The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1853-08-04

a small stone fortress, provided with bar
racks, powder magazines, and mosque,
and behind each is small village. The
batteries are placed partly in the Bos-
phorus, opposite each other, SO that a
ship attempting the passage would be ez-
posed to the cross FIRE of both banks
Two others are situated out of the Bos-
phoruF, on the European side, and two
on the Asiatic coast Of the Black Sea-
The two batteries erected at the extremi-
ties of the points of the Bosphorus are
provided with light houses {fcneyS) and are
for that reason called-that on the Asiatic
side, 'Anatoi Fener, and that in Europe,
'Rumili Fener.' The Pasha, at the head
Of the Artillery of the Black Sea, resides
at Rumili Fencr, and his house commands
an extensive view of the sea.
In the Bosphorus itself, close to the
entrance, are eight batteries, four on each
side. Those are the batteries chiefly for
defence. They contain 165 guns Of the
largest size They are placed in the mar
rcwest part of the strait, where the width
does not exceed 1900 yards. The waters
of the Black Sea rush through this pas
sage with impetuosity and It's navigation
is rendered still more dangerous by the
shallowncss of the water in one spot,
where the vessels, in order to avoid the
shoals, are obliged to approach within
200 yards of the Asiatic batteries, SO
that feet which should attempt to force
an entrance, would be literally riddled
by shot.
Further on in the strait this system of
batteries continue. Some are placed on
level with the ground, SO as to sweep
the surface OF the sea, and others are E.
rected on the summit Of rocks, plunging
their fire on the ships The guns are
mounted on stone platform, in order to
obyiate the Inconvenience occasianed in
man@uveriDg them by the changes in the
temperature. Above each battery in a
wooden tower of symmetrical construction
surmounted by long pole for the flags.
These poles serve as telegraphs for the
transmission Of orders along the whole
line of the Bosphorus. When a ship of
Ottoman Navy passes, the batteries sa-
lutte her by hoiSting flag bearing the
crescent and the star. The Sultan some
times comes to breathe the sea air in one
Of his palaces on the Bosphorus. All the
batteries then hoist large banner bear
ing white sun on crimson ground.
a brigade of artillery is specially
charged with the service of the batteries
along the Bosphorus and Black Sea, and
another is entrusted with the defence of
the Dardanelles. 1t consists of two regi-
ments, of six companies of $50 men each,
in all $500 artillerymen. These artiI-
lerymen arc we'll drilled, and were or
ganized by the Prussian colonel Knez-
kowsky, assisted by numder of non
commissioned officers he had brought
with him.
1t will be seen by this summary de-
scription Of the Notifications of Constan-
tinOple, that the capital of the Turkish
empire, eyenif Abandoned to itself, would
not be SO easily conquered. The elements,
the approach to the Bosphorus on the
sides Of Black Sea, the dangerous passage
Of the Straits, the fortifcations construc-
ted by the Turks, the numerous batteries
erected OR both side of the channel, and /
the 45l guns mounted on them, served |
By good artillerymen, are means of resist
lnco against which, in all probability, the
Russian feet would fail.
If we add TO these the Turk
and, in case Of need, the En-
French fleets, it will easily
hat Constantinople is not
If falling into the hands q
even though
way the mask, and de
ret designs The
;aid ore must hav =
uch nuts; and tn
believe that he has tEc
)est can answer that que !
opinion now, as in the beginII@
question, Is, that so long as Englala
france arc united TO protect Turkey froN1
iggression, Russia viii he V0wcrlcss to
.ssail her. 1t is not alone Eugland and
france that are interested in protecting
Turkey from ruin. All Europe is equal
y 50, in maintaining its own equilibrium.
The success of that aggression would be {
o!Iowcd by general war, and Europe
wishes for peace.