Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-05-03
Yf@isfellaneuns &eadimg.
THE IMPENDING STRUGGLE IN EUROPE.

WHAT ADMIRAL PORTER AND GEN. SHERMAN
SAY ABOUT THE EXPECTED WAR BETWEEN
RUSSIA AND TURKEY.
The exciting war news from the East mo-
mentarily overshadows all other topics in
Washington. Admiral Porter and Gen. Sher-
man are very much interested, and think that
the conflict is going to be terrible one. The
Admiral in discussing the news, expressed
himself as follows:
This war promises to be the most gigantic
and important to Europe, and even to the
United States, that has taken place. 1t will
be great religious war, and the consequences
can only be surmised. The idea of some of
the newspapers that Turkey is going to be
wiped out in day, is a mistaken one. The
Russians will never capture Constantinople.
1t is not in the power of their army or navy
to take the place. As for their navy, it is Of
very little consequence in contrast with what
it is required to accomplish. They have about
thirty iron .clads and 244 vessels Of war of
other kinds. They have 10000 men in their
navy and about fifteen hundred and 6fty-6ve
guns
He then read off list of their iron-clads,
showing that FIVE ofthem carry from sixteen
to twenty.six guns, and the rest from two to
eight guns apiece and continued:
All these iron-clads are of the very best
material, and their guns are of the latest pat
tern and heaviest calbre. The other ordina-
ry vessels are all reported to be in good con-
dition. The larger portion of this navy is now
about getting free from the ice of the North
Sea, near St. Petersburg. Those vessels of the
Russian Navy that are now in our ports came
here to get rid Of the ice there this winter.
The navy, however, makes little difference on
either side. This war, as between Russia and
Turkey is going to be in the main land
fight. The Turks have twenty splendid IRON
clads, with eighty-four other good and substan-
tial war vessels They have 1918 guns and
$4,000 men. For the defensive this is good
navy. They have the great forts of the Dar-
danelles, all along from its mouth up to Gal
lipolis. Here they also have chains, torpedo
boats, their iron.clads, sunken hulks and 9th
er distractions. The Russians have to pass
through these to Gallipolis, thence into the
Sea Of Marmora, and then they will have to
fight their way up through the torpedoes, iron.
clads, &C., to the Bosphorus. As they pass
by Constantinople up the Bosphorus, they
have twenty miles of forts to encounter, and
having passed these, they are in the Black
Sea. You see, sir, the fight is by no means to
be all on the side of the Russians They have
no fleet in the Black Sea. When Sebastopol
was destroyed and their great fleets blown up
and sunken and their navy.yards destroyed on
the Black Sea, that settled their fleets in that
locality, and the European powers have for
bidden them ever since to rebuild in that 10.
cality. The Russians have fine army, we'll
disci plined, we'll oicered, and doubiless their
arms, guns and supplies are of the 6rst-class.
They are not commencing this fight for senti-
ment sake. 1t is the hope of their lives; and
they have now arrived at that point when the
Emperor will be able to get every man and
every dollar his people have, so as to win the
great contest of the nation. 1t will be no use,
though, as it will end in disaster. The Turks
are thoroughly aroused. From one end Of
their vast empire to the other, the Mussul-
mans are crowding together by the tens of
thousands, and already the religious fanati-
cism of the Turks is discernible. Just think
of 100000 of people! They will give ev-
cry dollar and every valuable they have to
aid their side. They have the hest arms in
the world-they were made by our own peo-
pie, and Europe has no better. The large
guns the Turks get from Krupp, and, of course,
these cannot be exceled. There is no doubt
that both sides have plenty of arms and am
munition. After the Russians get very much
weakened and the Turks have worried them
good deal, then the Austrans and, perhaps,
the Germans will have something to say.
France is not particularly interested, and
mark what say-she will not engage in this
conflict. She will 60 on with her exhibition,
and it promises to be a grand success. The
war will not affect it in the least Austria is
the country that is most interested in the con-
test, excepting England, and just how Aus
tria is going to act remains to be seen. She
will be in the fight, however, before the war
has gone on six months. England is the
grand puzzle. You can depend on it she does
not intend to allow Russia to take Constanti-
nople, even if she could, and her time to enter
into the contest will be marked by the circum-
stances of the conflict. The great good that
this war is going to have on our country can.
not be computed. We will not only sell -four,
wheat, corn, pork, clothing, arms and ammu-
milton to the contending parties, but we will
sell all these things to the other great nations,
especially our cereals and provisions. If the
war continues two years, and my prediction is
that it will, we will have to plant for the
whole world. The entire agricultural pursuits
of the great grain country of the Black Sea
will be stopped. 1t was so in the Crimean
war. I was lieutenant in the navy and
commanded the Supply, then in the Mediter-
ranean squadron, and we'll do l remember the
rich harvest our merchants reaped during tie
war. This war will bring back again to us
the commercial supremacy We lost during our
war. IfCongress legislates properly in June,
so as to allow vessels to be brought and placed
under our flag to remain there, our CONNER
cial marinewill be revived. We have not
time to build ships; We must buy them.
Admiral Porter went on to say that there
probably would not be much blockading, and
that our supplies would be in demand by other
nations in any event.
Gen. Sherman, on being interviewed, said
that neither Russia nor Turkey ever had larg.
er or better disciplined armies than now.
They have, said he, all the advantages of
many improved arms and modes of warfare,
and the result will be that the world will wit.
ness the greatest battles ever fought, so far as
the destruction of life is concerned. believe
this struggle is going to cost million of lives.
and they will not be all Russians and Turks
either. can hardly believe that the Turks
can withstand the shock. They may save
Constantinople, but if they lose every other
mint what nond will il do them Gen. Shar-