The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-26 00:00:00

THE FALL OF EARS.

(From the Times of this day.)
The fall of Kars will become the subject of re-
newed discussion on Monday next. It is a proof
of the deep impression which this disaster has made
that the memory of it survives even the conclusion
of peace and the re itora.',ion of the lost territory.
It is the plausible argument of many persons that
no good can come of examining into events which
are past and gone. Kars cannot be saved, the
campaign of Mingrelia cannot be refought by any
debates in Parliament or any inquiries at Chelsea.
Why, then, it may be said, resume a fruitless dis-
cussion which cannot change events, and may only
degenerate into an angry and tedious controversy?
But the common sense and right feeling of the
country have strongly pronounced against such
reasoning. For the sake of the future—for the
honour of t'ie men who bores part in the
ing struggle, and who are only now to be restored
to their country and friends—let us have a full
examination even of past events and disasters,
which are Row irremediable. Justice demands such
a course, and no shortsighted seeking for imme-
diate results should induce the country to err from
it. It is evident that the alleged reasons for the
fall of Kars may be divided into two heads. The
first relates to the corruption of the Turkish autho-
rities, the want of doe preparation for a campaign,
and the neglect of General Williami by the Bri-
tish Ambassador. The second has to do with
affairs subsequent to the investment of the place,
the obstacles said to be opposed to Omar Pasha,
the bad choice of a point of operations, and the
supposed treachery of the commander at Erze-
roum. We have before given an opinion that when
Mouravieff had invested the city, when summer
was passing away, and provisions were already
running short at Kars, all efforts would probably
have been unavailing for a rescue. The place was
virtually lost, and, though mistakes may have been
committed which subsequent criticism can expose,
we ought not to seek the causes of the calamity in
the period immediately before its occurrence. How-
ever all parts of the history will receive a due
examination ; it is better, therefore, once more to
recur to the earlier events, and point out the de-
pendence of each incident on those which went
before it.
The first months of General Williams's service
in Armenia were passed, as we all know, amid the
insolence and of the Turkish officials, who
were not checked in their shameful course by any
remonstrances on the part of those who should
have supported the British General. Into the re-
lations between the Commissioner and Lord Strat-
ford de Redcliffe it is not our purpose again to
enter. Enough has been said on the subject to
enable the public to form a judgment with accuracy.
The reports current on the matter have been 'fully
confirmed by the blue-book lately published. It
may be taken for granted, then, that for some reason
on which we cannot speculate General Williams, in-
curred the dislike of the British representative at
Constantinople—the man who from his position and
his long residence in the East could most effectually
aid him or hinder him in his endeavours. The
tacit acknowledgment of Ministers, of political par-
tisans, of personal acquaintances, has fully admit-
ted the unworthiness of the Ambassador's conduct,
and there is nothing more to be said on the subject.
All that remains is to inquire what influence this
neglect had on the actual results of the campaign.
It is, of course, natural to say that the disputes
complained of took place in the winter which pre-
ceded the siege, and that for some time before Kars
was invested the interchange of angry despatches
had ceased. But we think that such a defence will
not bear examination. General Williams arrived
in Armenia in September, 1854. At that time the
Turkish army was entirely disorganised. Five
battles had been lost within seven months by a
succession of incapable and profligate commanders.
The soldiers were without pay, without clothing,
often without food. The Russians were known to
be making great efforts for another campaign. Men
and materials were brought not only through the
Caucasus, but from Astrachan to the western ports
of the Caspian. It will not be supposed that for
, what General Williams bad to do there was too
I much time. We know that in this rich and civi-