On this topic we must take refuge in the domain of legend, and say that the life of Turkey is the life of a phoenix: it now and again rises up fresh and defiant among the flames.
As regards the Ottoman army, an English officer in its service, Lieutenant W.V.Herbert, states that the artillery was very good, despite the poor supply of horses; that the infantry was very good; the regular cavalry mediocre, the irregular cavalry useless.

He estimates the total forces in Europe and Asia at 700,000; but, as he admits that the battalions of 800 men rarely averaged more than 600, that total is clearly fallacious.

An American authority believes that Turkey had not more than 250,000 men ready in Europe and that of these not more than 165,000 were north of the Balkans when the Russians advanced towards the Danube[130].

Von Lignitz credits the Turks with only 215,000 regular troops and 100,000 irregulars (Bashi Bazouks and Circassians) in the whole Empire; of these he assigns two-thirds to European Turkey[131].
[Footnote 130: _The Campaign in Bulgaria_, by F.V.Greene, pt.ii.

ch.
i.; W.V.Herbert, _The Defence of Plevna_, chaps, i.-ii.] [Footnote 131: _Aus drei Kriegen_, by Gen.