BULGARIA'S ARMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13875, 8 October 1908, Page 7

BULGARIA'S ARMY.

WELL-ORGANISED force. - HOW IT IS CONSTITUTED. fa» position of affairs in the Balkan Peninsula makes it, important to consider ed character and strength of the forces irfiich, if war ■were unhappily to break out, , J nl sghb ho called into the field. . ■! The Bulgarian army may bo regarded as : 'one of the best organised and most effluent amongst those of the second-rate poff«rs, arid its rank and file, at least, Is - considered by exports to bo superior lo that of any other Balkan State. The Bulgarian army is, however, of comparatively recent origin, in that it sprang from the battalions of Bulgarian volunteers which were organised in 1877 by the Russian staff, and co-operated with the Russian army during the campaign of 1877-78. .Military service ia obligatory 'in Bulgaria, W id even extends to all foreigners who Jiavo been resident in the country for a period of three years. In time of peace, tho Bulgarian youth is called up to the colours when in his twentieth year, but in time of war, tho age limit is put back two years, unci though he serves only 21 months with the> colours', tho duration of military obligation extends for 25 years, through tho reserves and militia bans. Tho Bulgarian forces consist of the active, or field army, divided into the active army and tho activo army reserve, the reserve army, and the militia, comprising two bans. In time of peace the active army, hut not its reserve, is on a per'oxmeufc footing, and the reserve army has permanent cadre.*, while the two bans of tte militia have neither a permanent footin,? nor cadres; lor no actual service or {raining of men of the two Kins takes place except in time of war. The first ban pf the militia may bo used exceptionally to strengthen the field and reserve armies, but tho second ban can only bo employed for home defence.

THE INFANTRY. The infantry, "pekheia," number 24 regiments, each of which has a peace establishment of two battalions and a f.ma'l transport squad. and a war establishment of four battalions and one transport company. Each battalion consists of four companies, whoso war strength is three ■teßcers and 263 non-commissioned officers sad men. Tho first nine regiments are click corps, and bear titles after their honorary colonels, such as "Prince Alexander's," "Prince Boris'," *' Prince Ferdi- ; nand's,'etc The infantry are grouped ' . ml2 brigades and six .territorial' divisions. They are armed with the ,315 in Mannlicher magazine ritie, and short bayonet, of the 1895 pattern. This ritle gives an initial velocity of 2053 foot-seconds, and is - sighted up to 2153 yds, while the magazine holds live cartridges, which a.re charged by means of a clip. <'•. '■ THE CAVALRY. The cavalry, which was reorganised in 1901, now comprises the Prince's bodyguard, of one squadron; four regiments, each of four squadrons ; and six regiments, iafih of two squadrons. The Lifeguard squadron is always kept at war strength, even' with regard to horses, and numbers 14 officers and 309 non-commissioned officers and men. The peace footing of tho remaining squadrons consists of five offi- • cers, 137 non-commissioned officers and ®en, and 100 horses, which in time of war fc increased to 163 non-commissioned officers and men, end 164 ' horses. The javaliy' is armed with Mannlicher carbine }i the 1895 pattern, and sword. The uniform of tho bodyguard is a Ted hussar , toic, with white braid, and dark bine pantaloons with white stripes; but that of lie line squadrons is practically identical ■ with the infantry, except that the kalap

' has a white plume. The horses are "nearly - . all Hungarian animals, for those bred in | ;■;>: Bulgaria, are too small and -weedy for mili- ; v tary use. The Bulgarians themselves are ;•, but indifferent horsemen!, hence this arm 'of the service is the least successful.

' THE ARTILLERY. The artillery consists of six regiments of nine batteries each, giving a total of 524 field guns, nine six-gun mountain batteries,. three battalions of garrison artillery : "of five companies each, and five howitzer . batteries. The war strength of a field battery is given as five officers, 182 non-com- . missioned officers and men, and 159 horses but details are lacking with regard to the war strength of the mountain and howitzer • batteries and garrison artillery companies. ; The field gun is\a 15-pounder B.L. Krupp gun of 3.42 in calibre, dating from 1875, Kith, a muzzle velocity of 1562 feet-seconds, ; md a. maximum range of 7600yd8. Within the last two years, however, the Government have placed orders abroad for up-to-date equipment, their intention being to rearm the field and mountain batteries with -2.95 Q.F. Creusot-G'aneb guns. • throwing respectively a 141b and a ?lb , projectile and to give the new howitzer batteries 4.7 in B.L. Krupp ordnance of the 1894 pattern. At present the mountain batteries have a 7-pounder B.L. | Krupp gun. The recent orders also indude 24 4.7 in Q.F. Canefc guns, mounted mobile travelling carriages, and 24 5.9 m : &net field mortars. It is understood that • ■several batteries of the new Q.F. field and mountain equipment have already been delivered. Owing to the shortage of suitable horses,' the mountain artillery is "horsed" by Bulgarian ponies, while in &Q0 of war oxen would have to be utilised for the draught of the howitzer batteries Mid ammunition train. The artillery Gniform oonsiets of a dark green tunic, with black collars and cuffs, and dark bine pantatooos. The engineers comprise three batteries of four, field companies each, the feW telegraph company, the railway comply. and t?ie> pontoon company. On, a ar footing the field and pontoon complies number 200 men, and the railway . ac d telegraph companies double that lium- • ' )er -! ; The establishment of auxiliary ■ troops is complete, and consists of fix mili- % train companies, attached to the six field artillery regiments, six divisional hospitals, two artillery depot workshops, and too remount depots.

THE RESERVES. -Mi.® reserve army comprises 12 reserve . lo yimentrj •of infantry of five companies ®® c h< the fifth company being for frontier ~ *%» and four companies which are mere c , ree i and 8x reserve divisions of field &rt^ ei providing 18 batteries. In time PWco the cadres for the reserve army duster only 6000 men, who are officered by ex-non-commissioned officers of ; the field army. The militia bans, which have no cadres in peace time, mobilise only . "i infantry battalions. . ... .^ n mobilisation the field army will cons|fit of si x infantry and one cavalry divi- ,, Each infantry division will comprise two brigades, each of 12 battalions — that is, eight of the active, a'id four of reserve army. The'.mobilisation of f* fir st lino will lx> able -I\> be completed 1,1 10 days, and will place 144 •, battalions, •: ' ' 1000 strong, in the field; Then, also, W«tt«tcd gendarmerie, (v forcing .12 k ?uadronji of 80 men each, \*>U utilised w divisional cavalry, and the permanent : , e«rna>B of:>BUi«ttia, comprisiflg Tenc comS*fcea of foctrcea infantry and the Tioncer ; :v - : . ■ ■ . i ■ fm '.Xd&'C . • J

company, which in time of peace is kept distinct from the field army, will be incorporated in the first line. Finally, should Bulgaria be threatened ■ with invasion, it is estimated that the mobilisation of tile reserve army and the two militia bans would give the principality a grand armed strength of 5431 officers, 290,677 non-commissioned officers and men, 41,776 horses, and 486 guns. • Military service is popular in Bulgaria, and the Bulgarians themselves have all the qualities of good soldiers ;• provided their chiefs aro kind and just, they yield readily to discipline, and cheerfully endure fatigue. TURKISH TROOPS. j THE v GERMAN MODEL. TOTAL STRENGTH OF 400,000. > Turkey, although essentially an Oriental State, has Europeanised her army. The first reorganisation was in 1843. Further reorganisations took place after the wars of 1854 and 1878: and a greater reform was effected in 1886, when the army was reconstructed on the German model by Colonel Yon der Goltz. Nevertheless, the influence of Oriental methods, and habits of is everywhere apparent. . Military service is theoretically compulsory on all Moslems, but Christians are not allowed to serve. They pay instead a tax of about 6s 8d per annum. As tho Christians in European Turkey exceed in number the Mohnmmedars (by 3,500,000 to 2,500,000), and there are als > nearly three and a-quarter millions of Christians in Turkey in Asia, this religious distinction cramps tho Ottoman Empire in the development of its military strength. THE THREE LINES. Liability commences at tho age of 20, and lasts for 20 years. Service in tho first lino, or active army, called the Nizam, is for nine years, viz. ;—Three in the ranks and six in the reserve (for cavalry and artillery four years in the ranks and five in the reserve), but in practice the men aro often kept for longer periods with the colours. Tho soldier next passes to the Redif, or second line, answering to the German Landwehr,' and remains in it for another nine years. Finally he completes his service with two years in the Mustafiz.

The recruits of the annual contingent-, surplus to the requirement l ' of the first line {the Tertib-i-Sani), are passed into a separate reserve. They undergo from six to nine months' training in the. first year of their service, and are afterwards supposed to receive an annual training of 30 days. This reserve answers to 4 the Ersatz" reserve in Germany and elsewhere; that is to say, it was formed for the purpose of supplying losses in time of war. But of late years it has been incorporated, together with those excused from army service as the sole support of their families, or for other personal reasons, in what was formerly called the Ilaveh, now known as the second-cJ ass Redif. This force was intended for local garrison work, but it is becoming the practice to move the units about when embodied, and to use them for general service.

The Nizam infantry consists of two Guard Zouave regiments, each of two battalions ; 79 regiments of the line, each (with a few exceptions) of four battalions; 20 rifle battalions (Nishanji), and four battalions of sharpshooters (Avji), raised in 1904 for dealing with the Macedonian insurgents. The Nizam cavalry Consists of one guard squadron, 38 line regiments (one of lancers), two ,"hussar" regiments, the Erthogrul lancer regiment, arid two independent squadrons in Yemen. ' The engineers consist of four field battalions of four, companies, and three independent field companies; also sev<»n telegraph companies, and two half companies; two railway battalions, each of four companies; arid a fortress regiment of four battalions of four companies. RESERVE FORCES. The second-class Redif exists in the form of infantry battalions only. In European Turkey these have been formed into brigades and divisions, but this organisation appears to be on paper only. There are no less than 671 battalions altogether, arid these have small permanent cadres. The full strength of the battalions would not be more than 500 to 700, and might be much less. These troops have had very little instruction, and are very inadequately officered. They are only suited for police work, and as a reservoir from which the losses of the army on field service could :be supplied. The Mustafiz, besides containing the men who have passed through the. Nizam and Redif, is the levy en masse of all Mohammedans of military age. It has no organisation, and is practically regarded as a reserve for the Redif. Putting aside the troops i i occupation of Arabia and Tunis, the Ottoman Empire can mobilise 16 divisions of Nizam and-24 of Redif. Twelve army corps of two-divi-sions, or eight of three divisions, could be formed, leaving 16 divisions of Redif for the communications, etc., but the latter would he very short of artillery. This total strength might amount to 350,000 or 355,000 combatants. There would also be six Nizam cavalry divisions (27,000), the Hamidieh irregular cavalry not attached to infantry divisions (16,000 to 18,000), and the two howitzer regiments (say 1500). The grand total may be reckoned at 400,000 combatants. Probably some divisions would be retained for the defence of Constantinople and other places, and the total number of men put into the field would not, perhaps, exceed 350,000. ARMS OF THE TROOPS. The Turkish infantry are still variously armed. The troops in European Turkey, both Nizam and Redif, have the 7.65 mm. Mauser magazine rifle, model 1890. The remainder of the troops have the MartiniHenry, or Peabody-Martini, now quite obsolete. The armament of the cavalry is even less uniform. Some carry Mauser or Martini rifles, others M.H. or Mauser carbines. The Turkish field artillery has lately been rearmed with Q.F. Krupp guns of the latest patterns.