Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-06

the Russians. The Turks suffered least
Of all. notwithstanding the fact that the
war was fought in their behalf. They
were an Insignificant factor In the
struggle.
The war was famous for two of the
most notable events In military history
the siege of Sebastopol and the charge
Of the light brigade. The siege lasted
thirteen months until the Russians were
absolutely starved out. They have al
ways asserted that with food they might
have resisted forever. The city was as
saulted four times with Internal fire."
and an appalling sacrifice OF life without
assaults that brought Sebastopol down,
but the persistence of the siege. Military
critics have often said that IL was a war
of spades and not OF guns. The in
trenchments of the allies were gradually
advanced until the city was like the body
of man wrapped in the coils of an
anaconda. The situation being no longer
tenable, as soldiers say, the Russians
spiked their guns, blew up their maya
zines and Notifications. burned their store
houses, sunk every floating thing in the
harbor and evacuated September 10. 1855
having lost in the siege, according to
their own accounts. 2.6S4 killed, 1912
wounded and 1.763 missing.
The Russian losses in the several bat
ties which preceded the siege were more
than 10000 killed and wounded. The
French cemetery contains $4,000 graves.
most OF them marked.
After the Russians retired the allies
took possession Of the ruins OF the city
and remained until peace was declared.
The English losses were placed At
10000. The unusual severity Of the
winter and the lack OF food. clothing.
blankets. medicines and other neces-
ferng, and more than 5000 British SOL
diers died OF disease
Florence Nightingale's Work.
Florence Nightingale. an English lady
of gentle birth. came to the Crimea as a
volunteer nurse. and with extraordinary
executive ability and determination took
command Of the hospitals. reorganized
the management and established prec-
edents in military medical practice
which have ever since prevailed.
The trouble with the British army In the
Crimea was the same that appeared In
the South African war fifty years later:
the same that prevailed on the part OF the
United States during our recent war with
Spain, condition that military students
are always warning each other against.
land went into the war voluntarily. inter-
vening for the protection of Turkey In an
AFFAIR which was of no direct interest to
the government or the people Of Great
bIitdiH, DOtH tn0 diu Tic navy, In
every department.. were totally unprepared
Upon the arrival Of the troops at the Cri-
mea 1t was discovered that they were alb
solutely without necessary supplies OF
food, clothing. ammunition and indeed
practically everything else. The medical
department was without drugs. instru-
ments. filters and other requirements.
Gen. Sir Evelyn Wood. in his history OF
the Crfmean war. says:
THE neglect of all preparation for war
during forty years Of peace foredoomed
the gallant army which left England in
1854. and general mismanagement led It.
to the verge of humiliation. Engiaud's
futility cost her dear in treasure, in repu-
tation, in blood. but the victims Of her
parsimony sustained the hon.
or of Englishmen. and with ragged
clothes. muddy tents and empty stomachs
enriched the best traditions Of the service.
past and to come"