The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-24
England Not a Military Power.


We have not contented ourselves with mercy
shielding the Turks from invasion. We have, 70
conjunction with the Emperor Of the French, boldly
assumed the Offensive, and, by singular union Of
daring ard good fortune, have placed troops on
the shore Of the Criniea, and beaieged, without
being able to invest, Sebastopol We knew not
or the endorsements which might be poured down
from the interior Of the empire. We con6ded, as we
had Every right to do, IN our own courage and dis
cipline and that Of our allies We left the Austrians
in occupation of the Principalities, q victorious
Turkish army on the Danube, the Russians, broken
and dispirited, and might reasonably have hoped,
II not for brilliant successes at any rate for diver
sion sufficient to prevent Generals Gortschakof and
Dannenberg from relievir the bsleaguered strong
hold. Bat from the moment we entered the Crimea
war in every other qnarter has absolutely ceased.
The Baltic feet has done nothing to distract the
attention of the enemy, the Turks have remained
utterly inactive, ard the roise Of the battle has
been hushed everywhere else in order that all msh
might contemplate ct their ease this tremendous
conflict. Thus abandoned to our own resources, We
have had 10 encounter and defeat two armies in
succession, snd may soon have TO wage another
contest still more unequal against third, which
report announces to be already on the way. The
question is no longer only whether we shall take
Sebastopol or no.. With the enormous disparity OF
numbers be,cesn rs and the Russians, such a prize
might be erta more difficult TO maintain than to grasp
The question is how most securely to protect our
army against forces which, we're it rot for the
disparity IN courage ana d1eclpnne, would
be absolutely overwhelming. 1t is Of no
use to mfsrepresent the true nature Of our
position, or to undervslue the courage OF our
enemies. We are reduced TO the defensive, and
shall haze 10 resist the attacks of enormous bodies Of
troops preceded ,ciM the most formidable artillery,
and icho hare actually dared to attack 10Th the bay
sSnd our unconqusrabe gren0diers. Our position Is
one Il at ADMITS Of no doubt, no hesitation, no al
tentative. A Remuneration is out Of the question.
We have not the means Of carrying our allies with
us, and it were better to sacrifice every men and
every gun than basely and meanly TO desert them.
Indeed, were we alone, such an operation in the
face of such an enemy Is not to DO thought Of.
However grave our situation may be, We are spared
the fluctuations of doubt and the agonies of uncer.
tain couDsels. There 10 nothing for the sllied ar
.mies ia the Crimea but to maintain by their valor
the position they have taken up, or 10 perish
under the weight of overwhelming numbers. The
backreytd alternative "to conquer or to die" was
never put before an army in o more peremptory
sbarc. This is their duty, and we doubt not they
win Go it. They know how to conquer, and they
know how to die.
1his is their DUTY: but what IL ours Is 1t to send
ont few thousand men to relieve garrisons which
may In their tnrn find their way In small Iumbers
and by easy staPes 10 the shores of tue Crie1eag
Can sre suppose that te attacks efdn enemy irh) Is
recruited al nc rate 6f 80, 900 day. ts met
~ rsntorcsnsnts art,ring bg hundreds or ersa by
fesc thousands in Eeet! wiz tie fesperae temez.