The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-08-03
Turk nnd Russ.

Turk and Russ.
Since the Turks arrived in Europc
they have been the object Of the chronic
hostility of the Russians. The Otto
mans hand was always against every
man, but OF all the first foes whom he
fought on forcing his way over the ruins
OF the overthrown Eastern empire into
Europe there yet remain only the Aus
trian and Russian empires to confront
him. The Eastern empire went down
under his blows, and he made its capital
his principal city. The kingdom of
Servia went down after short struggle.
Venice, which dealt him the hardest
blows on sea, and Poland, which crushed
his invading armies under the walls Of
Vienna. live only in history.
But the Russians, who were lust
struggling into national existence when
the Turks were in the fullest blaze of
their glory, threw down the gage of
battle TO them, and has kept throwing
1t down al frequently recurring inter-
walls ever since. The Turk and Russ
believe themselves to be natural enc
mics, and it would seem that centuries
of chronic warfare, in which millions
of both have been slain, and countless
millions of roubles' loss inflicted. woul
certainly justify the assumption that
they are. Russia has had occasional
wars with other powers. She main-
tained long conflict with Sweden, and
mingled in the wars of the Napoleonic
period, but all these were bv-plav:
Turkey was always the target for her
heaviest blows.
The history of these struggles in mod
ern times begins with the war of Peter
the Great, about 200 years ago. Peter,
as al Russian monarchs have since,
wanted the Black sea for naval purposes.
lie watched his opportunity, when the
Ottoman Porte was having Just as much
as 1t could get along with in struggle
with the Venetians and the Emperor of
Germany, and declared war. He had
his army well in hand, descended the
Don with celebrity, and captured the i'm
portant fortress of Azof, at its mouth.
He had built twelve armed vessels, with
which he defeated the Turkish fleet, and
rendered his victory complete.
Fifteen years later another war broke
out, and Peter, with his accustomed en-
ergy, was soon at Jassy at the head of
q body Of troops. But, in place of the
10000 men which he expected to lead,
only 10000 could be gotten together
under his banners in time to meet the
Turks on the banks of the Pruth. Two
hundred thousand of these latter assailed
the intrepid Russians; q battle of three
days lasted, in which the Muscoyite dis
ciplinc and steadiness proved match
for the superior numbers and headlong
courage of the Turks. But the army
was cut off from supplies and must
starve or surrender. Peters wife Cath
crime, woman of great ability and
resources, took the management of ne
gotiations with the Turkish commander.
and succeeded in bribing him with her
jewels TO consent to let the Russian
army go if the czar would agree to
humiliating peace, which was done.
Azof and other ports on the Black
sea were given up and Russian naviga-
ton of the Black sea prohibited.
Peter began preparing to renew the
war, but died before he could carry his
plans into execution
The Empress Anne's armies advanced
to the south in 1857. and by rccaptunne
Azof began war which lasted three
years, cost Russia 100000 men and an
immense amount of money. but gained
really nothing. Azof was taken from
the Turks, but the treaty of peace pro-
vided that ii should he abandoned hv
both parties.
In 1852 the energetic Catherine III
came to the throne. and Russia began
to make substantial hcadway against
her ancient enemy. She declared war
against Turkey in 1867. and in that year
her armies possessed themselves of the
whole northern coast of the Black sea
from Azof TO the Danube. Jassv and
Brailow were taken: an army of sc, 900
Turks was crushed on the banks of the
Pruth; another of 100000 was DESTROY
ed on the banks of the Danube, with !
loss of 10000 dead. A Russian fleet
sailed through the Mediterranean to |
take the Turks in the rear; the Greeks |
were in rebellion, terrible massacres
ensued, now of Greeks, then of Turks !
the Turkish fleet was destroyed off Scio, |
and the Ottoman power seemed TO be |
on the point Of collapsing.
In IVA peace was patched up by a |
treaty which gave Russia important adj.
vantages everywhere. Hostilities only |
nominally ceased, however, and a series |
OF minor operations was kept up against
ehS ~hohoihiucOuii tllucS duu powers Ill |
sympathy with Turkey. In l777 open
war broke out again, and in the five
years Of hostility the great Suwarrow
carried fire and destruction through
Turkish territories. Again it seemed as
IL Catherine would realize her favorite
dream of placing her grandson Constan-
tine upon the throne in Constantinople.
Peace was declared in 1892, but the war
opened again in 1907 Russia was by
this time too much involved in Western
Europe to pay much attention TO Tur-
key, and the war languished until 1911,
when it suddenly began to loom up
again. but was quieted down by the
French invasion of Russia.
The next war began in 1928, and
lasted two years, resulting in the Rus
slams penetrating as far as Adrianople
lilo miles from Constantinople-and
very advantageous peace.
The next war-known as the Crimean
in 1853, and lasted three
years, but ended in Russia's losing sew
.ral very important ADVANTAGES in terri
ory and prestige, owing 10 the assist
lnce given Turkey by France and En-