The National tribune., 1898-06-16
CHAPTER XIII.

THE RUSSIAN NAVY-PREPARIN(
TO EXPEL THE TURKS-N TIKI
BLACK SEA-DISCOMFITED BRITISH
ERS- "REMINISCENCES OF CATHA
RINE OF RUSSIA.
When Paul Jones accepted Catha
rine'S commission as Rear-Admiral In
her navy, the Russian glacier" was NOV
ing on the shores of the Black Sea. III
the general peace brought about by the
Treaty of Utrecht, which ended what VIC
know as Queen Anne's WarS'-the wars
of Marlborough-say about 1913 to 1920
Russia had not been factor in European
politics. All the energies of her rulers,
from Ivan to Peter the Great had been
expended in the task of internal consoH-
dation.
Except the brief episode of taking the
conceit out of Charles XII. of Sweden, and
the first partition of Poland in IVA
Russia had cut no figure in the general
affairs OF Europe prior TO the accession of
Cathanne, IN 1162 or, rather, prior TO her
famous letter to the Emperor of Austria,
in 1888, when she served notice not only
on him but on mankind in general that
Russia must henceforth be reckoned with
as a hrSt-rate power in all European af-
fairs.
Operations prior to GATHERINGS time had
resulted in the absorption of the Cossacks
this brought with it control of the mouth
OF that river at Rostoff, the Sea of Azoff,
the land approach to the Tauric Cher
soneSe (the Crimea) by the Isthmus of
Perekop, and the left bank of the Dnieper
to the mouth of the river.
The Turks, however, controlled all the
north shore of the Black Sea west of the
Dnieper, with the country back of it, and
SO long as they held the naval command
OF that sea the coast and the Crimean
peninsula must be at their mercy
By their great fortress of Oczakoff the
Turks commanded the mouths of the
Bong and Dnieper, the principal rivers OF
Russia, emptying in the Black Sea west
of Perekop, and by their other great fort
ress of Ismail they dominated also the
mouths of the Danube.
Catharine, about 1884 or 1885, determined
to expel the Turks utterly from the north
shores OF the Black Sea and to drive them
out OF all the country northeast OF the
mouths of the Danube. In word, she
determined TO end the existence of Turkey
as first-rate power or as prime factor
in European politics.
To the accomplishment of this purpose
the hrSt step necessary was the creation
OF a naval force In the Black Sea capable
OF Wrestling from the Turks the command
OF its waters, which they had held ever
since the capture of ConStantinople. So,
as early as 1885, Catharine began to
build vessels-of-war at AZoff, at kertch,
and at KherSon.
These ships were necessarily small, be-
cause there was only Ia feet of water on the
bar at kertch where tbs Azoff-built YES
sells must come out of the Straits of Yeni
kale, and there was not more than Is
feet on the bar at the mouth of the Jugul,
below khcrson. For some tine the Turks
paid no attention to these preparations.
Finally, in the Spring of 1887, when Catha-
rine had got about go sail of all kinds
ready Tor service, the Turks woke up and
demanded categorical explanation of the
meaning of this naval activity on the
part of Russia. Receiving no satisfactory
response TO this demand, the Sultan, Abdu
Hamld l., declared war against Russia
the last week in August, 1887, and at
once began TO take measures for holding
his positions on the north shore of the
Black Sea.
Before any considerable operations
could be arranged Winter came on.
Ca-harine promptly utilized this breath
ing spelP' TO equip her fleet. She had
sailors galore such as they were-but nc
capable commanders. Above all, she
needed Commander-in-Chief. Partly
from her own knowledge of his achieve
ments and partly on the earnest recon-
mendation of Count de Segur, French
Ambassador TO Russia, Catharine invited
Paul Jones TO enter the Russian navy
Correspondence on the subject, together
with Jones s unfinished duties as Ameri
can Commissioner at Copenhagen to col
lect prize money due for prizes adiudicated
and sold In Danish ports, consumed the
Winter, so that he did not reach St.
Petersburg, to receive his commission
until April, 1888. At that time quite a
the service of Catharine-from Is to 80 in
number-the ranking one among then
being Rear-AdmraI Greig, then comma nd
ing Catharine's Baltic feet. As soon az
they learned that Jones had been com
missioned Rear-Admiral by Catharne
these Englishmen all rushed to Prince
Potemkin and rendered their Yesigna
tions, declaring that they would no
serve with the pirate Paul JONES'"
When Potemkin reported this to Catha
rine she said:
Every WELT Remind the Englishmer
that l accepted their services when the,
offered themselves to me. Then tell then
that Paul Jones accepted my invitation t.
enter my service. That is a difference
Tell them that they are beggers of m,
bounty. Tell them that Paul Jones i.
my invited guest. Tell them that Catha
rine can well afford to rid herself of 81
beggars rather than dismiss one invited
guest Tell them also that they hav,
not yet become acquainted with the En-
press OF all the Russiasp
The Englishmen withdrew their resigna
tions instantly
Catharine then ordered Jones to tax,
command of her fleet in the Black Sea, a,
nominal second in command to the AID
miral Prince Nassau-Siegen, who by tn,
way, was her distant cousin; Catharin.
herself being a Princess of the ANIMAL
stock and thereby related to the Nassa,
family. II suffices to say that Nassau
Siegen was simply an honorary Admiral
DE was not even sailor.
In long letter to Lafayette, dated OF
board his flagship, the vladimir, befor
Oczakoff, June 20, 1888, Jones says:
1.-The Empress received me with a dis
tncton the most fiatterng, perhaps tina
any stranger can boast of. On enterin
the Russian service Her Majesty conferre,
on me Immediately the grade of Rear
Admiral. But the most significant mari
OF her favor was that she signed the com
mission IN my presence, gave the parch
ment TO me with her own hand, and thel
presented TO me a ieweled small-sword
with embossed scabbard, and brace q
hussar pistols of Circassian make, hav
ing ivory butts, gold mountings and sol
silver barrels, richly carved and inlaid.
The entire Court encourage wer
amazed at this. Her custom was {
grant commissions through the prope
minister, and gifts through her Gram
Chamberlain, Potemkin. And / was in
formed that no one had ever receives
similar honors from her own hands excep
the great SuwarrOw himself. NATURAL
L was elated and felt myself filled witt
sentiments not only of the most profount
loyalty to her crown, but also of the mos
ardent devotion TO her person. You ca,
conceive, my dear Marquis, in the exaIte,
chivalry OF your own soul, the depth @
mn hat