New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-07-08
The Defenses of the BOsphorus.

Coue,pordenee Of The LONDON Times.
CoNSrANrlSOPLE Monday June g. 1883.
The defense. Of BOsphorus Ius, be considered
complete nearly and such perhaps li,bl
To fri. udly criticism than To- hostile ATTACKS Having ld
the advantage the other day OF these interesting
localities ia the company OF talented British officer
has resided long in tie Est enabled 10 give
details which may be unnterestng your read
IL will appear evident TO any one no unac-
quanied with litsry or naval matters that the contem.
plated attack of ColstsntinOpe by The Russian fleet might
be rendered mot difficult and that If the defense the
BosphOTus conducted with ordinary skill the sssiL
anti however favored by the natural advantages Of fair
vihd aud the strong currents which How with the rapid
ty Of four or five miles All hour into the OF Mar
mora would, though combating All inferior naval force,
present their arrival at Con-tantnople but few shat
teec huks incapable OF uTther mischief and unable
10 oeeno then The sph0rus, or stralt connect
il the Black Sea with the Sra # MsrmOra IS about II
in lei 9Th and varies from three quarters Of mile to
two miles IN width The strength Of the current varies
from three 10 eight miles hour depending upon the
wind and other circumstances, which those acquainted
with The locality easily calculate Ons of the best
snchOrsges in th, strait Is off Buyukdere the rt large
village on the European coast and about five mules from
The Black Sea. About three miles further down and on
the Asstc side i anchorage opposite 10 the outane
watering place Below this the current runs with in
creased rspGity IN consequence OF the sudden
Hg OF the chaInsl The current IS again checked
by the eddies out Of the Golden Horn, forming there
by safe anchorage for distance Of three miles above
the Sersgo Point and along the European Shore toward
the Black Sea For many years past the Turkish Govern
neD have with the greatest aud at considerable
pense, defended themselves against her Trends and natu
raj allies by the construction of powerful forts the
banks Of the DardAnees The BOsphOrus they have al
oct entirely neglected there are, however some few
iors either OF the northern portion Of the strait
which mg lit be rendered effective, aud would If well man
sgtd. seriously annoy an eDemy approaching from the
BSk Sea The guns of these fonts however mostly OF
small csbre The most important point connected With
there defeuses Il that they each and all rejected
in the by forts field works vi any description
Any force might be landed in boats from tho ships adj
vance which by attacking the forts in the would
seiousy act IN diNeitrg their fire from the shipping.
The principal defense upon which tbs Turkish Govern
neIt appear 10 their feet which. although but half
msIned ano the yet but mperecy drilled IN the
tse Of guns. might by judcous dlspositI OF their
stref 9Th be rendered most formidable element OF re
aIce The IuTbi-h eet, consisting Of tso three deck
ivodecker f. double bauk gee. se frig at-s
seven corv,'tes and br an ihored OF Buyukdere,
tie cee If the current AID refore able spring their
h INTO any pos,n AID 10 bring ih-ir whole brOadsdes
90 Iae any large vessel which, coming Gown the BOspho
rue must Of necessity IN order 10 avoid h)a upon the
Assiic hore pass very close to them On the opposite
-ce, aid below this shoa large Oh gun fgIe aud two
alrr aLchr in good position 10 receive
vessels afer passing TheraPia.
This drip, stion ~ tie Get good in tse but suppOs-
g the Russian ships have the gauntlet Of the IRE Of
foIts and ships, ~hat lie to prevent them. damaged No
cout reduce numbers but I'll Tor action, from
continuing their route, and then coming 20 an anchor of
Sulsus palace and Just above the city There they
uld command the Golden Horn IN shcn lie all the
chant sLips the naval and military ars,naiz sc in fact,
they would ind then selves IN the very hears vi the I'm
Irt ard IN possession Of the power which such position
I'd give The idea 4 the Turkish feet weighing their
sIctOrs cutting their cables, and following the
Alter such an action they would be unable imme-
disely 10 follow and having Last done they would
scs ID have attack the Russian feet still their ~
D. rior il force, and with th7 ad it.us scvant-gs #
beirg az hor, and in position from which they
might Their Antagonists with Taking ire they
would all this tine b comparatively under Int sud
from the temporary loss u wind experienced by all SINGS
that petition Of the Bspborus The defects Of this
genet being obvious L remains 20 describe what
d -hf ave bten done All the forts present existing
.lt &c have been repaired ana furnished with n
guns Others shculo have been constructed sli aDle
f,Iis. q which there many \ line u feldE0rzs
shoud have been coDsTuctec, and a flying camp y.c-d
upon th- be ehis lor the protection Of the these
fofts Many % these bill batteries would have Oeeu avail
lie r annoy ing TIE feet while proceeding DOM the Boz
ri rrF De old sug Useless hrks lyiry the td-n
Horn might have been repaired sufficiently for the re,ep
ficn Il gus they might then have teen anchored or II
thought likely 70 oai any l-nct, 0ft- m zhf nave
been un shore OF the shoals In good POSITIONS
Sfreng forts should have been erected comm .dio The
uost favorable anchorages, ard few small nj,
sf-s anchored urder their protection The at,ackin-
feet woulo thus have been Obliged n run to-
gauntlet 81 harassfng ire which must have throa fho
mo confusion and probably di.abl-d them very coD.
ershy. The IRE 81 The ors would have prevented tb
chofng and a. soon they turned point Of B-.bk
tab n would have been received By the Sro- .fs
IuTksh fleet, which shord then have been aoeb,r-f
ady 10 pour in rakns FIRE upon IN enemy ar.ady
uch distressed The Inrks would then have 6aI sous
larce of success. i nay BE- said tbAt they have M
cieit uunttT 90 guns % carry This sys,.a of d
snse t1i are there not Aucrsos ing ase.es - sue D..
NOT can j, be- aid that there has not ben an
tine iof the construction Of forts Of the most Efficient