The morning call., 1891-09-15

tea-chests thrown into Boston Harbor gave
rise to Bunker Hill, with all its history
creating results.
When Great Britain sent its feet to Con-
stantinople after the fall of AdrianOple In
1878 war with Russia seemed certain, but
then Russia was poor, and had worn itself
out whipping Turkey. Now that the Cars
Government has placed loan and France is
its ready ally instead Of its possible foe a
war resulting out OF the British occupation
of Mitylene is not only possible but prob
able Russia, with leave obtained from
Turkey under duress to pass her war vessels
through the Dardanclles, could not do so il
Great Britain has the key of the gates, and
Mityle enc is just such key. Mitylene, Cy-
prus and Malta would make hard COM
blnation against Russian naval force in the
Mediterranean, even il the British fleet were
temporarily disabled.
The foresight of Beaconslield in grabbing
Cyprus as a part of the spoils OF Turkey
after 1877 is just beginning TO beco me ap-
parent in the light of Mitylene. Salisbury
was Beaconsfeld's astute colleague In the
train of conferences which led up to the
treaty of Berlin, and the Lord OF Hatfield
House is man who never fOrgets foe or
friend or lesson.
England with Gibraltar behind her closing
the Mediterranean TO all French vessels save
Sucn as might sail from MaTSelli6S OF lou
Ion, has yet the friendly aid OF Italy. Italy
is stronger than France on the Mediter-
ranean, and Great Britain could sail up the
Dardanelles with perfect impunity, presum-
ing that Italy's participation in the inevlta-
bic struggle is to be of the active order.
Russia, in point of fact would be as much
cornered in the Black Sea as she was in
1886 and in 1S77-7S.
Napoleon said that the route to India lay
through Constantinople. and even in the
critical era Of January, 1878, when the vic
toriOus Russian troops were at Adrianople,
within 100 miles of the Golden Horn, the de-
tense Of the Turkish capital was a greater
possibility than that of Zaragossa. 1t is be-
You'd the bounds OF diplomacy, if the Ian
Ruage which Is merely a cloak for the de-
sign, to dispute that Constantinople has
been Russia's aim for hundred years.
In the extreme event OF European war
Constantinople would be one of tho focal
points. The city could only be taken by a
preponderatng land force, unassaulted from
the sea, the reverse OF the conditions obtain
ing in 1S77-78, when Suleiman Pasha's
beaten but intact army was within easy res
cue distance and the British feet, sent in
hot haste through the Dardanelles, domin-
ated the situation at San StefanO and Stam-
boul In point of fact, Constantin0pIe
could not be taken by storm from
the north. The mountainous peninsula
which extends to the Bosphorus between
the Black Sea and tho Sea of Marmora,
affords more than one favorable position.
A line drawn across its width from Buyuk
Tchekmcdj to Tchetchmedjk, situated
about forty miles west of Constantinople is
naturally strengthened by rugged hills in
the middle and by lakes or inlets of the sea
at each eud, SO that it could be made almost
impregna6le. 1t Is under such conditions
that tho British Government has evidently
felt confidence in the ability of what is left
OF Turkey-in-E Europe to take caro- of itself,