The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-09 00:00:00

LORD STRATFORD DE REDCLIFFE AND

THE FALL OF KARS.

( Front Galignani's Messenger of this day.)
The Constitutionnel attributes, on the authority of
its Constantinople correspondent, the blame of the fall
of Kars to the ambassador of England, Lord Stratford
de Redcliffe. For months past it has been the aim of a
portion of the Paris press to weaken the authority of that
diplomatist in the East and to render his name unpopular
in Europe. These journals have not hesitated to accept
as truth the most ridiculous or disgraceful inventions,
circulated by the euewies of the English alliance, end
have elevated to the rank of confidential communicaticns
the invidious correspondence of Perote traders. Hitherto
the Oonstitutionnel has been more discreet than its con-
temporaries, and has often paused before reproducing
the absurdities in question, notwithstanding that its
political aversion to Lord Stratford has ever been most
transparent. On this occesion it has, however, ex-
ceeded the limits of justice and reason in laying the
blame of a great calamity to the interference of the
British Minister in the movements of Oiner Pacha and
the Turkish contingent. So far from Lord Stratford de
Redcliffe having been blind to the dangers incurred by
the Anatolian array, he had recommended the Porte,
sixteen months ago, to accept the services of General
Klapka, then a resident at Constantinople, and esteemed
ono of the best tacticians of the age. The forma-
tion of the Turkish Contingent is due to Lord
Stratford, who has thus laid the foundations of a
future Turkish army, which, at the termination
of the war, will be national and effective. The
difficulties experienced in its formation were
excited by Omer Paella, who aimed at the ex-
clusive control of the whole Ottoman army both
in Europe and Asia. Lord de Redcliffe had,
moreover, no control over its movements, and the
changes in its destination are to be ascribed to the views
of the Allied Generals, who had not then determined on
the operations that were to be effected in the autumn
months. When it was decided by them that no active
operations were to take place, the campaign was con-
sidered at an end, and the contingent directed on Kertch
and Yenikale, where doubtless General Wrangel will
find its occupation before the departure of frost. With
the plan of campaign drawn up by Omer Pacha, which
was to result in the capture of Kutais, the British
Minister had naturally no concern. He has ever
abstained from interfering with the military acts of
the Turkish Government, however much be may
have asserted by his authority in its councils the
grand cause of civilisation aed progress. This
authority, which no intrigue has succeeded in shak-
ing, he has founded on thirty years' devotion to the true
interests and welfare of the Ottoman empire. The cam-
paign of Omer Pacha iu Asia was undertaken on the re-
sponsibility of that general, and he, with the above au-
thorities at Constantinople, can be called to account for
the fall of Kars. The recriminations addressed to Selim
Pacha are puerile, for that commander possessed at Er-
zeroura only a force of 12,000 men, with which it would
have been hn?ossible to have forced the pass of the Sogh-
lani-dagh, defended by the Russian army of observation.
It is to be regretted that in the violence of political aver-
sion some of our contemporaries should have allowed
themselves to have been carried away beyond the bounds
of discretion ; but this circumstance may be attributed
perhaps to that utter absence of information on foreign
topics which we signalised in the French press some
days ago, and which, with ono or two exceptions, is un-
deniable.