Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-08-18
The Baltic Campaign.


The following seems welconsidered view of the
objects and probabilities attaching TO inc armament
now proceeding to the Baltic:
Il IS now stated Oh credible authority that the first
and immediate obie of the expedition IS the capture
and occupation of the AIand Islands; and that the
GIGANTIC double-banked, casemaed battery of b.
marsund afording accommodation Tor O,OUO men IN
Portable quarters, will be the pivot OF Inc ensu
ing operations From the fact OF the Russian fleet
skukng behind the granite walls OF Cronstadt ana
Sweaborg it must be clear that the years campaign
in the north cannot be designated by the appellatlon
of naval warfare, and that it will be restricted to
the operations of Admiral Plumrldge IN the Bothnian
Gulf the blockade of the rest OF the coast and, on
the arrival of the allied troops perhaps the capture
of Bomarsund But the events OF 18O8 show the
Impractcabilty of keeping possession OF that place
in the winter for the Russians In that year crossed
0, er the ice to the Swedish Holms, and had TO con-
tend with an enemy accustomed TO the ngor OF
northern winter, which the French troops are not
NAV here remark the Sound between Abo and b.
marsund which is about so miles wide, is generally
covered with ice even in moderate winters which Is
yerv seldom the case with the much narrower straits
between the AIand Islands and the Swedish coast at
Grsselhamn although the distance is not one half.
In the winter campaign of 1908, the Russians
nroyed their superiority in being able to withstand
the rgor of the climate and the hardships and pr-
valjons attendant on war in the cold season. much
better than the Swedes even the Fnanders. Con-
temporares who still alive, and no TRENDS OF the
Russians. confess this openly, anu epite
of the tyrannical and even brutal conduct OF their
superors the Russian soldiers are most patient and
obedient in the execution of orders in spite OF the
elements and other trials, and that they go gay,
like the Romans of old, to meet with CERTAIN death,
because life has no enjoyments to offer them that
thew are the more formidable enemies as they
have no will of their and obey bndly the Or
ders of their officers; that they are more adapted TO
winter campaigning than any other nation, as they
can subsist cheerfuly on roots berries, and grasses
where other troops must necessarily stafVe. Inc
Swedes have saying with reference TO the Finland
ers that none but devils fght with troops who
can live on wood . and this is still more applicable
to the Russians. Now let readers fancy what
chances our gallant Gallo brethren will have when
harrassed by body of Skidlaufers, who think moth
inc of marching manoeuvrng, and fighting, with the
thermometer at 80 deg below zero, and who can
bivouac on the cOmposedly as IN a cornneld
All these discouraging circumstances ought to be
known to those governments IN whose hanos the Ill
recons of the operations for securing the liberty OF
Europe are placed. Whether they are acquainted
with them or not, is question. If they are aware
of these facts it can scarcely be expected that they
will run such risks as taking Bomarsund, and estab
fishing footing there for the winter 1T IS only by
the possession Of Sweaborg and the cooperation of
the Fins themselves that Finland is tenable in the
winter. Any other plan of campaign must be attend
ed by the most disastrous consequence, and trlghu
loss of life. 1t would be the greatest folly tor the
French to expect any pitched-battle lighting from
the Russians, any more than we may anticipate the
Muscove fleets coming out from Sebastopol and
Cronstadt to measure their strength with our ships
The French surely have not forgotten the campaign
of 1912, and will profit by their dearly bought expe-
rience The Swedes who acquainted with all
these facts cannot therefore be brought to believe that
the French land troops intended for the occupa
ton of so unimporant and Gin the winter untenable
position as Bamarsuud but rather that the attack Of
Sweaborg and Cronstadt (akng the bull by the horns
is the immediate object in view The almost total
absence of the troops in Finland is taken as a sign
that the Russians entertain no fear of invasion in
that quarter.