The Press. — London, England, 1856-02-09 00:00:00

136 ritcraturt. A Narrative of the Siege of Kars. By Huniphry Sandwith, M.D., Chief of the Medical Staff. London : Murray. IN the last chapter of his narrative Dr. Sand with has a few sentences on the moral effect which must be produced in the East by the loss of Kars : That the loss of Kars is a blot on a year otherwise suc cessful for the arms of the Allies cannot be denied: an injury has been thereby inflicted on the prestige of England which we must all regret. Sebastopol was doubtless a grand triumph, calculated to produce a vast political effect throughout Europe and the West; but Asiatics scarce knew of its existence, whereas scores of wandering der vishes and fakirs from the regions of Central Asia, Persia, and Northern India have visited liars, and are thoroughly aware of its importance. These men take the place of newspapers in the East, and their reports must exercise a damaging influence on the reputation of England. This paragraph is the more weighty, as Dr. Sandwith carefully, perhaps prudently, avoids all allusion which could in any way compro mise our authorities either in the East or at home. He throws all the odium of the dis grace attending the neglect of Kars on the Turkish officials. Ho makes no mention what ever of the urgent entreaties for aid addressed by General Williams to his Government, and leaves it to be inferred that succour was expected only from the efforts of the Divan. This is the general impression sought to be conveyed ; but the facts of the book lead us to another conclusion, and show " the reason why " the fall of Kars " must exercise a " damaging influence on the reputation of " England." We did too much or too little. We should have left Kars to its Turkish de fenders, or we should have afforded it efficient support. By sending General Williams as British Commissioner, and by encouraging him to take the defence of the place upon him self, we made the struggle our own ; and when Kars fell, the influence of England in that quarter of the world paled before the star of Russia. With ample notice of the inten tion of Russia to reduce Kars, with sufficient time to have afforded it relief, we yet took no step to save it. Of the indifference of our Government no explanation has yet been given, nor can we in this " Narrative " find any kind of hint to explain the mystery. The presence of General Williams and his staff pro tracted the defence—it attracted the eyes of the East to the siege , but it did nothing— which is the vital point—to insure the arrival of the succour without which it was notorious that the town must fall. The apathy of our authorities is the more remarkable, as com munication of Kars with Erzeroum and other places was never completely interrupted. Our Government must have been kept fully in formed of the exact state of things in the town —of the amount of provisions on hand—of the extreme date to which resistance could be protracted. They must have known with absolute certainty that unless the garrison was succoured towards the close of November, it had no resource but to surrender to Moura vieff ; and, knowing this, they took no direct measures for its relief, but were content to devolve this urgent and most momentous duty on Turkish officials, whom past experience had shown it was impossible to rely on. So far back as the summer of 1854, intelli gent minds perceived the importance of the war in Anatolia, and the necessity of affording aid to the Turkish arms. Had measures for that purpose been early adopted, the war might by this time have borne much greater fruits than we can now hope to reap from it. No one can glance at the map south of the Caucasus, without perceiving that the progress of Russia is most to be apprehended in countries stretch ing south and east of that region. It is hence that she is enabled to bring Persia under her influence, to threaten the Asian empire of Turkey, and to disquiet the minds of our sensitive Indian politicians. The danger in the latter ease may be remote ; but this much is clear, that just in proportion as Russia is enabled to push forward in a direc tion south and east of Georgia is she enabled to narrow and weaken that barrier which sepa rates her from British India, and to Russianise the independe4 §Atte§ of Tilrtary, THE PRESS. The Russian army in Anatolia was never large, and from its remote position could have been reinforced only to a moderate extent and with great exertion ; while our command of the sea gave us the power of throwing what ever men and supplies we pleased upon the coast. With ordinary foresight, a force might have been organised in Anatolia far superior to any which Russia could bring into the field; and, as the result of our exertions, a " rectifi cation " of the Russian frontier might have been looked for to confine her empire within those strongly-marked natural boundaries formed by the range of the Caucasus and by the rivers Kuban and Terek. The battle of Kurekdele, a year and a half ago, showed how little reliance could be placed on the Asian army of Turkey alone. Forty thousand men under Zarif Pacha were de feated by a Russian force of half the number ; the beaten force fell buck on Kars, which thenceforward became threatened. The corro spondent of the Times (whose letters are quoted in Dr. Saudwith's volume) wrote, under date of Aug. 8, 1854: I would again venture to suggest that the state of affairs at this important point of the seat of war calls for some practical attention on the part of our Government. As the fight is no longer Turkey's but the allies, so it strikes me they should not shut their eyes to a state of things here, which can only continue to bear fruit in solid advantages to the Czar. . . . ... There was another good reason for the inter ference of the allies. It is stated by Dr. Sand with : In the beginning of the war it was generally believed, and with good reason, that the Georgians would be only too glad to embrace the Turks as their deliverers from Russian despotism, and it was intimated to the Turkish commanders that there would be a rising en maw of the inhabitants the moment an Ottoman army crossed the frontier. This happy state of feeling, we might suppose, would have been cherished and fostered by the Turks and and their allies; but it was not to last long. The Turkish troops committed the most savage excesses in their forays into Georgia : These expeditions resembled llyak head-hunts; the Pasha gave a backsheesh for each Uiaour's head, and hordes of savage I3ashi•llazouks, as well as regular troops, fell upon the unoffending inhabitants of the villages, and reaped a rich harvest of heads. I was told that women and children, the old and infirm, were not exempt from these extraordinary forays. The handsomest youths and maidens were seized as slaves, and I shudder when I reflect on the fate of the former. All this so exasperated the Georgian and Armenian populations that they sent some messengers to the Mnshir to say that the whole population would rise against any Turkish army unaccompanied by European iroopi. On the 24th September, 1.854, fourteen months previous to the fall of Kars, General Williams, as British Commissioner, accompanied by Major Teesdale and Dr. Sandwith entered the town. His action was from the first ener getic and judicious, and the virtual command soon became vested in his hands. There can be no doubt that he regularly forwarded re ports to his Government, and that had his suggestions been acted on far more impor tant results than the safety of Kars would have been obtained. We cannot follow the narrative to detail his conduct and show the admirable preparations he made for the de fence of Kars; it is enough to state that our authorities must have been well assured that whatever aid was sent to him would be em ployed to the best advantage. He called the Turkish depredators to severe account, checked all their statements, and inspired the whole population and army of Kars with abso lute confidence in his earnestness and talent. He had immense difficulties to contend with. Some months after his arrival this was the state of the Turkish force The state of the army at Kars was, early in 1855, most wretched, and filled us all with forebodings for the ensuing campaign. The central Government appeared to have for gotten its existence altogether, and, absorbed in the great siege of Sebastopol, seemed to ignore altogether the feet of their Asiatic possessions being threatened by a formidable Russian army assembling at Gumri. Our soldiers were upwards of twenty-four months in arrears of pay : for shoes they had substituted a native slipper made of the untanned skins of animals ; their uniforms were in tatters, and a large proportion were suffering from scurvy caused by unwholesome nourishment and long and dull confine. mcnt in the dark ill•ventilated huts of Kars. Throughout the winter the general laboured incessantly at the fortifications. The Turks were astonished to sec " Veeliams Paella" work ing like a hammal—a common porter. But beyond his military duties he had to rule, or overrule, the Turkish Council—to adopt mane for victualling the place, and to the attack which ho forsaw soon as the season allowed th, mander to commence operati. six months. The following park ticeable : The month of April had arrived, our sui. an amount astounding from its insignificance, were utterly supine, the storehouses and had not General Williams taken the whole commissariat, Kars must famine in a week ; while, with the key , iu the hands of Mouravielf, and the sum) there was not an obstacle which could ;- Russians overrunning the whole empire • * • All our requirements were duly point thorities at Constantinople, but without there was nothing to give ; neither clothes. It may be presumed, however, authority left, and that the recommendations Commissioner for the removal of men themselves by every species of fraud and have been listened to and acted on. Ye. an utter failure. The general, however, on the matter. True, he had most and had he not been cheered from time words of encouragement from Lord Clarendon, how even he could have gone through Had the British Government but " strong words of encourage) Foreign Secretary? Strong as they were weak to find food garrison,—weak as a defence again ment of a well supplied Russian are curious to know what these meant. Did they promise succor tell Williams that he should no' Or did they candidly inform resistance be as gallant as it . still be left to his fate ? Did th 4 that in no case must he expec own Government, and teach him look to the Turkish authoritir however corrupt he might fink ever incapable or indisposed th afford him assistance? Early in June the Russians great strength, but by that tim4 in a good state of defence. Col constructed an admirable syst tions. Nothing was wanting defence but that which the ment could most easily have st and stores. Ammunition was the garrison had but three days' Doctor relates : Our provisions are insufficient for tion ; the exact amount is as yet unknown some say we have three months' food, others, more brave and h opeful than lieve that the soldiers have, with di enough to last even four months; but ture. I consult one of my friends on . he thinks that there is no fear on the score of provisions, for when the Russians fairly unmask their plans, and the Central Government hears of our being invested, it will have ample time to send an army to our relief before we have eon• guinea three months' provisions. " But," he went on to say, "we have a greater evil to dread—something more immi nent still—low be it spoken. I dare scarcely whisper the secret into your ear : we hove but three days' ammunition. If Monravieff advances by approaches, and we fire libe rally, in three days we shall be disarmed." " God is great !" was my answer; " where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise." On the 15th July, the author notes : We are now fairly blockaded ; up to this time we had been able to receive a few reinforcements in the shape of Lazistan riflemen—doubtful allies, since they were undis ciplined, difficult to manage, and not to be depended on, while their mouths required filling as well as those of our best men. Besides these wild soldiers we got in our posts over the hills ; and the townspeople received driblets of supplies in the shape of fruit, onions, flour, &0., from the surrounding country. We have now a cordon of Cossacks all round us, and a single horseman runs great risk in passing it. What had been accomplished by the energy of Williams, in the time allowed him for prepara tion, was wonderful. He had collected provi sions from the surrounding country ; he had insured economy in their administration ; ho had brought his irregular force into tolerable order ; he had made the town safe from sur prise. The garrison was so healthy that in an army estimated at 18,000 men the death-rate at the close of July was only one per day. Tho whole force was in good heart. Tho Doctor writes (July 17) : It is found that we have still provisions to last until the end of August, and we hope by that time to have aid from the Central Government. On the Bth of August, it is noted : Our provisions may possibly hold out for two mouths 19 tiger, but there appeals to be no movement Pt. Cuubtauti . SATURDAY, place, and to provide against to forsaw would be made as allowed the Russian corn- ,nee operations. So passed following paragraph is no- hail arrived, our supplies were of from its insignificance, the pachas e storehouses of all kinds empty, 'illiams taken into his own hands iat, Kars must have fallen from le, with the key to Asia Minor thus rielf, and the summer before him, le which could have prevented the ,he whole empire to the Bosphorus. • • s were duly pointed out to the au- ople, but without effect. Perhaps give ; neither arms, money, nor mesumed, however, that there was the recommendations of the British emoval of men who had disgraced acies of fraud and peculation might ad acted on. Yet this hope also was general, however, put the best face ho had most disheartening work ; Leered from time to time by strong it from Lord Clarendon, I know not 5 gone through his labours. ioverninent nothing to give of encouragement," from its ? Strong as they might be, :o find food for a starving a defence against the invest- ipplied Russian army. We w what these " strong words" promise succour? Did they he should not be deserted? .dly inform him that, let his tllant as it might, he would fate ? Did they inform him ust he expect aid from his and teach him that he must ;h authorities alone for aid, o might find them, or how- Lndisposed they might be to rice? the Russians advanced in t by that time the town was defence. Colonel Lake had lmirable system of fortifica- ras wanting for a prolonged which the British Govern- .asily have supplied—money iunition was so short that lut three days' supply. The insufficient for a siege of any dura• It is as yet unknown to any of us; ee months' food, some two, while h opeful than the rest, firmly be- have, with due economy, bread ur months; but all this is conjec- f my friends on this subject, and no fear on the score of provisions, I fairly unmask their plans, and the re of our being invested, it will have Ermy to our relief before we have con. Lions. " But," he went on to say, to dread—something more immi- oken. I dare scarcely whisper the re have but three days' ammunition. by approaches, and we fire libe- we shall be disarmed." " God is r; " where ignorance is bliss, 'tis the author notes : olockaded ; up to this time we had Lew reinforcements in the shape of Lbtful allies, since they were undis- l i ag t filling e ' aci as not to as dependedbe those of our on, tired se wild soldiers we got in our posts townspeople received driblets of f fruit, onions, flour, &0., from the We have now a cordon of Cossacks aglo horseman runs great risk in 3omplished by the energy of me allowed him for prepara- al. He had collected provi- 'rounding country ; he had in their administration ; ho regular force into tolerable ado the town safe from sur- on was so healthy that in an t 18,000 men the death-rate [uly was only one per day. was in good heart. Tho y 17) : aye still provisions to last until the hope by that time to have aid from it. ust, it is noted : possibly hold out for two mouths as to bo no movement it', Collbtauti