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Timaru Herald, Volume LII, Issue 5163, 9 June 1891, Page 4

The forma! ion of tho Kurdish tribe into regiments continues to. arouse great interest. The idea was suggested to the Potte three years ago by Von der Oollz Pacha, the able German who has been allowed by the btmperur Willism to give his services m the reorganisation of the Turkish army. His advice, however, appears to have been'o utilise iho Kurrfs much as the Don Coseaoks have been utilised by Rua.ia, but this advice has not been followed. According to present intentions, the Kurds will be f ■•• iv. -1 into a kind of inounbd militia, wbo will rno. ain m Armenia, and will bo provided with a horse und accoutrements at tho expense of the Ooverumont. In fact they will be mounted Bashi Bazouks, and unle.s great core be taken tbey will be a source of greater trouble than tbey are now to their Armonian neighbours and of constant anxiety to lhe Turkish Government. It is proposed to raise altogether about 100,000 men, but out of this number a considerable body are to he taken from the Arabs of Mesopotamia. Military men who bavo local knowledgo appear to agree that excellent coldiera might be ob tamed both from these Arab tribes and from the Kurds, but they all regard the formation of armed and half disciplined bodies of troops who are to remain at home with serious apprehension.