TELEGRAPHIC

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 28 October 1912, Page 5

TELEGRAPHIC

tcr the beginning or formation of tho principality in 1878, Russian officers held tho best posts in the Bulgarian army, until suddenly recalled by the Czar on lho eve of tho war between Bulgaria and Servia. After such a serious drawback and under most difficult circumstances, tho Bulgarian Army came out of the ordeal splendidly, and proved its metal h^ utterly routing tho Servians. Since tho of Czar Ferdinand J. (1887) the military progress has boon wonderful.

Tho peace strength is, roughly speaking, estimated at 60,000 men; on a.war footing, the enormous force of between 370,000 and 400,000 can be put in the field, which affords a sound reason for ™° Porto taking the situation seriously, lho army is proud of a rapacity to mobilise for tho war in the space' of from a. fortnight to threo weeks. In matters of mobilisation in Bulgaria, it is certain that shp will take Jess time than any of the neighbouring kingdoms.' Every Bulgarian, whatever his religion or faith, is liable to join the colours lho country is divided into nine divisional districts, with headquarters at certain strategical centres. Each district supplies a division in times of peace; this expands, in case of war tn an Army Corps of two divisions Each division is made up of eight battalions or infantry, one regiment of artillery and six of the divisions have- each 'a regmient of divisional cavalry. In peace time every battalion lias four companies In war each company becomes a battalion, so that every battalion in peace time becomes four battalions in war lho expansions duo to the lond period which the Bulgarian spends in the seiV 1 ua7 A ery large > and tho g°o<l re^sults of the system must depend very largely upon the manner and quickness of mobilisation, and on the quality of tho reserve of officers, on whom so lar^e a snare of tho command must devolve •Jho infantry is well armed. The .315 Manulicher magazine rifle and short bavoiiet are supplied. Tho artillery is a strong arm of tho service, consisting of something like 55 batteries of field artillery, 9 batteries of mountain guns, 6 batteries of howitzer ffuns, 3 battalions of fortress artillery lho artillery have been recently re-armed with new French Creuzot guns.

The Bulgarian cavalry consists of three squadrons of Household troops, besides which thero is a cavalry divion 0" of something between 2000 and .-JOO men. Each divisional district has of recent date, formed an additional regiment of cavalry. This branch of the Kervicfe is served with Manulicher carbmo and sabre.

On paper, at ai!y rate, Turkey has, it is estimated, upwards of a million troops to oppose the forces arrayed against her, but of this huge total it is doubtful whether at least half will be of any real fighting value in the field despit-o the recent reorganisation. Much money has been spent in armaments during .tho two years in which the re-' organisation has been in progress. The Empiro is divided into seven military districts, and last year the reorganisation of tho forces into fourteen army corps began. In all there are forty-two divisions, some of them with ten battalions m peace and thirteen in war, find others with seven in peace and ten in war. In times of supreme necessity all males up to the age of 70 years can fio called on to join the colours. The troops are armed with Mauser repeating nnd Martini-Henry rifles; while the artillery. composed entirely of the Nizam ' or regular army, has guns of various Krupp types.