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

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-
liagt filling
e'aci
as not
to
as
dependedbe
those
of
ouron,
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

FEBRUARY 9, 1856.

nople towards our relief, and ere two months are over may
we not expect great horrors among the townspeople?

The passage is followed by a sketch of the four
bravo officers upon whom the defence de-
volved :

GENERAL WILLIAMS.

Every one felt these facts weigh heavily on his mind,
and all lcoked to the general, to the " Ingleez Paella," for
encouragement. No sign of despondency clouded that
honest face ; his " Good morning " salutation was as
cheerful as on the morrow of our first little victory. He
was thin, certainly—he could not well be thinner; but, no
wonder, for he never seemed to sleep. Long ere daylight
broke he was waii the sentries of Tahmasp, the point
nearest the Russian camp, and his glass learned every
movement ; then he was by the side of the Mushir
during the greater part of the day ; anon he was en-
couraging the Ilashi-13aznuks and settling theirdifferences,
or anxiously arranging some plan for feeding the towns-
people ; and, in our little confidential gossips on the state
of affairs, he would impress on us the duty of maintain-
ing a bright and hopeful bearing, since all the garrison
looked up to us for encouragement.