The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-21

need was greatest what he had asked for,
provisions, medical stores, "a plethora of
doctors and-blessing ineffable to all but
them, the Avatar of Florence Nightingale
and her nurses, angels of mercy minister
ing to sick and wounded as they were
never tended before"
The contrasts instituted between the
French and the British forces on that cam
paign are frank, but not such as the British
people were accustomed to hear, and 1.-The
father of that plague of modern armies,
when the Times began to reach the front,
found his position even less enviable than
it had previously been.
The book throws strong personal side
light upon the battle of Balaklava, with its
famous charge of the Light Brigade. The
whole battle, according to him. was mis-
planned from the first. The army was un-
favorably posted, while the Russians had
for days been busy constructing breast,
works under "vofleys of field glasses"
aimed at them by the watching English.
The latter had done nothing of the sort.
After the first fortnight no effort had been
made to strengthen the position at Bala-
klava. Every one was busy anticipating
return home before Christmas. Warning
| came to Lord Raglan to lose no
time in getting into Sebastopol. 1t
was UNDECIDED. Even the Turkish
allies knew what was coming, and
| told Lord Raglan of it; Rustem Pasha
sent in a spy with the news that the at
tack would come next day. Lord Raglan
returned the verbal message, every well. :"
| The preparation made to meet the impend-
ing blow by the British commander-in-
chief was a request that anything new be
reported to him." The Russians let him
know at daylight next morning.
Lord Lucan and Lord Cardigan, broth.
ers-in-law, and respectively general and
brigadier of the cavalry, were notorious
/ foes, known as such by the home Govern
ment, who set them to work together-ar
! impossible task Misunderstanding was
inevitable, as the fate of the Light Cavalry
| demonstrated. Good feeling among all the
generals was conspicuonsly lacking. There
| was little personal intercourse among
them. Lord Raglan's singular delay, Mr.
Russell declares to have been the result Of
Incidence. Sir George Brown was marti-
net rather than general. The Duke Of
! Cam bridge was young and inexperienced
Evans rough and sour, England simply
| gentlemanly and judicious, and Sir George
| Cathcart forward, positive and unmanage-
able. The home Government had not an
| ticipated war. 1t had been deemed that
the probable services required of this array
of talent would be diplomatic rather than
belligerent, and for such service Raglan
would have been admirable
Our newspaper correspondent does not
mince matters when he tells OF the suffer
ings of the army. The men were coatless,
bootless, provisionless, destitute through
out the terrible winter. 1t is not to be
wondered at that the people at home were
aroused by his letters to a high pitch OF
indignation.
Since that time, forty years ago, the
British army has been reconstructed on
new and modern principles, and the wal
correspondent has recognized value, but
Mr.. Russell's book will be of interest to a
| large number of readers as shedding light
on memorable struggle. London and
New York: George Routledge & Sons
! Limited