for a space in your review to lay before your readers some information on so interesting a subject. I never could quite understand the object of the Roman and Greek rulers in olden days, when these emperors sent enormous armies into Asia Minor, at fear that lasted for days, and besieging towns that it took years to get possession of, adventures frequently ending in failure and defeat, when they had so much larger fields in Europe open to their ambition. But now that almost every inhabited quarter of the globe has become an object of greed and intrigue amongst governments and peoples, it is important to know, as I will endeavor to demonstrate, that the key to European aspirations- the point de départ, as I may say, for new conquests and ambitions—is that tempting field of promise, Constantinople. Not only does Constantinople and its territories command the entire intercourse between the Black Sea and the outside world through the Mediterranean, besides that of Asia Minor as far as the Euphrates valley, with its enormous hitherto undeveloped riches, but it is certain that the possession of the Straits of the Dardanelles, which naturally would belong to the holder of Constantinople, threatens the Suez Canal and the road (or railroad, which we hope to see before the world is much older) to India. about it; and you know those fellows, if you owed them sixpence and didn't pay, would publish it in every club in London. It has been a bad dream. But look here," he added: "don't you ever go in for that sort of thing again. Your head won't stand it. I'm going to set you the example," he said with his laugh. "Neverful cost and loss of life, fighting battles if I should live to be a hundred," Gaunt cried with fervor. The sensation of this extraordinary escape, which he could not understand, the relief of having nothing to confess to the general, nothing to bring tears from his mother's eyes, affected him like a miraculous interposition of God, which no doubt it was, though he never knew how. There was another vision which belonged to the time of his illness, but which was less apocryphal, as it turned out the vision of those two forms through the mist of one, all white, with pearls on the milky throat, which had been somehow accompanied in his mind with a private comment, that at last false Duessa being gone forever, the true Una had come to him. After a while in the greenness of the Warren, amid the cool shade, he learned to fathom how that was. But were we to enter into all the processes by which Lady Markham changed from the "That can never be!" of her first light on the subject, to giving a reluctant consent to Frances's marriage, we should require another volume. It may be enough to say that in after days, Captain Gaunt-but he was then colonel thought Constance a very handsome wom an, but could not understand how any one in his senses could consider the wife of Claude Ramsay worthy of a moment's comparison with his own. "Handsome, yes, no doubt," he would say; "and so is Nelly Markham, for that matter; but of the earth, earthy, or of the world, worldly; whereas Frances The possessor of Constantinople naturally commands the Black Sea, and by doing so turns in a military point of view the flank of Austria, Germany, and all the little states lying on the banks of the Danube. The Eastern commerce of the above-named countries would be utterly at the mercy of the holder of Constantinople, the more so should that holder be one of the great powers of Europe. In short, far-seeing men like Lord Palmers Words failed to express the difference, which was one with which words had noth-ton, Cavour, and Metternich kept a sharp ing to do. From The Nineteenth Century. A STRATEGICAL VIEW OF TURKEY. THE geographical situation of the Turkish Empire, and the great importance of its strategical position (in so far as the latter undeniably influences the balance of power not only in Europe, but in the whole Eastern world), are so seldom brought before the mind of the public, in England especially, that I venture to ask lookout on Constantinople, regarding which they always said to other powers, especially Russia, "Hands off!" These statesmen seemed fully to understand how important it is that the little straits which divide Europe and Asia should be in the hands of what may be called an unambitious and not over strong power, such as Turkey, a nation which for so many years has never shown herself desirous of conquest, merely struggling to hold her own and to keep possession of what she so courageously fought for four hundred years ago, and which she well knows would be soon wrested from her were it not that so many rival dogs are snarling over the bone, i.e., the Turkish Empire. Bit by bit we see the object of the enemies of Turkey carried out, in as far as the approaches to Constantinople are concerned; but woe to the time when one ravenous animal, stronger for the moment than the others, makes a swoop and estab lishes his lair on the shores of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles! Woe to the time! I say, because those who permit such an act will forever regret that they did not spend the last drop of their blood in preventing a deed so injurious — nay, so ruinous to their general interests. realizing her old and firmly laid ambition, viz., Constantinople, and that so soon as she can conquer or cajole the Turcoman tribes and has weakened Persia she will strike a blow at Armenia, and through that country prepare to advance towards the Ottoman capital. Now it is clear that this would be a wise move on her part, as then she would avert a collision with Austria and Germany, who must fight if Russia were to throw an army through Roumania towards the Balkans. Having thus briefly dwelt on the ambitious policy of some of the European powers, who, as I said before, are biding their time to finish their quarrel over the bone of contention among themselves, viz., the Straits of the Bosphorus, which means, in other words, the disintegration of the Turkish Empire, I will proceed to refer to the means of defence which have been so liberally meted out by Providence to the Ottomans. Europe and Asia are divided by what are called the Straits of the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. These straits are so narrow that at their widest point they are not half a gunshot across. The town of Constantinople with its thickly popu lated environs covers nearly the whole of both sides of the Bosphorus, the ap proaches to which can well be defended by torpedoes and heavy guns. The Dardanelles are protected by immense fortifications. It is true that the huge forts and heavy guns on the European side of the Dardanelles are commanded by a small range of hills, and the holder of these hills would be able to threaten the safety of the batteries. But the Turks are wisely keeping this fact in view and are defending the hills themselves from attack by planting heavy guns on them. We hear daily rumors of Austria's ambitious intentions as regards Salonica, of Germany's ideas of pushing the Austrians south and taking possession of the northern province of the empire now ruled by the house of Hapsburg; we hear of Russia thirsting for Armenia, of Greek proj ects of conquest in Macedonia, etc., etc. I wish I could believe that these nations are merely building castles in the air. There is no smoke without fire, and doubt less statesmen such as they are entertain serious theories in support of their ambitious ideas, which they only delay putting into practice till the time is ripe for action. But I feel convinced that nothing definite will be done until after a great European convulsion, or, to call it by its proper name, a general war of a fearful and destructive nature. Then, and not before, the conqueror will attain his object and dictate his own terms to the rest of Europe. I am certain that all the tall talk about Austria going to Salonica is at the present moment what we call in this country “bosh," and so it will remain until the balance of power (military power I mean) is very much altered. Austria finds enough to do just now in maintaining her position in Bosnia and the Herzegovina. On the Asiatic side there are no such Her anti-Slav subjects, backed by the hills, so that the forts there are safe from Bulgarians, whose furious hatred of the attack by land. Now through the BosPanslavists, their great Russian support-phorus and the Dardanelles a quick curers, and their party in Austria, is so well known that those who govern in Vienna hesitate before they incur greater difficulties and complications, such as they have to deal with in those only partially conquered provinces. Then, again, Greece finds it well to "look before she leaps" into what might prove to her a slough of despond. Besides, I have reason to believe that Greece now is flirting with Turkey for a temporary anti-Slav alliance. It seems more than probable that Russian aggression in Afghanistan, through a deeply laid scheme, aims throughout at rent is almost always running in the same direction — that is, from the Black Sea into the Mediterranean at the rate of from three to four miles an hour. The waters are deep and in some parts narrow. What a chance for torpedo defence! No necessity for risking this newly invented weapon by exposing it in boats or ships; all that has to be done is to send under water (thus invisible) torpedoes such as I have seen invented in England by Messrs. Siemens & Co., torpedoes that explode on striking. Send, I say, a couple of hundred of these invisible (as they are im place between England and Russia in regard to the latter's movements." mersed several feet under water) deadly weapons against an advancing fleet and the greater part of their ships would be Prince Bismarck has declared that he destroyed. We hear also of the wonder would not sacrifice one Pomeranian to fully clever invention by Mr. Nordenfeldt | save Constantinople. The Austrians care, of a submarine torpedo boat, which if successful is well suited for the defence of the Straits. But I am reminded that Constantinople might be attacked as it were with the current that is, from the Black Sea. This reminder is somewhat a staggerer, as it not only seems possible but exceedingly probable that such might be the case. In that event torpedoes, or what are more usually called ground mines, must be placed at the entrance of the Bosphorus, and torpedo ships and boats must be always in readiness to resist attack by sea and defend the mines. One thing is obvious, viz., that torpedoes and their accompaniments, from their cheapness and efficacy, were invented as it were for the defence of Turkey - in fact, for any nation surrounded by water, such, for example, as England. The moral effect of these weapons is very great, and I have no doubt that as means of defence they would in reality be most efficacious. The entrance of the Bosphorus is already defended by guns of the heaviest calibre against attack by sea, and, according to the opinion of competent judges, the Dardanelles with very little expense could be rendered impregnable. Now let us reflect what would be the result of an attack by land. I do not wish to be considered as writing in any way in a hostile spirit to Russia, a nation whose gallantry and many fine qualities I am bound to respect; but it has become with me a fixed idea that the great danger to Turkey lies in the avowed intentions and obviously declared ideal destiny of that great country to advance. She will have Constantinople if she can, and so fulfil the will of Peter the Great and the dream of Catherine. Well, then, supposing that Russia puts her foot down, and, taking advantage of the hitherto somewhat vacillating and constantly varying policy of England, says boldly, "I am going to Constantinople," some one, I imagine, in the English House of Commons would echo the question, "Is it true that Russia is marching on Constantinople?" The answer would probably be, “Sir, her Majesty's government has no certain knowledge of the fact, and at present it is not thought advisable to inform the House of any correspondence that may have taken or pretend to care, only as to what hap pens in Turkey in Europe and its adjoining provinces. Then who cares that is to say, who cares sufficiently — for what may happen to Turkey any more than self-interest dictates? Thus it is obvious that Turkey must act alone in defending her empire and above all her capital. We have had in the last few weeks sufficient proof that military action on the part of Turkey, even though used in supporting her just rights, is not recommended by her so-called friends; but there is a limit to giving heed to such counsels, and the time will come when action must be taken to save the very empire itself. It is true that the Turks are not rich and cannot afford the gigantic armaments now being made all over the world. Still, as I before remarked, nature has supplied the Ottomans with means of defence such as few nations can boast of. The ap proaches to her capital are surrounded by water, making its defence by sea comparatively easy. Mountains through which there are few if any roads by which an invading army can advance, mountains on which snow lies deep during six months of the year, help to defend Constantinople from attack by way of Asia Minor, and there are reasons before explained why Russia would not wish to attack her by way of the Balkans. It is true that if Russia commanded the Black Sea she would hold Constantinople at her mercy; but she does not do so, and it is to be hoped she never will. Russia's next move will be in Armenia; and then how about the idea that still is occasionally seriously considered, viz., an Euphrates valley railway as a second route to India? Volumes have been written on this subject, but the parties most interested should open their eyes to the danger foreign possession of the northern part of Asia Minor would be to such an enterprise, insomuch as regards the safety of England's Indian possessions. Fuss enough has been made over the Suez Canal, the construction of which Lord Palmerston so strenuously opposed; but if years ago the proposed Euphrates valley railway had been made and thus our direct communication with India assured, how many present and future complications would have been avoided! Not only would direct and rapid communication with India have been effected, but a country teeming with riches would have been opened up; and the line might have been so constructed with branches from the direct route that Turkey could have sent troops from her capital to certain points in the northern parts of Asia Minor, which would have checked, if not entirely prevented, the advance of a Russian army against Constantinople. Moreover, any advance of the Muscovite to the Euphrates valley would have been easily prevented. All this can be done now, but we must have the men at the helm for both Turkey and England who understand the great importance of such an undertaking. As to the European provinces of Turkey, their remaining "provinces of the Turkish Empire" depends very much on the good will (or bad will), as I may call it, of the great neighboring powers. As to the small, newly formed states, they are, and will be always, I fear, in a state of disturbance, brought on by foreign intrigue and their own exaggerated idea of patriotism; but I must repeat that the want of accord as to their redistribution, if necessary, is at present Turkey's safety. We have, while considering this subject, to deal with Slavs, anti-Slavs, Greeks, Albanians, Servians, Bulgarians, Bosnians, and Herzegovinians, all small, ambitious States which, when the crisis comes, will be absorbed under one great power, into one great power. Constantinople can be always made safe on the European side from attack by land, as its approaches are so well adapted by nature for defence that the brave Turks must indeed be awed into submission to have lost all heart when they allow an enemy to approach its walls from the westward. While writing on what concerns Constantinople, its European dependencies, and the northern part of Asia Minor, it is well to remember that there remains a very large portion of the Turkish Empire to which it is necessary to refer - I mean that which includes southern Asia Minor generally, called Anatolia, Syria, and the vast tract of country inhabited by the Arabs extending from the seashore of the Mediterranean to Mecca and Bassorah. Up to the present time the somewhat lawless peoples that inhabit the latter country have been controlled, and remain loyal to their sovereign. It is true that small revolutions, principally caused by quarrels among the various tribes, occasionally break out; but the greater part are trivial affairs, easily put down. This I attribute to the absence of foreign intrigue. No one of of the great powers, so far, has ventured to put a finger into the pie of the government of Yemen or its immedi ate neighborhood. The nearest neighbor is England, who has at present no greater interest in those remote parts than that her ships navigate at some distance along the dangerous Arabian coast. She looks for some civilization in the way of light houses being erected and piracy kept down; so that, with the exception of some slight interference here and there on the Arabian coast, England does not take any part in what goes on in those regions. How long this will continue it is hard to say, but one has confidence in affirming that England, though she may be accused of a blundering policy at times, does not descend to intrigues such as one sees resorted to elsewhere when some object has to be attained. Bassorah, situated at the extreme eastern end of the Turkish Empire, may have, one of these days, an important part to play, as being situated at the head of the Persian Gulf, and so, as it were, in an important strategical position, when com. munications between India and Europe are more fully developed either by Russia or by England. Moreover, as being the seaport of Bagdad, it has its importance. Thus we see that in the far future Turkey may be liable to find herself threatened even in that remote quarter of the globe, where, indeed, defence would be difficult, if not impossible. In every case Turkey must have friends and allies whose mutual interests are blended with hers. Who those friends should be it requires no great prevoyance to understand. In so far as regards the southern parts of Asia Minor and Syria there is little to be said. Those vast tracts of land have been sparsely visited by Europeans, save with the object of (vain hope so far) mak. ing railroads wherewith to connect Europe and the East, or in research of sites or remains of ancient cities, such as Nineveh, etc. So these far-away countries rest undisturbed in the hands of their old conquerors, the Mussulman races. It cannot be denied that France has always had a hankering after Syria; but her attempt at governing the Lebanon was attended with such unsatisfactory results that I fancy she will hesitate before she again embarks on a similar enterprise. The coast of Syria is absolutely without safe seaports; these, however, could be made, did the necessity arise. Project after project has been laid before the public for the purpose of developing the country, and some of the wildest schemes ever conceived have been seriously proposed, and have vanished almost as soon as projected. Nothing really advantageous to the interests of Turkey and the world at large can or will be done till railways are introduced. Then little by little the country will be properly surveyed and advantage taken of the knowledge gained. Anatolia is the real nursery of the Turk. From thence are taken the best soldiers and sailors, from thence comes the revenue (alas! sadly reduced) that still keeps Turkey alive, and from thence might come such riches as California never produced. But what can be expected? Turkey is never left quiet; she is continually threatened by revolutions and troubles of every description, and her so-called friends al ways desert her in her extremities. I have especially refrained in this paper from speaking of Turkey's possessions in Africa. There injustice has been meted out to Turkey, simply in accord with the filibustering proclivities of the nineteenth century. Still a vast territory remains under her sovereignty. Egypt has not yet been taken from her, and England, though playing until now what may be called a fast and loose game, has never supported or proposed a policy of annexa tion pure and simple. Tripoli remains purely a Turkish possession, and I trust will remain so. There defences can be - in fact are already-made, and the warlike tribes who inhabit the neighboring country would be difficult to subjugate, more so even than the brave men who defended the Soudan, for they would be better armed, aided by Turkish troops, and their seaport can be defended by torpedoes, etc., etc. The bombardment of Tripoli would little avail the would-be conquerors of the neighboring country. One of the most curious events in all the "take what you can " system, so much in vogue of late years, has been the action of Italy in the eastern part of the Soudan. Without rhyme or reason she throws a body of her troops into that hitherto little known region, sends ships and torpedo boats to fight the Arabs in the neighboring mountains, loses half the entire army by fever, and is too proud to come away and admit that she has made a mess of it. And of what she intends to do neither she nor any one else seems to have the slight est notion. She has not even the excuse that she wishes to protect the road to Since writing the above, events in Bulgaria, combined with the general movement and excitement of the neighboring States, prove the animus which, though up till now more or less dormant, influences the people of these countries. As I have already remarked in the beginning of this article, their chief ideas seem covetousness and intrigue. One and all, from Russia down to the smallest of the "infant liberties," they lie in wait to prey upon their neighbors. The Ottoman Empire is the principal aim of these ambi tions, and the slightest move on the part of the "sick man" is an excuse for a snatch at some of his possessions. The only one amongst them who seems endowed with prudence, self-control, and a desire to mind his own business, is the victim himself. Even Mr. Gladstone must acknowledge that Turkey shows to advantage in the present crisis. The wisdom of the sultan in refraining from immediate hostilities when he had every right to interfere has probably averted a European conflagration; and it is curious to note that he is now the peace-maker, and that the appeal for his assistance comes from the very people that have always been represented to Europe as the former victims of his cruelty and oppression. These are the Christian populations whose eman. cipation from Turkish rule was supposed to be the best guarantee for the mainte nance of peace and civilization. Now we see them ready to fly at each other's throats, and in their rage accusing each other of atrocities such as formerly only the "unspeakable one" could have been believed guilty of. In truth, these turbulent and impetuous little States, the nurslings of modern Europe, seem hardly capable of self-government. It is not the princes of Servia and Bulgaria who are in reality responsible for the deplorable carnage which is taking place in their dominions; they found it impossible to restrain the warlike eagerness of their people, and were thus almost forcibly involved in a struggle which can only result in loss and |