, 1877-04-14

make proper use OF these as an OBSTACLE
requires a force of q very different kind
from the sluggish and feeble Turkish %levies,
and the range would be almost certainly
traversed or turned before long by the hos
tile mass. which would. it is assumed,
advance from Sophia. The celebrated
positions on the narrow isthmus 1t the
Chekwedges, near the shores of the Bos.
phorus, which. it is said, twic 9 saved the
Empire of the East, would. no doubt. still
afford a line of defence that might be
mado enormously strong but if the ques-
power Of the Turkish Army, Major Russell
does not conceal his opinion that they, too.
would at last be carried.
1t does not, however. follow from this
that the conquest of Turkey would be
easy, still less that Russia would succeed
10 bringing the city Of ConstantinopIS
within her grasp. Notwithstanding the
recent construction OF rail ways -theso
lines, according 70 Major Russell, are ill
laid, iII.furnished, and ba lily designed
the gathering together of the Russian hosts
must be an affair of several months space
and distance stiff weaken the hostile move
IILSutB OtIu IcCdtu lie SCIONCo VI nv OAO
sus of the North. 1t is scarcely probable
that the $50. 900 men required for an inva-
sion of Turkey in Europe could be on the
Pruth prepared for the field before the
month of April or May, and weeks would
be still needed TO bring up the reserves
and other appliances FOR a trying campaign.
Should the first line b. ready by the lst
OF May, it would take seven weeks Ia at
tanning Shunla should Hirsova be the
point Of assembly. and about a week more
in the case Of Giurgevo; and this. too, on
the assumption only that the Turks would
not defend the Danube, or even attempt
to retard the invaders. Major Russell
calculates that less than q month would
then see the Russians across the Balkans.
and the junction effected with the column
from the West but even supposing no
battle was fought. this time seems to US
much too short, il we assign any value to
the Turkish Army, and the operation
would probably take six weeks. Allowing
a fortnight for the advance from Adriano-
ple to tho neck of land gu the Bosphorus.
it would not be far from the end OF Au-
gust before the invaders would touch the
last line of defence behind which Constat-
tinople stands, and where, we may assume!
the Ottoman Power would collect itself
for q final effort. Now, during the three
months, OF, three months and three weeks.
chat would be occupied by this prolongt
ed advance, even on the most favourable
supposition for it, the Russian Army
would be exposed to the climate that r1inp
cd the force Of Diebitch +; it would find
great difficulties in obtaining the meant OF
Subsiste,nce in various parts of the country;
it would b." compelled to make large
detachments TO cover its commdnicatlcde.'
and to mask the fortressss whish it would
have found on its way to the Danube;
and, accordingly. it would be greatly re-
duced in numbers and really effective
power before it attained the scene of the
decisive struggle. Making every allowances
for reserves and supports, Maior Russell
appears to be Of opinion that about
$50, 900 men might be- expected to reach
the Cheekmnedges, and from what We know
Of the campaign Of Torres 'vedras,,' and.
still more, Of the march on Moscow
which this invasion would greatly resenas
bic. we believe this would be . high esti4
mate. Can we. suppose that during the
many weeks which would have elapssd