The daily union., 1854-10-13

is on the road from Smieropol that whether the in
land or the coast route be taken il is probable that the
conending forces will meet in that vicinity and there de-
eide the fate Of Sebastopol
BaStchi serais is situated in long deep valley be-
tween two considerable mountains and is built in ir
regular manner upon each side of the sloping ground
which descends TO the Tshuruh-Su rvulet that flows
the katcha stranger on approaching close 10 the
spot taken by surprise at the which breaks upon
him. for the town stands suddenly before him. with its
buildings scattered terracewise beneath impending rocks
and precpces which to threaten il with instant de-
structon The sight of fountains streams smiag gardens
and terraces, intermingled with mnarets and elegant
tower-shaped chmneys vineyards and groups of Lom-
hardy popas renders the first impression pleasing
but this is not confirmed by examination of the interior
of the town.
The situation Of Sebasopo the Of the Black
sea, gives il command its navigation. The fleets of
Russia sally forth from this point and in three days
sail could reach any of the ports Of Turkey whether in
Europe Asia, and pour destruction upon them The d
rect objects of the imposed therefore upon the allied
fleets the necessity of destroying Sebasopo If possible
England and France went into the from fear of the
extension of Russia to the Mediterranean by which the
line of operations of each Of those powers with
their distant possessions might be France maintained
her intercourse with Algeria and England hers with her
East Indian possessions by way of the Mediterranean,
which Russia desires to control The destruction of Sc
bastopo will stop the growing strength of Russia in a
southery direction by of the fleet which she has been
building up there since the Crmea into her possession
IN 1888 cannot suppose that step of such vast import
ance be taken by the allied powers without
ing all the opposition from Russia of which she is capable
That such step of the great objects of France and
England in entering the Black has been openly pro-
caimed but it would be equally apparent had it not been
proclaimed. IT. therefore, the whole strength of Russia
shall not be put forth to defend Sebastopo ii viii appear
that it has become the policy of Russia conquer by
her active energies but by her capacity Of enduranceby
drawing into her she'll like the tortoise and waiting till
her enemies tired by their blows
Demostheues in his Grafton against Leptimes mentions
that Athens imported from the Crimea annually between
100000 and 100000 medimni of grain 1t consider
ed the granary of Greece.
This peninsula has been known for more than 5000
years since the first naval expedition of the Argonautsa
story which, though mixed with fable is vet we'll found
ed in its principal facts The mountainous parts were
inhabited by the Taur probably colony Of Scythians
while its coasts the west the east and the south
occupied by Greeks. The Scytbans driven by
Mthridates the Greeks by the Sarmatians and these
again by the Aani and Goths northern horde of Scy-
thans The Hungarans the Cossacks, and Tarars
ceeded in their turn and the Genoese in the twelfth
fury held temporary and precarious possession of the
seaports which they obliged to yield the Turks in
1875 At the peace of l774 the Tartars of the Crmea
were declared independent and in 1888 this peninsula
defnitively united to the Russian empire"