The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-05

free people, they, ald still more the Norwegians are
to the prospect OF being subjected TO despot
ism. Yet contest between Sweden and Norway on
the hand and Russia on the other, If the former
were lett 10 bear the brun of the battle alone would
be most unequal In lS49 the to;al population of
Sweden did not exceed 3,433, sos; in 1916 tlat OF
Norway vas only 1928 AL. The north OF Norway and
Stockholm, 1t will be kept In mind, are deeendent
for their supplies of food upon Russia; and the out
post of the Russian fleets and armies is within few
a0urs sal Il Stockholm, which is but weakly forti.
fed. TO repel Russian feet, the King of Sweden
has only 10 ships OF the line 20 frgates and smaller
vessels, IL steamers, and 256 gan boats Of his
Swedish navy frgates, ii smaller vessels, 5 war
steamers 1877 gun boats, which he calls his Nor
wegian navy. The Swedish army numbers la ,0l3
men Of all arms the Norwegian, % ,4S4-in all
167 ,497 But OF these, not more than Il 900, ii 80
mary, are permanently under arms the remainder
consists kinds Of militia 1t may serve to
throw additional light on the defensive arrange
ments OF Sweden to notice the time 1t would take
70 concentrate its troops upon threeNprincioA
points, with view to resist al Invader.
1t would take sixty-one days Tor thirsyfve days by
forced marehes) to concentrate the whole Swedish
army at Stockholm; three-fourths of 1t could be
drawn together in twenty days Tor in sixteen by
forced marches) 1t would take eighty.fve days (or
foty.oDe by forced marches) to concentrate 1t a.
Christianstadt the southern coast; and seventy.
six days Cor thirty nine by forced marches) to con.
centrate il at Wenersberg within forty miles OF the
coast, at GottenbuYg From the mountainous nature
of the country much more time would be required to
bring the Norwegian contngentinto play. 1t is obvi
vous therefore, that the united kingdoms subject to
King Oscar even less able than Turkey to c0pesin
gle-handed with Russia, And yet unless the Balh, Is
to become Russian lake they must be encouraged to
resist the entertainments of the Gar and supported in
their This especially the interest Of Eng
land but that Of ally France is next fndeed be
inferior. Though weldon and Norway bsuAe lual to
q contest with Russia, theyAwould yet be invaluable
allies In struggle to preserve the liberty of the navt
cation of the Baltic, both from their local position
and the valor and skill Of their land and forces.
An English fleet, or combined French and English
fleet, could not only guard them from Russian inva-
sion but strike the first blow at the insidious ag-
gressor and restore to Sweden the territory Of which
kindly feeling to their cid fellow citizens At pre-
sent 6Dy naval operations in The Baltic are imposs
BILE; but it is to be hoped that the English govern
ment will embrace the earliest opportunity afforded
by the breaking up Of the ice to be on their
guard lin the Baltic as circumstances may require.
They can and ought to be prepared to act before
Russia. We say this, not merely with reference to
the unprfpared state of the Russian Baltic feet but
to the process by which the ice in that sea breaks
parts nearest the ocean; tho meeting Of the waves
from the North Sea Is q main agent; and hence the
Western Baltic will be free from ice, and open 10 the
fleets Of England and France, while the ships Of
Russia still continue ice bound in its eastern re.
At Stito, the west side Of the island Of
Gotbland, and at Capeshamn, on the east there are
harbors with depth of water Git is understood) for
ships Of war; and naval force, such as England
and France could easily fit out, would, il stationed
there command the Cults of Bothnia aud Finland,
lock up the Russian navy as in pond, secure the
free navigation Of the Baltic, AID be in readiness for
any Interior operations that might be rendered ne
cessary by the expressions Of the Czag. :