short, seems wanting. The bridge lying here is capable of passing the whole army over the Danube in one day. There are enough boats to put a small army over the Danube. There are 13 enormous steam launches large enough to cross the Atlantic, two large barges, seven smaller boats, five torpedo boats, and masses of other things, showing that everything is looked after to the smallest detail.” As regards the numbers of the army, the same authority gives the following particulars : —“ Six corps have been mobilised, besides the armv of the Caucasus, numbering 65.000 men. r i his makes altogether 275.000 men, with 900 guns. Of this force, two corps, the 7th and 12th are at Odessa and Sebastopol, four viz, the Bth, 9th, 10th, and lltb, are in Bessarabia. The army, therefore, which would be the first to move against the lurks, numbers 120,000 men, with 8000 cavalry, 72 batteries of artillery, and 720 guns ready for action in European Turkey, without counting the army of I'the Caucasus, which would probably operate against Asiatic Turkey. The Grand Duke Nicholas is still unable to return to his duties as commander-in-chief.