The Press. — London, England, 1854-05-13 00:00:00

440 behind which they sheltered themselves burst out into a furious fire. li, Each of the vessels which remained out of action had sent a rocket-boat, firing 24-pound rockets, and these caused terrible destruction. The dockyard was the chief object of these missiles, and it was soon in flames. The seamen of the Terrible, which remained on the spot till the 25th, declare that it burnt for two days and two nights, and this vast collection of naval stores must have been totally destroyed. A Russian frigate that was in the harbour caught fire during the action and blew up. Two new frigates on the stocks were also burnt, together with twenty or thirty merchantmen. At half.past five p.m., when the action had lasted 12i hours, the signal of recall was made. The action ceased ; the Terrible having lost two men killed and five wounded, the Retribution three, and the Sampson five woundad. Unless the Russians escaped from their burning frigate before its explosion, their loss must have been terrific in this one spot. All attempts, however, to estimate the number of their killed and wounded must be mere guess-work. In the early part of the day the steam-frigate Arethusa was ordered to attack the southern side of the Quarantine Mole battery as a diversion, for its guns had frequently been trouble some. Nothing could be prettier than the way in which she stood in, hove to, and delivered her fire, filled, tacked, and again delivered her broadside. Shortly after the breeze freshened, and she deliberately reefed her topsails, though under fire, and was then recalled by the admiral. As the Terrible was the most distinguished in this action she was received with all honours on passing the fleet at its conclusion. Each ship cheered her as she steamed past on her way to the Bosphorus. She has suffered much in personal appearance. Her paddle-boxes are a good deal knocked about, and she has twelve shot in her hull. Captain M'Cleverty remained on the paddle-box all the time, and narrowly escaped a shot. During the fire several English merchantmen slipped out of the Quarantine Mole. The poor fellows are very thankful to have escaped. After the action the fleet anchored some five miles off Odessa. There seemed to be some preparations to: renewing the attack next day, but, after an ac curate survey, it was ascetained that every great store and establishment, as well as everything in the shape of defences, had been completely le dined to ashes. Signals were hoisted on the 26th instant to go on to Sebastopol, and some steamers were to proceed to the Circassian coast, with a view of destroying the enemy's fortifications. The admirals, before the attack, had sent in a small French steamer with a flag of truce, but the Russians sent out al boat to forbid its entrance. Their demands were to the effect that all ships and munitions of war should be given up, and on the vessel taking these demands being stopped prepara tions were made for action. The English admiral had sent a circular round the fleet stating that what he had done was on account of the Russians having on a former occasion fired on a flag of truce. The best feeling is stated to have prevailed among the ships of both fleets, and a complete cordiality be tween the two nations. Official despatches from the admirals announcing the results of the engagement have been received both by the British and French Governments. The Duke of Newcastle on Thursday night communicated to the Peers the tenor of Admiral Dundas's despatch, but stated no fact which does not appear in the narrative given above. On the same day the Paris Moniteur published the official report of Admi ral Hamelin, confirming the details and results, and giving copies of the letters exchanged between Admi ral Dundas and General Osten. Sacken. It states that there is no foundation for the pretended at tempt at disembarkation. Only one frigate (the Vauban) quitted the combat for a short time to repair damages. The loss of the Frensh was two killed and two wounded by an accident. The English loss was one killed and ten wounded. These results prove (says Admiral Hamelin) the immense superiority of the calibre and practice of our navy over that of the enemy, doing infinite mischief with out receiving any. THE BALTIC FLEET. Intelligence that the French squadron, under Ad miral Deschenes, had joined Sir C. Napier, and that the combined fleets were holding in strict blockade all the Russian ports, constitute the only items of news from the Baltic that have been lately received. There was a report that Admiral Plumridge, in the Leopard, had brought tidings to Stockholm that some Russian ships-of-war had ventured out of Helsingfors, whereupon the Commander-in-Chief made signal to prepare for sea immediately. This statement, however, is probably incorrect.. It ap pears that the British fleet left Efsnabben, where they bad anchored while Sir Charles Napier was in Stockholm on the sth inst., and sailed iu the direc tion of the Gulf of Finland. Before leaving the THE PRESS. squadron had been reinforced by the arrival of the Prince Regent, 90, and the Cumberland, 70, from England. The Austerlitz, 100, French screw ship, had also joined. The remainder of the French fleet, comprising eleven vessels, were anchored on the Bth at Hirtsholmen, near Fredrickahaven, Jutland, and afterwards proceeded up the Baltic to join the British squadron. A despatch of the 9th, from Copenhagen, states that hostilities appeared imminent. At Riga the river and port were open, as also the Neva, but Cronstadt was still inaccessible by reason of the ice, and it has been noticed in former seasons that a period of as much as fourteen days sometimes elapses after the breaking up of the ice before the gulf becomes navigable. THE ARMIES IN/THE EAST. The British Commander-in-Chief, Lord Raglan, arrived at Constantinople on the 30th ult. Prince Napoleon followed two days later. Both chiefs were welcomed with much enthusiasm. The Caradoc arrived at Corfu on the 29th to take on board the Duke of Cambridge, who was expected immediately from Trieste, and would embark at once for Con. stantinople. His Royal Highness, it is reported, has declined to avail himself of the palace prepared for his use by the Sultan, being unwilling to place him. self in any respect above his commanding officer, Lord Raglan. The Earl of Cardigan and suite have left London during the past week for the seat of war. The whole of the British forces assembled at Scutari—partly ;n the great barrack, and partly encamped at Haijdar Pacha—amount to from 14,000 to 15,000 men. The artillery and cavalry were ex pected, and would complete the whole of the British division. According to a Constantinople letter of the 2nd inst., part of the troops in the camp of Haijdar Pacha are under immediate orders for Adrianople. The first detachments were to leave the camp early next day. The order was given after Lord Raglan bad communicated with the ambassadors, the Porte, and Generals Adams and Evans in Scutari. The order came very sudden and unexpectedly. The 7th Fusiliers, 23rd, 33rd, 41st, 47th, 49th, 77th, 88th, and 95th now form the British forces at Scutari. The barracks are very fine, being in the shape of a square, and three stories high—a very tine gallery going round the whole building on the inside, off which are the men's rooms. These gal leries are admirably adapted for hot weather. Pa rades can be held in them, and the men need never be exposed to the sun. The men's rooms are lofty, and about 38 by 28 feet in width. The 7th, 77th, 95th, and 23rd were, however, encamped under canvas on the heights between Scutari and Kadi-Kiew. At Gallipoli there was little movement among the troops. The lines of intrenchment at Boulakir were being vigorously executed, but the French had taken all the responsibility of the works upon them selves. Among the English the complaints of de ficiency in the commi,sariat, and of the want of a post-office, were still prevalent. The French troops had complete postal organisation of their own. Part of the French army, under General Espinasse, has marched to Rodosto, on the Sea of Marmora. From this point it will proceed to Adrianople. The whole of the French troops already in Gallipoli will, it is said, advance to that place, in order to make room for the second division, which may be shortly expected. Fifty pieces of siege artillery have been shipped at Toulon for Constantinople. From Malta, on the 2nd, we learn that the last detachment of Guards had quitted the island. Bri gadier-General Sir C. Campbell, with his staff and a number of officers, had arrived on the previous day. The Andes screw-steamer also touched there on theist, with about 1,000 officers and men of the Ist Royals. She had been on fire during the passage out, but the flames were happily extinguished by the promptness and courage of the men on board. 100,000 cartridges were, however, thrown overboard during the confla gration, as the vessel had no powder-magazine where they could be stowed out of danger. Much com plaint was made that the Andes was overcrowded, and had been sent to sea in too great a hurry. After only a few hours' stay at Malta she was sent on to Constantinople. The 30th Regiment reached the island on the oth inst., and a number of French transports had touched with troops on board. A notification has been issued by /the Admiralty inviting tenders to be sent in for the hire of one or two screw-steamers, of about 1,200 to 1,400 tons, complete in crew and ready for set - vice, to be em ployed as regular transports for four months certain. The Admiralty will find coals, but the owners are to pay the crew and the working expenses. The Ad• miralty are also taking up a steamer of 1,000 tons burden, to be used entirely for the conveyance of cattle for the victualling service of the Royal Navy. THE REINFORCEMENTS. The Termayasst, 24, screw-frigate, at Portsmouth, is ordered to be prepared for commission with all despatch. SATURDAY, Captain the Hon. Keith Stewart, a first cousin of the Fiat Lord of the Admiralty, will command her. The Harpy, 4, iron steam-vessel, nes been commissioned for the flag of Rear-Admiral Boxer, Superintendent of the Transport Service in the Bosphorus. The Otter, one of the flotilla of steam 4-gun vessels appointed to active service in the Baltic, has been com missioned by Lieut. Hunt, late of H.M.S. 81. George. Lieutenant J. R. Black, R.A. 1814 ), has been appointed as agent of transports. The screw-steamer Himalaya will shortly proceed to Cork to convey the kit Regiment of Dragoons to the Mediter ranean. It is stated that the Government has purchased the Himalaya. The Orinoco steamer is engaged f u r a second voyag e with troops to the East. The Hyaspes has also been ch artered for the conveyance of troupe. The embarkation of the 1 lth Hussars commenced on Monday from Kingstown harbour, when two divisions were taken on board the transports. On Wednesday the entire regiment vacated the barracks. The lith Light Dragoons mailed in three transports from Spithead ou 'Tuesday and Wednesday. Orders were received on Monday at the Windsor Bar racks fur the 87th Regiment to march to Southampton on Saturday (this day), where they will embark for the island of Candle, and hold themselves in readiness to join the ex peditionary army in Turkey. The !dist Fusiliers is under orders for the East. A detachment of the Royal Horse Artillery, with their guns, arrived at Southampton on Saturday, on their way to Christcharch, in Hants. They are quartered near South amptom to be ready for embarkation. Ou Wednesday last about three hundred pensioners arrived iu the garrison at Woolwich, preparatory to em barking for hospital service in Turkey. They have been formed into four companies. One hundred and thirteen pieces of ordnance, each gun weighing upwards of three tons, are forthwith to be trans• mitted to Constantinople, and the Lords of the Admiralty have taken up a transport for their conveyance, in addition to forty-nine tons of heavy shot and sixty tons of ammuni tion and combustibles. FRENCH ARMY OF OBSERVATION. The Moniteur announces the immediate forma tion of two camps—one of 100,000 men near St. Omer, the other of 50,000 men near Marseilles, with a view to greater certainty and promptitude in sup plying the troops who may be required for the Black Sea or the Baltic. The Pays, in noticing this an nouncement, says it is probable that, in addition to operations by sea, troops will be landed from time to time on different points of the Russian territory. The army at St. Omer will be commanded by the Emperor. The establishment of this camp has ex. cited some alarm in Prussia. The Boulogne division will, it is said, be under the command of General Baraguay d'Hilliers, who has been recalled from Constantinople, and is to be made a field-marshal. THE WAR ON THE DANUBE. There are few movements to chronicle among the contending forces on the Turkish frontier. Both sides appear resting on their arms, in anticipation of the new belligerents who may be so speedily ex pected to enter upon the field. A proclamation of the Russians announces that Great Wallachia will not be evacuated, and that Lesser Wallachia will be reoccupied later. The Oest. Correspondent states that Marshal Paskiewitach declares that Little Wallachia had been evacuated solely for strategic reasons ; but that the Russians will soon return to Krajova and subject to martial law any persons who may have assisted the Turks. Semi Pacha, however, now acts provisionally as governor in Little Wallachia. All the Wallachitui officials, who had been deposed by the Russians, are reinstated. The inhabitants throughout the country were voluntarily giving up all those Russian agents, and other individuals who served them as spies and scouts, and who had not decamped in time. The Turks occupied Krajova on the 3rd inst. The Rus sians bad withth awn to the Aluta. At Bucharest it is thought that Prince Paskiewitsch considers it in dispensable to defend that place at any cost. The works on the fortifications are, nevertheless, sus pended for the present. News from Vienna announces that the navigation of the Danube has been resumed as far as Widdin and Kalaf'at. According to advices from St. Petersburg of the 3rd, a vast camp will be formed at Kaminietz, in Podolia, near the Galician frontier, and a powerful corps assembled on the left bank of the Dniester. The Ocean of Brest states that the French arsenals held in reserve twenty-seven ships of the line and upwards of 400 inferior vessels, such as frigates, corvettes, brigs, schooners, steamers, &c., mounting together 3,500 guns. TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. One hundred and fifty prisoners, taken from a number of prizes captured by British cruisers in the Baltic, were con veyed to Copenhagen and delivered over to the charge of the Russian Minister, with all the clothes and effects they had on board their own ships, even to the marlinspikes, knives, forks, and spoons of the sailors, and the cabin fur niture, nautical instruments, charts, &c., of masters and mates. In some cases the personal property of the officers consisted of casks of wine, boxes of oranges and lemons, and a great number of musical instruments, principally guitars : many of the latter were purchased by the officers and crew of the Tribune. The seamen, on being landed, J - vi