Crimean War 1853-1856 - a 🧵: Tzar claims jurisdiction over Christians (Ukrainians) in the Holy Land & Crimea (Lugansk, Donetsk & Crimea). Austro-Hungary (Russian empire's "allies"), Turkey, France & England unite against the Tsar. How did things go? 1/
"This unexpected weakness of Russia in military matters arises from four concurring causes, of which three are inherent in her system, and,
if nof absolutely incurable, are at best little likely to be cured. First,..." 2/
"...the first place, the nature of the country and the want of roads. Her resources may be vast, but they are scattered and remote. Her forces may be immense, but they are necessarily in great measure distant from the scene of action..." 3/
"Secondly. The Russian armies are often armies on paper only.
Not only are their numbers far fewer than are stated in official
returns & paid for out of the official purse, but they are noto-
riously ill-provided w everything necessary to the effective
action of a soldier..." 4/
"..,The colonels of regiments & officers of the commissariat have a direct interest in having as large a number on the books and as small a number in the field as possible, inasmuch as they pocket the pay and rations of the
difference between these figures..." 5/
"... This will explain why the vast armies ... which were announced as on their march to the Danube
nearly a year ago, never reached that river at all; why of the
150k or 200k men who, we are told, occupied the Principalities, more than 70,000 ever could be got together;..." 6/
"... and why we only find 50,000 troops in the Crimea, though nine months since it was proclaimed
that reinforcements to the number of 70,000 had been ordered thither. The fuct is, that thousande die or fall sick on the road; thousands more lag behind or desert..." 7/
"...every pair of shoes or great coat intercepted from the wretched soldier is a bottle
of champagne for the ensign
or major; every ammunition
waggon which is paid for by Government, but not provided, is a handsome addition to the salary of the captain or the contractor..." 8/
"...This horrible and fatal system originates in ... Russian autocracy...Then the power of
the Autocrat, absolute as it is and vigorously as it is exercised,
is utterly insuflicient to meet the evil. What can a despot do who
has no instruments that can be trusted?..." 9/
"...Thirdly, the common soldier, brave and hardy as they are, devoted to their Czar, and careless of privation have no love of their their profession, and no interest in the object of the war.
except the household regiments, who are near the person of the
Emperor..." 10/
"...How can such troops be expected to make head- against... well-fed Turks fighting for their country, and their faith and officered by competent commanders? ... We read that ... Russians had to be driven
on to the assault with menaces and blows; ..." 11/
"...Lastly. There is another source of weakness in the Russian
Empire. That vast State is in a great mensure composed of the
spoils which she has torn from
surrounding nations. She is a
patchwork of filched and unamalgamated materials..." 12/
"Her frontier provinces are filled w injured, discontented, hostile populations, whom, being unable to reconcile to her rule, she has, endeavoured ... to crush; & many of whom wait, ... the blessed day of emancipation & revenge..." In 1856 Russia lost the Crimean War 13/13
"till a free Press be permitted in Russia & encouraged to unveil and denounce abuses; till the rights & feelings of annexed territories be habitually respected, we do not think that Russia need henceforth be considered as formidable for aggression. She has been unmasked." 14/13
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