Hornby's appraisal of the Ottoman force separates battlefield courage from the institutions needed to sustain a campaign. He expressed strong confidence in the fighting men but much less confidence in their officers. He also doubted the Ottoman ability to manage logistics. That distinction explains why British control of the Russian heavy-artillery route mattered: capable defenders could exploit the delay if naval positioning denied the attacker the equipment required for a siege.
Notable Point · 56:08-56:32
Hornby separated Ottoman courage from command capacity
Hornby trusted Ottoman soldiers' fighting ability while doubting their officers and logistics, a distinction that shaped how British naval support could deter Russia.