The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-10

threatened highland plateau Of which the
enemy was gradually gaining control. The do
scent ON Circassia, i'll conceived and fcebly car
ried out, was an incident Of no inheritance.
The maritime supremacy Of the Osmaulis had
one effect. however. which should not be over
looked In summing up the lessons OF the cam
paign; 1t forbade descents by the forces OF the
Car upon the shores Of Asiatic Turkey. In the
European theatre of war as well, the Sultan's
hosts wero secure against aggression, as n conse-
quence OF the naval situation in the Euxine.
Had the fleets Of tho Emperor Alexander been
all powerful in the waters common to the
belligerents, the Porte must inevitably have
been crushed after n few weeks of war.
The defences Of Armenia would have
been turned and rendered nugatory by cS.
pcditionary corps landed at Trebizond or at San.
sun. Russian forces flowing in by rail from all
parts of tho empire to the northern Black Soa
ports would thence have been planted down at
will upon the coast of European Turkey.
Soldiers of the Gear might have disembarked in
the Bay of Bourgas, nay, even at the outlet OF
tho Bosporus. far beyond the fortrcsscs. tho
natural obstacles. and the Turkish Army, which
together formed tho protection OF Constantine
pie. Now that the Gar has again acquired
command of the Black Sea, a Russian advance
against Constantinople would undoubtedly fol.
low tho line taken by Diebich, which closely
followed the coast.
In his discussion of the recent war between
China and Japan, Major Callwell holds that at
the root Of the startling successes OF the win.
ming side lay judicious utilization of sea power
under varying circumstances, although. except
during the operations of the torpedo boats at
Wei.Hai-Wei, the maritime operations were
never of a very snowy kind. The Japanese Ad.
mirals knew too well the limitations of their
vessels and the duty these had to perform for
the general good TO sacrifice them in rash VEN
lures against powerful batteries guarding the
great naval hnrbors of the enemy. The task of
the fleet was so to that the army
should be free to carry out the plans elaborated
at Toxic. and the naval forces performed their
part in the campaign with indefatigable vigor
and ~faultless precision. No doubt the strange
torpor OF the hostile squadron greatly aided the
Japanese Navy in carrying out its allotted task.
The Japanese had. however. gagged the quail
ties of the naval forces with which they werc
about TO cope, and the sequel proved the sound.
ness OF their premises.
One feature of this distant war attracted at
the time not a little attention in Europe. 1t is
with some observations on this subject that the
author brings his volume to a close. 1t will be
remembered that the two great coast fortresses
OF the Chinese realm. Port Arthur and Wei
Hai-Wei, both succumbed to land attacks.
Major Caldwell, however. can see nothing sur.
prising in the fact that Japan chose to operate
against these two principal places of arms with
military instead Of with maritime forces. The
whole naval history Of modern times tends to
discountenance the attack of a feet upon coast
batteries, II these be formidable. 1t is not for
such hazardous enterprises that a nation strives
to build up sea power. The modern fighting
ship is far too valuable to be risked in such a
cause. NJ. W. H.