The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1853-1861, 1854-02-14
SiRODe.

SkROpes
The town of Sinope (Sipoub of the Turks) is
! situated in Anatolia, on the shore of the Black
Sea, halfway between Constantinople and Ire
bizond and about one hundred leagues from
each of these places. 1t is dependent on the
Grand Pashalik of Angora, and has popuIa-
tion from eight thousand to ten thousand IN
habitants. The town is built on the isthmus
of pensinsula, which runs out into sea i'll the
form of propontory. 1t is the most northef-
| ly point of this immense coast. The port ex-
tends to the east of the town. but as it is mott
closed by any noles, it can only be considered
as an open roadstead The roadsteat is deten.
ded by batteries, and by the castle OF the town
"A large, massive construction, raised III the
time of the Greek emperors. To the west
ward of the peninsula is another anchorage, cal
led Ak-Dinan, or the White Port.
The Importance of Sinope consists In us ma
val arsenal and building yard, the only one IN
Turkey besides that at Constantinople. Ships
of the line and frigates are built there. lhe
oak cut on the surrounding mountains is very
hard, and the vessels built at Sinope are con-
sidered the best in the Turkish fleet. The en-
gineers are, for the most part, foreigners, IN
the service of Turkey, aud the worknen are
| Greeks ofthe country, who are paid from ten
to twelve sons day. The notifications OF the
port are incomplete and in a bad state. In
| 1908, at the time of the attempt of Admiral
Duckworth on ConstantinopIe, then defended
by General Sebastiana, the French ambassador
that officer comprehending the Importance OF
Snope, sent two French officers and two sub
officers of engineers to improve the fortltica-
tons. Their first care was 10 erect battery
at the point of the promontory, in such posi-
ton as to be able to command both sides OF
the peninsula, and the entrance ofthe roadstead:
They afterwards traced out several works OF
defence, some Of which were never executed,
and the others were not kept in repair any more
than the rest of the fortifcations. thus the
place remained without receiving any repairs
for forty years, and those which have been late
ly commenced have not received the necessary
deveopement The Russians, in 1907, made
an attack on Trebizond by sea, and were re-
pulsed; but as they had never attempted any.
thing against Sinope, the Turks persuaded
themselves that they had nothing to fear, ana
they have just been roughly punished for their
caressness. 1t may be readily conceived that
six ships. ofthe.line, with their heavy broad
sides, suddenly appearing in the roadstead,
could soon knock to pieces sucn old and dIla
pdated ramparts 1t cannot be called sea-
| fGht, since the Turkish vessels were all at an
chor at the port. 1t appears, according to the
dispatches, that they were sunk by an irresIstI
| bly superior fire, to which the Turkish bate.
rics were not able to reply for any length OF
| timet
The cannonade, we are told, only lasted one
hour, and that space of time was sufficient to
destroy thirteen vessels, ten of which were
vessels of war, and three transports. II the
war is to continue actively next year II Eu'
rope, and in Asia, it will become matter OF
ureat Importance for the Turks to rebuild the
Qualifications Of Sinope on the principles OF
modern art, and to put that place in security,
not ouly against coup.de-main, like the pre-
sent, but also in state to maintain regular
siege. If the Russians were to take possession
of Sinope, which they could readily do in its
present wretched and unprotected condition,
they might make it place ilnpregnabe"ngainst
the Turks, and convert it into kind of I'll
bralter on The Turkish coast of the Black Sea.
Established in position of this kind, which
would enaDIe IIlcil W liiiIu COHoiuSi a"io IVY
of troops, they would keep in check all the
center of Asia Minor, and cut off all the COM
munication between Constantinople and Err
room. The Turkish army of Armenia would
then have not only to oppose the enemy on
the side of Georgia, bnt it would have another
army in its rear and the Ottoman Government
would be Obliged to organize second army
in Asia Minor.
These considerations cannot escape the no.
tice of the European military officers who
give stragetic advice to the Ottoman generals.
The town of Sinope is built with the materials
Of the old Greek city, Il colony of the Mile.
slams Sinope was the birthplace of Diogenes,
and the capital of Mithrdates. Lucullus took
possession of it in the year II before Christ.
The houses and the tortilicati"ns present null
tilude of ancient ruins onfusedly heaped to.
gether. There are to be seen Greek and
| Paphlagonian Inscriptions, buSts. and military
statues. Travellers mention having seen an
entire statue, placed head downward, in the
walls of the castle. All the towns Of Asia Minor,
formerly So furnishing in arts and commerce.
present the same spectacle, so affecting to the
eyes of Europeans. Turks have vegeta-
ted for three centuries on these ruins without
deriving lesson from it. They appear at
length to be awakened to an idea of civiliza-
ton, and the shock which they have just re-
ceived WILL perhaps benefit them for the future.
Dc6ats.