CANTERBURY CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XI, Issue 30, 23 November 1883, Page 5

CANTERBURY CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

„ _, „. Cbristchurcb, Nov. 16. Mb. Dobbin delivered a very interesting lecture on lt The TurkoRussian War " before the members of the Literary Society on Monday evening, November 12. la the first place the lecturer dealt with, the causes of the war which he attributed to the greed of Russia, whose favourite dream was that the Sclavonian population of* European Turkey must be united under her rule. One of the more immediate pauses was the insurrection of the Herzegoviniaus against their Turkish masters in July of '75. This revolt attracted the attention of- most of the' Powers of Europe., who feared aTre-opening of the dre ided Eastern question. They recommended the Porte to send a commission to Herzegovina, which resulted in [the Sultan issuing a firman in December °of that year, granting several concessions to all Christian subjects. The insurrection still spread, consequently a meeting of the Emperors of Austria' Germany, and Russia was held towards the end of the year, the outcome of which was the Andrassy note. This resulted in nothing, and was followed soon after by the Berlin memorandum, drawn up by the diplomatists of the northern Powers, which, like its predecessor, became a dead letter. Later on the Bulgarians followed the example of their co-religionists in the west and rose in revolt, but were slaughtered iv thousands by the irregular troops of the Porte. It was estimated that 25,000 "persons were ' killed in cold blood, and upwards of 90 towns and villages were destroyed. Such was the " Bulgarian atrocities," which did so much to bring on the Russian invasion. Popular indignation against the Turks being now at its height, Servia determined to throw off her allegiance to the Porte, Montenegro following her example sooa after. The Servians showed themselves'to the best advantage as a host of despicable cowards, being defeated in engagement after engagement, whilst the Montenegrins proved themselves to be born warriors. In December, 76, a conference of delegates from the Powers took place at Constantinople when certain reforms were insisiel upon, but to which the Porte would not accede. This was just what Russia wanted, as her desires were not so much for the alleviation of the condition of the Christians under Ottoman rule as to humiliate Turkey. On the 54th of April, 77, the Czar issaed a manifesto, recapitulating the course of events during the past two years, and formally placing a declaration of war in the hands of the Turkish ambassador. Tne Russian army, including militia, etc., amounted at that time t0' 3,300,000, not one-half of which was engaged in the war because the necessity did not arise. Her navy consisted of 24 ironclads, some of these being ships of the highest class. Turkey could not muster a force of 400,000 effective soldiers, but this was in ber own country, close to supplies, .and ensconced within walls or fortresses. Her navy consisted of 21 ironclads and about 100 other vessels, manned by crews of as brave sailors as are in the world. The commander of this fleet was Hobart Pasha — son to the Duke of Buckingham. — Here the lecturer illustrated the natural defences, and the fortifications of Turkey along the Danube by a sketch map on a black-board. The Russians crossed the Turkish frontier on the 3rd of April, and marched southwards with great rapidity. In May the Roumanians declared war against Turkey and joined their arms to those of the Russians. By the end of June, troops had been massed along the whole line of the Danube. Terrific bombard meats were exchanged from both sides, and, although the war was at its beginning, some brillliant feats were performed, such as Hobart Pasha succesfully getting to sea in his yacht, despite the precautions of the Russians, and the blowing-up of the Turkish Monitor by a torpedo which was attached to it by two Russian officers. The Russians had now the most difficult task before them of crossing the river. This they successfully attempted at Galatz, the Turks falling back before them, after offering only a slight resistance. The apathy of the Turks concerning tbs crossing of the Danube is totally iuexplicable. Here the lecturer gave a vivid description of the crossing of the river by the Russian force, and the oppostion of the Turkish garrisons. The first act of the invaders after th -ir success was to build a bridge of boats by means of which a constant stream of troops poured into Bulgaria. The war now entered upon a new phase. Hitherto the operations were confined to the northern shore of the Danube, but now that obstacle being overcome, the enemy bad to set k his antagonist,? who up to this had offered but little resistance. The enemy divided bis forces into three divisions. The march of the Russians southward up to (his time was a soitof military promenade and triumphal procession, such was the inactivity of their opponents. On the loth the foi tress of Nicopolis fell into the hands of the Russians after a stubborn resistance by its defender?. The Russians, elated by their success pushed on to Plevna, where they received a crushing defeat. General Gourka. who commanded another division of the Russian army, left Tinooia on the 12ih July with the intention of seizing the Balkan Passes if possible. Toe Turks being unprepaied for so daring a movement were defeated, gTeat dismay falling on the Turkish capital wh^n it became known that a strong dttaebment occupied the south slopes of the Balkan. An attack on the Shipka Pass commenced on the 17tb, whic'i was defended by a stroDg body of Tuik«, who were arranged in tiers of entrenchments, which, after an obstinate defence, was taken by the Russians, but with great loss. — Tne lecturer here gave a lengthened and giaphic description of the great battle of Plevna, which Mr. Forbes witnessed from a neighbouring hill, and concerning which he sent six columns of matter to the Daily News ; it appearing in that paper four days after the battle, although he bad to ride over oue buadr.d miles to a telegraph station. The Russians suffered a crushing defeat at Plevna, losing above 10,000 men, whilst the loss of the Turks was comparatively small, in consequence of being protected by their earthworks. The Russian force under General Kepokoitcbsky had sever.il encounters on a small scale with the enemy under the command of Mehemet Ali, but without any advantage of importance to either • side. About the middle of July a powerful force of 30,000 men was ' sent to the Shipka Pass, in order to dislodge the Russians from the

positions which they occupied ; but, despite Salieman Pasha's efforts, tae enemy kept bis grounds, and the Ottoman troops were withdrawn in a few days from the vicinity of the Pass. On the 31st August a vigorons sortie was made from Plevna, great slaughter being inflicted on tne Russians, who were totally unprepared. About this time the command of the Russo- Roumanian forces was given to Prince Charles of Koumama, with the object, probably, of inspiring his countrymen with greater liking for the war than they had yet felt. No further attack had been made on the Turkish position since the great battle ol dlst July. This could not continue much longer, accordingly another attempt wa<t male on the 7th September.— The lecturer then T fTr a ™ S £ n , ption of the second attempt on Plevna, from the view of Mr. M'Qahan, of the Daily News, which he conc'udes thus :-" It was sublime— it was awful— it was pitiful to see the Russians struggling up the glaciers one by one. They drop. They are not followed. They are lefc to die overwhelmed, broken, vanquished." me renewed attack oi Plevna was amo 4 disastrous failure. During the few days of fighting the Russians lost 20,000 men. In consequence of Mr. Dobbin being pressed for time, he was compelled to treat very briefly of Osman Pasha's bold attempt to burst through the Russian lines at Plevna, and final surrender of tbat place, and also the other events connected with the war until the termination of hostilities and the Treaty of San Stefano. Mr. Maskell thanked Mr. Dobbin for his lecture, which showed great care in its preparation. The defence of Plevna ciuse i great excitemeut at the time, as the deeds of heroism enacted there were not exceeded by any events in the Franco-German war. He agreed in one point with Mr. Gladstone that it will be well fjr Europe when the Turks are cleared out bag and baggage." Mr. O'Connor, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Dobbin, said that England did not treit the Porte fairly, and whatever might be said of the Turks and the rottenness of their system, yet it was preferable to the brutality of Russia— for example her treatment of the brave Poles. Mr. Perceval had great pleasure in seconding the vote, as lie enjoyed the splendid lecture very much. Were it not that Disraeli sent the fleet to the Dardanelles at the time, the excitement in England would lead to a declaration of war. Mr. Dobbin bmfly thanked the members for their patient hearing and for the vote of thanks.