บท 52: The tsar who will liberate the Bulgarians? (1) (April-June, 1876).
[The Great Meeting of April]
On April 4 (NS: 16), Emperor Alexander III calls the so-called Great Meeting of April, where he summoned:
* The State Council.
* Directors of the Okhrana.
* Members of the General Staff (brought by the Ministry of War).
* Delegates of the provincial Zemstvos.
* Provincial governors (or delegates of the governors).
* 2 delegates from the Diet of the Grand Duchy of Finland, 1 delegate from the Kingdom of Poland, 1 delegate from Alyáska and 1 delegate from Novaya Gvineya.
A considerable meeting within the autocracy, it was not a Duma or a parliament far from it, it was clear that the great meeting was an extraordinary event as a celebration of 1 decade of government of Tsar Alexander III.
This meeting would be purely consultative to review the current state of the Russian Empire at that time.
In a decade of reign, considerable kilometers of railway had been built, having created lines that connected the heart of Russia (cities such as St.Petesburus, Moscow, Saratov, Valiky Novgorod, Tver, Ivanovo, Smolensk, Tula, Kursk, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Yekaterinodar, Ryazan, etc) with various other parts of the Russian Empire.
In the west the Kingdom of Poland (starting mainly from Warsaw), the Grand Duchy of Finland (Vyborg, Helsinki and other parts of the south), northern regions such as Murmansk, North Caucasus regions (Rostov-on-Don, Astrakhan, Grozny , Krasnodar and ports on the Caspian Sea) and the South Caucasus (from Baku in Azerbaijan to Poti and Abkhazia), Turkestan (mainly in the Kazakh steppe from west to east and a few less in the south), Bessarabia and Malorossiya-Novorossiya also grew (Kiev, Odessa, Kharkov, etc), railways from Europe to the Urals and through Siberia, various railways in the Far East (from Vladivostok to Kamchatka, while also seeking to finish the Trans-Siberian).
Russia's trade balance had become very favorable (worst-case neutral) thanks to the economic reforms of Minister Nikolai von Bunge. There was still room for improvement but it was progress considering previous delays.
Heavy industry grew considerably (competing with agricultural growth).
The extractive industry in particular was an explosion with the largest exploitation of the Caucasus, Siberia and the Far East (which increased their demographics considerably), even Alyáska (although this was mainly gold). The improvement of infrastructure throughout the Empire also helped, not only Russian mineral resources began to come out and be refined in the steel industry (processing of iron, steel and other metals), but also oil.
Due to the growth of the infrastructure there was a notable explosion in the cement industry, helping the growth of considerable roads, buildings and associates.
The chemical industry also advanced by leaps and bounds, mainly in the area of the production of fertilizers and explosives. There was also growth in the dye industry, but much less, and due to the climate there was no rubber industry to boast about (although it was suggested that it will start to be produced in Novaya Gvineya).
Light industry was also growing but at a slower rate compared to heavy industry (ignoring the agricultural sector as it competed with the growth of heavy industry).
The agriculture and livestock sector and the meat-dairy industry were growing enormously, because Russia (mainly its lands in southern Europe, parts of Central Asia and southern Siberia) were increasing their mechanization and production considerably. Supported by advances in government reforms like the Peasant Land Bank and more).
The textile industry grew especially in Central Asia, but there was still a lot of work to do in the region. This is precisely why a larger network of railways and investment was planned in the south of the region (the Transcaspian railroad).
Sugar in the south of Russia also suffered a considerable explosion in sales, there was not much more to say about that.
The private alcoholic beverages industry was also increasing, although it was not the traditional vodka or beer, it was mainly winemaking, growing especially in Malorossiya-Novorossiya.
There were proposals to start Cacao plantations now that Novaya Gvineya existed, but for that, the limitations of logistics and local infrastructure had to continue to be resolved.
The army and navy had certainly expanded their capabilities, but with increasing arms production and selling old weapons to other countries it helped to meet many of the expenditures on military infrastructure.
Not only with the planning of the General Staff but also with the growing infrastructure, the Russian army was becoming an increasingly well oiled machine.
The fastest growing branches of the navy were the Pacific and White Navy, while the Black Sea Navy was called "Under Rebuilding" so it was not included in this category.
Russia was getting closer to becoming the world's third largest navy.
The White Sea Navy's main objective is the defense of Murmansk and Russian security in the region, being a port that did not freeze in winter, the economic position of the city was growing considerably.
The Pacific Navy on the other hand served the direct defense of the Far East and associated territories (Tsushima, Quelpart, Russian New Guinea, Alyáska).
Technologically the (rising) Lieutenant Stepan Markov had made remarkable advances in Markov shells, armor penetrators, and in military strategies for the Black Sea fleet.
Russia had also become an innovative country in some of its growing industries, the manufacture of engines that ran on oil increased considerably in a short period of time with the creation of the Blinoc Cycle and Russian automobiles (tractors, but it was still an advance) .
Electricity production had also increased (and plans were being made for the commercialization of electric bulbs developed in the ELC), but it could still increase further. The hydroelectric resources of the Far East and the construction of power plants in the western sectors of the Empire were widely discussed. It was decided to make a mix of both.
Fyodor Apollonovich Pirotsky proposed a centralized underground electrical network, although some experimentation in this field was approved and not planned on a large scale at the Great Meeting of April.
In the aspect of education, with modern equipment, thousands of primary, secondary and tertiary institutions began to proliferate in the Russian Empire.
From Finland in the North to Vladivostok in the East, schools in the Caucasus and Central Asia (the south), the Baltic and Poland, etc.
Considerably increasing the number of "basic literates" in the Russian Empire, although the exact number was not known precisely, it was expected to range between 20% -30% of the population, only in European Russia.
Emperor Alexander III stipulated that in 1890 a census would be carried out to find out how many parts of the population could read and write ("basic literates" named by the government).
*******
At the present of the Grand Meeting of April, the Russian Empire already had a considerable mega-project, the construction of the Trans-Siberian Railway (occupation of the Ministry of Transport and Railways).
In addition, the construction of the Moscow underground metro began in Moscow.
However came the proposal of new projects, which were noted by Tsar Alexander III.
* The construction of a Volga-Don Canal, an ancient idea of various states in the region (such as the Ottoman Empire on one occasion). That would help considerably the passage of resources (such as oil) to the west.
* The construction of a White Sea-Baltic Sea Canal, an undoubtedly colossal idea (compared to the previous canal) that would occupy more than 200 kilometers and should allow the mobilization of the ships of the Navy of the Baltic White Sea.
* The St. Petersburg electric tram, devised by the aforementioned Fyodor Apollonovich Pirotsky.
* More railways in general (the Transcaspian being the main one, which could start relatively soon).
* Other important infrastructure projects (hospitals, schools, banks, etc.) and Russian growth in general. An expansion of St. Petersburg in particular is planned.
*******
[For Bulgaria]
After the Serbo-Croatians of Bosnia-Herzegovina (and the obvious Serbo-Montenegrin support for these rebels), it is the Bulgarians who are rushing in revolution against the yoke of the Ottoman government of Sultan Abdülaziz.
This occurs on April 16, another hugely celebrated event within the Slavic peoples of the Balkans and elsewhere (Russia above all). The fact is widely published by the Russians, reaching the ears of Western Europe.
Some non-Russian western journalists also extensively document the Bulgarian revolt taking place against the Ottoman Empire.
The Ottoman Empire has always been a "foreigner" to Europe, so to speak, but the European powers always accepted it for strategic reasons (not religious or cultural though).
The British government of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli was "pro-Ottoman" but only for strategic reasons, as they wanted to use the Ottomans to keep Russia away from the Mediterranean Sea.
Yet even Disraeli could not fully oppose Russia if there was a massive contrary public opinion.
Curiously, the Crimean War was one of the first wars widely reported to the public through newspapers. Now the Russians were using that cover for strategic purposes against the Ottomans and possibly other European powers.
*******
And the Ottomans fell just in spite of this 'trap', in hindsight it might seem obvious but in the heat of the moment and in the first person, the human being can be prone to making "mistakes" or decisions that in the future may seem remarkably stupid .
Due to a clash between Bulgarians and Ottomans, on May 9 (shortly after the start of the Bulgarian uprising in April), a total of 12,000 to 15,000 Bulgarians were massacred in the town of Batak, including children and women.
Western newspapers began to publish the news, that on May 10 and 16 it had even reached London through Germans and Americans.
Minister Benjamin Disraeli tried to disprove the mentions of the Ottoman repression as mere rumors or exaggerations, however the British public was rapidly turning anti-Ottoman because of this, following the currents of intellectuals and common masses throughout Europe (predominantly Christian and non-Turkish).
Disraeli's decision was lining up the British public in favor of the Bulgarians and Slavic groups who were seeking allies throughout Europe.
It also didn't help that Disraeli refused to support British farmers during the Great Depression (Long Depression) in order to put the long-standing enmity with Russia above them.
In general it can be said that the Ottoman Empire lost all sympathy outside certain circles like Disraeli itself, the former Prime Minister Gladstone was strongly against the Ottoman Empire for example. Originally Disraeli mentioned that Batak was "a misspelled lie" by the Bulgarians, one of their "many mistakes and crimes".
Something that obviously only put him in a worse position among growing European mass circles and intellectuals, even in the UK.
However, what more alerted Benjamin Disraeli was when on May 16, 1876, the Russians declared war on the Ottoman Empire, immediately launching a mobilization against the sick man of Europe.
*******
[European theater]
The Russian army was divided into two forces, mobilized through the Kishinev railway to the south of the Danube delta and Wallachia (the United Principalities of Romania). The Kishinev railway transported Russian forces to Wallachia, Izmail and Akkerman in record time, allowing the start of the Russian invasion early in the war.
On the one hand the main force of Wallachia was found led by the Minister of War Dmitry Alekseevich Milyutin, accompanied by the high ranking officers Mikhail Ivanovich Dragomirov, Iosif Vladimirovich Romeiko-Gurko, Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich the Elder, Sergei Maximilianovich Romanovsky Duke of Leuchtenberg , Fyodor Fyodorovich Radetsky and Nikolai Ivanovich Svyatopolk-Mirsky.
While on the other hand the Danubian armies were led by Mikhail Skobelev and Peter Alexandrovich Cherevin, divided into two forces.
On May 15, the Russian armies of Milyutin crossed the Danube from Wallachia, undoubtedly surprising the Ottoman Empire due to the speed of the Russian army (quite prepared for the operation).
The first assault was the cavalry and infantry led by Mikhail Ivanovich Dragomirov in their assault against the city-fortress of Svishtov (Sistovo), captured by the Russians allowed the passage of the rest of the Russian army towards Ottoman territory, effectively nullifying the possibility that the The Ottoman Danube flotilla posed a great risk to the Russian forces heading south.
From Svishtov the Danube army, made up of more than 100,000 men, divided into three to go to various points.
* The army led by Dmitry Milyutin advanced towards Nikopol, forcing the Ottoman garrisons to retreat towards Pleven, precisely where the Russian army was advancing.
* Iosif Vladimirovich Romeiko-Gurko (accompanied by Fyodor Fyodorovich Radetsky and Nikolai Ivanovich Svyatopolk-Mirsky) quickly led his part of the army towards Tarnovo (Veliko Tarnovo).
* Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich the Elder (accompanied by Sergei Maximilianovich Romanovsky Duke of Leuchtenberg) marched towards Mecka and Byala to protect the left flank of the central army (Romeiko-Gurko).
On May 17 the armies of Mikhail Skobelev and Peter Alexandrovich Cherevin took Constanța and Cernadova respectively, advancing swiftly towards Kavarna and Silistra.
On May 19 the Ottoman forces left Silistra to fortify the Ottoman position in Dobrich trying to stop the Russian advance (cut them off in that area). But Silistra and Kavarna fell silent against Cherevin and Skobelev.
Skobelev earned the nickname "White General" for his attire and his white horse as he led the Russian charges against the Ottoman forces while advancing south without stopping.
While Cherevin fortified his line making a future attack on the Ottoman forces in Ruse, Skobelev set out to threaten the Ottoman city of Varna.
While Milyutin besieged Pleven, Iosif Vladimirovich Romeiko-Gurko's army began to heavily add angry Bulgarians to the war effort. Angry volunteers after the Batak massacres, who supported the Russian general in taking Tarnovo on May 24.
Between the 23rd and 26th victories Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolaevich the Elder and Sergei Maximilianovich Romanovsky Duke of Leuchtenberg gave them victory over the Ottomans near Svetlen (securing the Byala-Svetlen line). Putting Katselovo under siege.
Ruse's Ottoman forces split and began an exodus eastward to Varna (via Razgrad and Shumen).
On May 29, Mikhail Skobelev launched his offensive against the Ottoman city of Varna, supported by the results of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea. The city then falls to the forces of the Russian Army and the Russian Foreign Legion on the morning of May 30, 1876.
At the Battle of Varna, a total of 12,000 Ottoman soldiers are killed by the Skobelev army, with thousands more captured while trying to escape to Dobrich without success.
Cherevin's Russian army demands Dobrich's surrender, which he fulfills after the fall of Varna and news of political events in the Ottoman Empire.
Skobelev plans to advance him soon towards the port city of Burgas.
*******
[Caucasus Theater]
The Caucasian front was placed under the administration of the general staff in Tbilisi, but the Russian army troops were placed under the command of Mikhail Tarielovich Loris-Melikov.
The troops were divided in two, they were transported from Tbilisi, one of the army columns went to Ozurgeti while the other went to Poti.
Meanwhile the general staff from Tbilisi programmed a defense line in the southern Russian territories. Akhaltsikhe and Akhalkalaki, Aleksandropol and Aladza, and Igdir.
Resisting against Ottoman incursions especially in the south (Aladza and Igdir).
The Russian advance led by Loris-Melikov headed for the Ottoman city of Kobuleti, which fell without major incident.
In early June Loris-Melikov's forces took the Ottoman city of Batumi. This forced Ardahan's Ottoman forces to split up, so that half of that force went to defend Artvin from a possible Russian advance.
In general, the Caucasian front was considerably slower than the European front, and showed the greatest errors of the general staff in certain aspects of the Russian defense.
*******
[Russian Navy of the Black Sea]
The Russian defense of its positions in the Black Sea was primarily the responsibility of Eduard Ivanovich Totleben and Stepan Osipovich Makarov.
On the one hand as the first and last line of defense, Totleben fortified and coordinated the logistics and defense lines of southern Russia in the positions of Bessarabia, Crimea and parts of the Caucasus.
On the other hand, most of the front was led thanks to Stepan Osipovich Makarov, because the Russian Black Sea fleet began to lay mines and besiege the nearby positions of the Ottoman Empire in the Danube delta (initially up to Varna) and the Caucasus-Anatolia (Kobuleti and Batumi).
Makarov used the Russian ships as a platform for launching smaller ships, intended for mine clearance and torpedo fire.
In the center of the Russian defense line the navy was positioned in a crescent position, while its flanks were filled with mines or torpedoes that fired at the Ottoman forces.
At that time the third largest navy in the world, but in considerable decline in military and technological power.
As if that were not enough, Russia began firing the Makarov shells, piercers of Ottoman armor that were the nails of the coffin of various Ottoman ships and sailors.
With flanks blocked (through mines or the protection of ships firing torpedoes), the Ottoman navy attempting to advance toward Russia was advancing toward the Russian crescent.
In this crescent the first columns of the Ottoman navy were defeated without particular difficulty, because they were in the perfect direction to receive attacks from the Russian troops.
The Ottomans could not attempt any serious offensive in the Black Sea, essentially divided from north (Russians) to south (Ottomans).
The Russian navy did not try to get too close to the straits, while quite a few Ottoman navy ships were rotting on docks or were already sunk in the Black Sea.
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