Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/396

 366- THE PLAN OF THE ENTEKPRISE. C n A P. good deal of time for reinforcing the garrisons of Y XT V • o o J '_ the invaded province. It may be said that, since the Allied armies were to be attended along the coast by their fleets, they were not in the strictest sense a ' movable ' column.' Each night, no donbt, they expected to be in communication with their sliips; but, during each of the marches they were about to undertake, their dangers were to be in all respects the same as those which attend upon any other ' movable column ; ' for every morning they wgtq to cast loose from the ties which connected them with their resources, as well as with their means of retreat, and were to ground tlicir hopes of re- covering their communications upon their power to force their way through a country hekl by the enemy. In short, the Allied armies were a 'movable column;' but a movable column which could hope to find means of succour, and, if neces- sary, of retreat, by fighting its way to a point of contact with the attendant fleets, and covering its withdrawal by a victory. There is the more need for showing this by dint of words, since it happened that the true nature of the expedition was obscured by the course of events. It passed for a measure more prudent than it really was, because Prince Mentschikoff, being wilful and unskilled, did not take the right means for expos- ing its rashness. The march now about to be undertaken by the invaders was of such a kind that an enterprising enemy who understood his calling might bring