, 1877-04-14

fed these Entertainments, which can be
rendered weGl-nigh impregnable, and, if so,
would the Muscovite force be sufficient to
carry them by assault, the only operation
possible to it? If the Turkish levies were
the only defenders, we might conceive
that it, probably would-the point, how
ever. is very doubtfuI-but the Turkish
Fleet, it must be borne in mind-a fact
which Major Russell omits-could here
c@ertalnly play an important part. by harass-
ing and vexing the assailant's TANKS /; and
the Turkish population of the threatened
clty-a power by no means to be d~espised
IN The case Of holding an intrenched posi-
tlon-would asSuredly offer q savage re-
s%istance, which, with other aids, might
not prove f~ruitless. Even if the Chekmed-
ges, too, were forced, ConStantinople
would be still u~ntaken, and no one can
read Won MOItke'S work and not see that
this celebrated place, if the Ottoman
Government were not overthrOwn and the
inhabitants showed resource and spirit,
could still make n protracted defence
against an army not prepared for a siege. r
De the whole, then, an INVASION OF
Turkey by the Danube is q critical move
ment, and we are far from satisfied that
though unaided, the Tuks could not
even now hold Constantinople against q
Russian attack. Major Russell, however,
does not dwell on what, in the existing
state OF Europe, is the most important
element in this question we shall say
only a void Oh it. It ConstantinOple, and
nothing else, was to be the object of
Russia in a campaign, she would most
assuredly fail in her purpose; the Great
Powers would rot allow the Imperial
City to be in her hands, and, ofall places,
1T is the most capable of o successful de-
fence against Russian aggression. We
have not space to comment on this it is
only necessary 10 read the mastery chap
ter of Won Moltke upon the subject, and,
we should add, the Improvements in mo-
dern ordnance would be here all in the
defenders favour, in the case of u Power
that should command the sea. To sum
up the conclusions, therefore, that are
suggested by this great question The
military superiority of Russia is SO vast
as compared with Turkey, that in the
event of q war between them, the Porte,
humanity speaking, must be worsted. To
invade the Empire, however, even in its
decay, especially by the line of the
Danube, the only way now open for q
real attack, is an operation of extreme
difficulty /; the jealousieS of Europe, space,
and climate would combine TO check the
sssniIant's progress; they would perhaps
render it wholly nugatory. That Russia
could conquer Turkey, even if she had
no ally, appears, on the whole, to be very
doubtful and it is far from certain, as
affairs now stand, hat Constantinoplo
would fall before a Russian army, even
were the Turk its only defender. But
if the city were threatened by Russia, the
Great Powers would at once interfere
aud their interference would, beyond
question, preserve the place from any
real danger, and probably send the inva-
ders behind the Balkans. In any case,
therefore, q war with Turkey must, as
far as we can see, be for the Gar a danger
Gus and Improbable affair; and the
grand prize which only would repay his
efforts would assuredly never some into
his hands. Peace. accordingly, even from
her point Of view, would seem to be
Russia's true policy ; the game of arms
would not be worth the cost, in her own
position and in that of Europe, and she
will better promote even her W ends