But these false attacks, as is usual in such cases, were not conducted with sufficient energy and decision, and Bosquet was thus enabled to perceive the real intentions of the enemy upon the English portion of the line and move to its assistance.

Moreover, the main body of the Russians moved in too heavy and unwieldy masses, which exposed them to terrible losses, and rendered impossible a rapid and effective deployment of their numerical force.

The same criticism is applicable to their formation at the battle of the Tehernaya.
NOTE TO CHAPTER VI .-- MEANS OF NATIONAL DEFENCE.
On the invasion of Mexico by the United States, the former republic had a large army of tolerably good troops, though badly officered, still worse equipped, and almost destitute of proper military stores; but she was entirely wanting in two important elements of national defence--fortifications and a navy.

Her weakness was shown by the rapid and easy conquest of almost the entire country.
We have already remarked that the fortifications of Russia confined the theatre of war to a single point of the Crimea, and limited the military operations of the allies to the prolonged and only partially successful siege of Sebastopol.
NOTE TO CHAPTER VII .-- SEA-COAST DEFENCES.
Allusion has already been made to the weakness of Mexico, resulting from her want of sea-coast defences, as shown by the war between that republic and the United States.

This would have been still more manifest had she possessed any thing like a commercial marine, exposed to capture by our naval forces.