The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1876-12-22
CONSTANTINOPLE.



The DEFENSE Of the Turkish Capital
British interests in the east demand
that the capital of Turkey shall not be
permitted to fall into the hands Of RuA
sia consequently every effort viii VI
strained by England to protect that i'm
pOrtant strategic point from capture. 1t
is only necessary to glance at the map of
eastern Europe in order to comprehend
the value of ConstantiDople As the key
of the situation, so tar as India Is con-
cerned, and to see that as long as the
city remains in the possession of power
hostile to the car the highway to India
remains open. and safe. 1t is not that
Constantinople itself lies directly in the
way of a Russian advance, for it does not
do so more than Athens or Cairo, but
because Of its peculiar position of con-
troll over vast area of territory which
must be Russianized before any success
full attack can be made on the British
communications. For instance, Con-
stantinople guards the entrance TO the
Black sea, and in the hands of Turkey
or England shuts in the Russian feet as
completely as the Baltic ice closes the
ports of that sea in winter. 1t keep
open for the fleets of Turkey and Eng
land the channel leading to the Black
sea, thus limiting the control of Russia
over that water TO degree highly dan
gerous to Russian interests, as was de-
monstrated during the Crimean war.
With Russia in complete possession of
the Euxine the most important point Of
the coast of Turkey would lie completely
exposed to attack, and, inded, it would
be impossible to defend that territory
against Russia without the aid of pow
erful European combination against the
czar. 1t is clear, therefore, that the
Russian aim is to secure free ingress and
egress for her fleets through the Bos-
phorus, and this can not be permanently
maintained as long as foreign power
holds Constantinople.
The narrow channels, bordered by
high and rugged shores W hich lead from
the archipelago and the Black sea to
the Golden horn, render the defense Of
Constantinople against a naval attack an
easy matter even for Turkey alone. The
iron-clad, and, above all, the torpedo,
can be applied to this end with a GER
tainty of success. But on the land side
Constantinople is more vulnerable, and
it is to that line of defense that England
and Turkey are directing their joint eff
forts. The operations necessary for a
successful attack on Constantinople by
land involve difficulties that might well
cause Russia to hesitate before attempt
ing to overcome them. B fore a siege
gun can be pointed at the defenses the
attacking army must make a triumphant
march across the Balkan mountains
| driving the allied English and Turkish
armies before it to the city walls. Even
by effecting a landing at Varna, on the
| Turkish coast, Russia must operate with
a large number of well-fortiied and gar
risened Turkish positions in her rear,
and great river, the Danube, stretching
| across HSI ldhu llht ol retreat. Inc
probability that English iron-clads will
| dispute the passage of an expeditionary
army from Odessa by sea is very strong
! and a great naval victory by Russia i,
| therefore necessary to prepare for hel
sue ocesses on land. Taking into consid
Grafton the relative naval strength of tbe
belligerents we are satisfied that siege
of Constantinople by the Russians is onI,
a very remote possibility.