We distrust exceedingly all the accounts of the strength of
the armies on either side of the Danube. The Russians try hard to maintain a strict secrecy, and Turkish accounts of numbers are always vagud, it being an object to conceal the number of paper men and the ravages of sickness. The lnvalidfi Russe, however, estimates the Turkish Army in Europe at 250,000 men, scattered through all the provinces, till only 102,000 are ready for the defence of the Danube, with 400 guns. This is probably near the truth, though this force is supplemental by large bodies of Irregulars of uncertain value, and is supported by reserves, scattered, but avail- able, of 70,000 more. The Russians, on the other hand, are be- lieved by German observers to have 180,000 men on the Pruth, supported by an equal number who can be ordered forward to fill up losses, and upwards of 600 guns ; but this estimate, though careful, is partly conjectural. The difficulty of Russia will be to keep together a sufficiently large army when her Generals reach Sofia, and have left behind forces sufficient to mask the fortresses and protect all communications. It is known that the Russians rely greatly on their superiority in cavalry, which is very great, and will enable them to clear the country of all but regulars. The main question, of course, is not the comparative number of men, there being enough on either side fOr anything, but their com- parative value. Are the Turks European troops, or only Sikhs ?
