Page:The invasion of the Crimea Vol. 8.djvu/287

 COMMENCED EXPEDITION TO KERTCH. 255 the Cimmerian Bosphorus, they are now called x ' the Straits of Kertch. By seamen the straits were regarded as con- sisting of two distinct 'Narrows' — the first one extending off ground adjacent to Cape St Paul, and the other one off Yeni Kale The town of Kertch (Panticapaeum, once the dwelling-place of King Mithridates) faces those somewhat broader waters which spread out between the two Nar- rows. II. The enemy had long been alive to the import- The enemy's . • r> i i • endeavours ance of keeping the straits firmly closed against to guard the enterprises of the Allies, and had made great exertions to compass his object. Owing mainly to storms, and the strength of the currents, he had failed, it is true, in the strenuous endeavours he made to block the two narrow channels by either the sinking of ships, or the sinking of anchors, or resort to explosive contrivances, and his expedient of collecting an armed flo- tilla in the roadstead of Kertch was not one that strengthened him greatly against powerful navies. He had planted no artillery on the Circassian side of the straits, but along the opposite shore — the shore of the Kertch ine Peninsula — where it faced and commanded the two narrow channels, he had established seven powerful batteries which effectually kept the straits closed against the ships of his adver- saries. These batteries, whilst open in rear,