Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-03-21
The Russians on the Bosphorus.

The occupation of Buyukdereh Bay by Russian
gun-boats, and the encsmpment OF Russian troops
upon the surrounding hills, supply the only tea
ture wanting TO complete the retnbution Of 1873
for 1853. Under the shadow Of the steep grassy
ridges that overhang the inmost lecesses OF the
tiny bay stands the stately mansion OF hewn stone
which is the seat of the Russian Embassy, and
the place to which Prince Menschikufi, after his
aborive attempt TO coerce the Porte al the Car
Nicholas instIgstion, retired III shame and anger
lust before taking his final departure. And that
nothing may be wanting to complete the picture,
there rises boldly on the projecting hesdland to
the south, seutneling the ,core OF little toy houses
that form the village OF Therspia, a tall white
building, almost Italian in its ligttness and ele-
gance-the British Embassy, whittier Lord STRAIT
ford de Redcliffe, having set in motion the ma =
chipely that was to crush alike Menscbkof and
his master, beiook himself for briei interval OF
repose after the work WAS done.
IL must be owned that at first sight the aspect
of this famous strait almost bellies It, formidable
renown and gives one an impression of peaceful
and delicate beauty rather than lmpreg nable
strength. sunny slopes, dapped with TUFTS OF
foliage or clustering vines; hat-ro0ied houses,
white vailed, and green -Daconled, peeping slyly
through the shade of enciIcng trees; ancient
towers, overhaDging smooth curves OF green hill
side; juttng cliffs, wslling in tiny bays of cleal
water, across which the gilded caques Hit like
hfe-flles maDy-turreted palaces casting deep
purple shadow over the bright blue sea below.
And, nearer on the view, IN all the glory OF the
cloudess sunshine, lies many spot famous III
story-the hill of Sultanieh, whence, 4S0 years
ago the fierce black eyes oi llmour and his count.
less horsemen looked hungIily across the impassa-
BILE strait from which the way Greeks had With
drawn every boat that hoated upon 1T the twin
ortres SEES OF Roumeli, Hissar and Anadoh IL lssar,
scowling at each other across the blue sunllt sea
the steep conical hill behind, crowned with tn,
white walls Of the Turkish College which owe
it. existence to the enterprise and benevolence oi
an American citizen and, finally, the steep 1T az
Cling lanes OF Pera, aud the shining mlnarets OF
STEAMBOAT, and the vast white barrack of Scutari,
and the distant isets of ilalki aud Msltepe and
the broad sheen Of the of Marmoi a, all blend
ed in one glorious panorama
But amid all tins wealth OF beauty turks an un-
decurrent o. grim precaution, AL eternal ambush
of sleepless murder. Among the thriving vine
yards, athwalt the dainty strawberries, through
the rlca Summer beauty OF the frag ant woods,
rise cold gray lines of solid masonry from which
the sullen eyes of countless cannon peer in hun
cry expectation. Along the whole seventeen
miles OF the famous passage from every available
point, guns upon guns command the gateway OF
the East, sweeping every approach with u cross
fire in which no invader can live. There ma
tons whose whole existence mas been one long
battle, and Turkey IL one of them; out were rs sop
still living he would recognize IN the deienses Oi
the Bosphorus the exact realization of his fable OF
the eyed stag which kept its remaining eye
turned watchfully toward one side while the rea
peril lay on the other. ln ITS Overwhelming con
fidence, the warrior nation" has always regard
ed advance upon Constantinople by land a.
something outrageously impossible; and this ar.
rogance has wrought its own punishment. Like
second Charleston, the batteries of the strait
after defying every attempt by sea, have been rem
deIed untenable by the advance Of land force
upon their rear, and the Improbable" Bospho-
rus has fallen into the hands vi Russia without h
blow.-N. \. Times.