Page:The Next Naval War - Eardley-Wilmot - 1894.djvu/75

 years the scheme had been maturing and practised on a small scale. It now only needed for success that the intervening sea should be secure. Of this there could be no doubt. The Russian fleet in the Black Sea had been made vastly superior to the long neglected Navy of Turkey. Escorted by five powerful ironclads and numerous torpedo boats, the Russian expedition left the Crimea for the Bosphorus. It had often been asserted that the next war between Russia and Turkey would see a coup de main on Constantinople by an expedition landed at Kilios Bay, which is on the same side of the Bosphorus, and a few miles north of the entrance. But on this occasion a different policy was adopted. A foothold on the other side would be equally advantageous, without having such an alarming effect upon Europe. The great dream of Russia is to extend over the rich and fertile country of Asia Minor. Thus the last war saw her add a sensible slice, including Kars and Batoum, to her dominions. With possession of the greater portion of Asiatic Turkey, it would be a comparative matter of indifference as to who was the actual occupant of Constantinople. That would come in due course. Indeed, Constantinople is practically fed from Asia Minor. Russia was thus able to give Austria an assurance that she had no design upon that city.

In thirty-six hours the force arrived off Kili Point, which is about 20 miles from the Asiatic side