TURKISH TACTICS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 584, 16 March 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)

TURKISH TACTICS.

The Russian Invalido, discussing the Turkish tactics, remarks that the successful local defence of positions which the Turks have been able to carry out during the present campaign is to bo mainly attributed to the use of their rapid-firing rifles, and to tho manner in which thoy artifically strengthened the ground thoy held. As a rule, tho Turks opened a heavy and sustained tiro upon an assaulting column at a distance of 2000 yards, and thus inflicted groat loss upon the men advancing to the attack, until theso latter arrived within about 600 yards of the position, after which time tho greater number of projectiles passed over tho heads of the assailants. To provide fo» the maintenance of this fire large boxe» of cartridges wore kept in convenient places in all the Turkish entrenchments, in addition to a largosupply of ammunition issued to tho mon ; and, similarly, when the Turks issued from their trenches to a counter-attack, thoy wora followed by men carrying boxes of cartridges. During the last attack on Plevna it is estimated that tho men who opposed General ScobelofF's onslaught must have fired between 400 and 500 rounds each, and in the immediate neighbourhood of some of the isolated killed remaining on tho battle-field of the 2Cth August more than 120 empty cartridge-cases woro found. Tho works constructed by tho Turks for the defence of their positions usially consist,'in the first place, of strips of simple shelter trench to cover their skirmishers. These are gradually deepened and enlarged until they coino to assume a formidable profile. Traverses, generally hollow, are next thrown up, to protect the defenders against enfilade or reverse fire ; and finally bomb-proof accommodation for the men,. as*ire magazines for the ammunition, stowage for food and water provided.