2625.] Thus the general situation in the spring of 1877 scarcely seemed to warrant the hopes with which the Turks entered on the war.

They stood alone confronting a Power which had vastly greater resources in men and treasure.

Seeing that the Sultan had recently repudiated a large part of the State debt, and could borrow only at exorbitant rates of interest, it is even now mysterious how his Ministers managed to equip very considerable forces, and to arm them with quick-firing rifles and excellent cannon.

The Turk is a born soldier, and will fight for nothing and live on next to nothing when his creed is in question; but that does not solve the problem how the Porte could buy huge stores of arms and ammunition.

It had procured 300,000 American rifles, and bought 200,000 more early in the war.