The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-22

greater part Of the yesr-Iet u take only What
might be considered the more vulnerable points.
We need not dwell much upon Riga and the en-.
trance to the Duna, strongly fortified, though i'm
perfectly manned, and not at present armed enough
against attack to be without terror at the name Of
Napier. The two parts Of Russia that would
seem to invite the desired blow are Finland
Sweden, and its Importance in military
point OF view for approaching Russia by land-and
the Gulf Of Finland, the road to ST. Petersburg.
AS to Finland, the province 80 dishonesty taken
rom sweden IN 1908, pr'o'I,it might be supposed
that the inhabitants, whose chronological sympathies
with the Muscovites are small, would be ready
enough to shake of the yoke, and return to their
original feay but it win not do to trust in war to
dpi@1 reasoning. The Fins have constitution
they have several privileges; and there is no posi-
tive evidence Of their Swedish tendencies More
over, the approaches are fortified by nature and the
Gar The entrance to the Gulf is gated by that
group Of eighty islands which go by the general
islands, straits, reefs, bays, and banks which laugh
at the entrance Of any craft but the galleys and the
gunboats of old north warfare To the east, on the
Finnish coast, lies Helsingfors, and the fortified
works which pass by the general name of Svea-
borg; and here lies a prize which might
tempt the approaching Napier, eight sail of the
line, frigate, corvette, and three steamers
Of the Russian Baltic feet. But how to get at
Bay, between Langern and Vester Svert, passage
two hundred yards in width, raked by Gre from
the two islands, with other batteries to be passed.
and commanded by the great works Of Sveaborg, a
pile OF battery upon battery, such Sir Archibald
Alison says the writer can alone describe; such, it
would seem, as John Martin alone could paint,
under the inspiration of some military Juror. Each
series OF works is complete in itself as regards
storesa of oil kinds, and bomb-proof cover. The
batteries are formidable, both because they are
assaiable in the badness Of the rocks from which
they are carved and because they have the heaviest
ordnance. Between Sveaborg and Revel lies the mar
row entrance to the Gulf of Finland, whose shores re-
cede from each other to meet again Cronstadt
at the entrance of the estuary of the Neva Well If
the feet lying in the Bay of Helsingfors cannot be
seized, let the blow be struck upon st. Petersburg
itself and the Scandinavians Of the Baltic pro.
vnces, taught to know that their Gear is not invul
nerablc, may be shaken from their allegiance by
that one vigorous act Of Napieresque daring. But
how to get in? There is, no doubt, the choice Of
two channels; but the northern is closed with o
double or triple row Of piles, five or six miles in
length which renders it accessible only to small
craft. II is Hobsons choice, therefore, and, taking
the other channel, the adventurous captain, on
invasion bent, will have to steer his ship between
Fort Alexander on the left, and Risbank on the
right each 800 yards distant each built of granite
and bristing with heavy guns; then come Fort
Peter and the timber fort of Cronslott, the last
of no formidable character; but then again the
sage $50 yards wide, commanded by Cronslott
and Mole Head, and the cube granite built
Fort Menzikoff, with very large number Of
guns. Beyond. in the narrowing channel lies
a vista OF land Notifications not practically i'm
portant; no fleet in gooses file is likely to enter
there, save the Russian admiral effected his en-
trance into Helsingfors, when Swedish admiral
capitulated, by force Of golden artillery. Here,
then, is the strength Of Russia. She is great
hedgehog Her means of offence is not alarming:
her seventywo ships of all sizes, in her Baltic and
Euxine fleets, commanded by generals, with cap
tains who wear spurs and gunners who place less
than one shot in dozen-a Napier could easily put
such feet under his arm and present it to the
British museum. But to be conquered Russian
ships must come out, and they show no impotence
to be conquered. Russian fleets steal victories from
English foes by stopping indoors; and it is win
ming game for the spurred sailors. A mammoth
with more than rhinocerous hide of
granite Russia cannot easily be made to feel blows
Perchance she may be locked up and starved, until
her very intestnes rebel but this is tedious work
even for those to whom victory is promised in re-
version. The only strength that can conquer inert
logged, shameless obstinacy, is unAagged patience,
actively persevering patience in officers and men,
tranquil passive patience in public, guarded
against hairassing its own servants by expecting
and demanding mp0ssibilities.