Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/499

 AH MY AND NAVY.

463

The irregular troops are calculated to consist of —

1. Kavas or gendarmes on foot, Seymens or mounted gendarme

county militia or Soubechis .....

2. Tartars of Dobrodja and Asia Alinor .... o. Hungarian and Polish volunteers .... 4. Moslem volunteers ....

Total of irregulars

and Men

30,000 5,000 2,000

50,000

87.<

During the late war with Russia, the actual number of troops in the field was as follows, according to an official statement of the Grand Vizier : — ■

Men Infantry of the Nizam .... 72,180 Cavalry and field artillery. . . 22.737 Artillery in fortresses .... 10,408

Total troops of the Nizam. . 105,325

Of the above number 2,259 were in the pay of the British Go- vernment. The Turkish army comprised besides : —

Men Infantry of the Redif .... 92,650

Cavalry 11,177

Auxiliary troops in the pay of the British

Government ..... 7.741

Total troops of the Eedif. . 111,568

It will be seen that the total strength of the army in the field was 216,893 men. The annual cost of these troops, according to the same official statement, amounted to 0,055,000/., namely, 2,320,000/. for the troops of the Nizam ; 2,610,000/. for the Eedif:' and 1,125,000/. for the artillery in fortresses.

Formerly a considerable portion of the troops were furnished by the spahis and other holders of estates on condition of military service. But that system was changed in 1843, since which time the army is recruited by conscription. The conscripts are drawn at the age of twenty years; the period of service is limited to five years ; and the annual contingent is about 25,000 men. Only one son in a family can be taken as a conscript ; and when there is but one son in a family, he is exempted. After five years' service in the Nizam, the soldier is liable to duty for seven years longer in the Redif.

Only a portion of the troops is raised by conscription, and the rest is procured by enlistment, which is productive of many recruits, as the pay in the Turkish army is comparatively high, amounting to 20 piastres, or 3s. Gd. per month, besides clothing, board, and full rations. The Government undertakes the task "of procuring sub- stitutes, at a fixed price, for all who wish to avoid the conscription.