The Press. — London, England, 1855-11-10 00:00:00

Very few huts have arrived, and it is feared that a large proportion of the troops will have to remain under canvas (luting the ensuing rainy and winter season.—D. News CUT. Oot. 27. The next best accomodation for winter after the stone house is considered an underground but ; and whoever has the good fortune of possessing one from last year trusts to it, and makes only the necessary repairs, while others are in the course of excavation. They require less labour and material than the stone houses, so many who cannot get these latter content themselves with the more primitive construction. Wooden huts are the pis aller. Only those who cannot afford either a stone mansion or an under grounl hut resign themselves to wait for them. They are, however, late in making their appearance. Scarcely a single hut has as yet been erected, beyond those which existed last winter, so that many even of the old regiments have not more than half a dozen of them; in the regiments which arrived in spring and in summer there are none at all.—lb. Oct., 27. DRUNKENNESS IN THE CAMP. The English soldiers, by all accounts, still kept up the national character, according to the late opinion of a sitting magistrate, by getting drunk upon every possible occasion. To such an extent was this crime reaching that, according to the Times correspondent, it threatens seriously to destroy the morale of the army : The oldest officers declare that in all their experience they never saw anything to equal it. It will be asked why, then, do not the officers, having a keen sense of the evil, take measures to put a stop to it ? Simply because it is not in their power. I believe they do what they can, in the ordinary routine ; there are plenty of flogging parades, plenty of men sent to pick up and carry stones, and you cannot ride through the camp without seeing plenty of men drilling in heavy marching order for punishment. But cat, and stone-gathering, and drill are alike ineffectual to check the horrible vice which is degrading our army, and which must, if means be not found to stop it, ulti mately impair its efficiency and fill the hospitals. Officers commanding regiments witness this state of things with grief, and would, I am sure, gladly adopt any practical means that might be ordered or suggested to alter it. Such measures should proceed from head-quarters, or from the War-office.—Timed COT. The root of all this evil is the unusual amount of money the private soldiers earn by road•making, a day's pay amounting now to a net sum of Is. 91d., and the fact that in the camp there is literally nothing except drink in which he can spend his money. A colonel in the third division hit upon the following novel idea as a corrective for drunkenness n his regiment: — One rather odd idea was hit upon the other day by the colonel of a regiment in the third division, who sent his adjutant to the Commissary•Oeneral to request he would have plum-puddings made to sell to the men, in order that they might thereby expend their money otherwise than in drink.—lb. The health of the army was otherwise excellent, al though a case or two of cholera had appeared. MOVEMENTS OF THE FRENCH. A private letter from the camp, dated 23rd ult., states The allies appear to have abandoned anything like a serious attempt in the direction of Baidar—the character of the ground renders it utterly impossible. Figure to yourself a series of crags and ravines, which we should have to cross continually, and you will soon understand that a campaign in that quarter is impossible, especially for cavalry. For this reason it is that the Chesseurs d'Afrique and the Division d'Aurelle have quitted Beau, and abandoned the works they had commenced.—Time Paris cor. The Fremden Blatt of Tuesday, through the medium of a Constantinople correspondent, professed to give an account of a late council of war held at the quar ters of Marshal Pelissier. According to this paper an advance from Kertch, the Tschernaya, or Eupa• torso was never discussed at all. It was only deter mined to continue reconnaissances from the Baidar heights towards the valley of the Belheck, and from Eupatoria in the direction of the Russian line of communication between Perekop and Simferopol, a new expedition being first sent out to Kinburn and Otchakoff. By despatches vi& Marseilles, we learn that pre partitions for winter had apparently superseded all further offensive movements : Great preparations were being made for establishing winter quarters. Marshal Pelissier had remodelled the divisions of the French army. The first and the second had descended into the plain of Balaklava; the third had quitted the Tschernaya, and was occupying the camp; the fourth had been sent to Eupatoria. General Aurelle's division had returned from Baidar. The health of the troops was excellent. MOVEMENTS OF THE RUSSIANS. Upon the north side the Russians were still actively employed throwing up new earthworks, while a strong force bad lately moved over on the Inkermann heights: — The enemy continues to be very actively employed about the new earthworks on the opposite side of the roadstead. The number of guns in the batteries has also been in creased, and an active discharge of shot and shell is di- 111101.. THE PRESS. rected against Sebastopol and the Karabelnaia. The guns also on the cliffs overlooking the Tschernaya valley have not been idle, but, with little effect, have been frequently seeking to annoy the French in the right flank, or troops from the encampments in the plain going to water at the river. The Russians have a line of sharpshooters in ambuscades at gunshot distance from the stream, which passes along the aqueduct to the reservoir.—D. News car., Oct. 22. It was still a matter of the purest speculation whether or not they could hold their position on the north side during winter : Many think that it is just possible the enemy might on the day of their attack in the Tschernaya also attempt to cross the harbour of Sebastopol by means of the boats they still possess up the creeks to the north. Others, again, think that they are making a safe retreat, and that Christmas will see them all gone.—lb. -• • Up to the 28th there had been no indication of any serious intention on the part of the Russians to attack the allied positions : The talked-of attack against our position has not taken place, nor have there been any indications of movement on the part of that portion of the Russian army which can be observed from the heights above Sebastopol and from those overlooking Inkermann. The working parties on the north side of the roadstead, immediately opposite to the town and suburbs of Sebastopol, have continued to be actively employed in strengthening the defences, and the number of guns mounted in the cliff earthwork batteries and shore forts would appear to be increased, if we may judge from the greater frequency and weight of fire di rected against the south aide during the last few days. The enemy have added rockets to the list of projectiles with which they have favored us; they have fallen chiefly in the neighbourhood of the white public buildings in the Karabelnaia, and have been sent with the object of burning those portions which have escaped fire hitherto.—D. News cor., Oct. 20. Their troops, as far as can be seen, appear to be well hutted and cared for, and no symptoms of moving from the north side were yet apparent : All the tents which were sprinkled on the sloping side of the height on the north side have disappeared. The pyramids of sacks, and the greater part of the hay, have been moved furth er to the eastward toward Inkermann heights, most probably to insure their safety from the effects of our fire. Excepting the parties working at the batteries, scarcely any one is to be seen moving about. The moving to and fro of arabas is almost entirely stopped. Further away, to the north-eastward, there are encampments of white tents, but they appear considerably diminished in numbers compared with what they used to be during the siege. This appearance, however, is decep tive—for on examining the position through a glass, it can be distinguished that the greater part of the troops are hutted. As these huts, which are partly underground, are of the same colour as the ground around them, being apparently constructed of wading and mud, with thatched roofs of the same materials, they are not readily distill. guished. As to the troops themselves, like our men, they seem to be having the advantage of a little excercise in battalion movements, and it is asserted that they have been seen also engaged at target practice—lb. The old story that the Russians were really on the point of retiring, was very general in our camp, but arose probably from the despatch by tiortschakof of a strong force towards Eupatoria The augurs who predicted the Russian attack warned us of the days from the 15th to the 20th of this month. These are now passed, and some days more, without bringing any Russians, so the apprehensions of an attack are growing fainter every day. But, as if we could never keep out of extremes, the old story of the Russians retiring from the Crimea has been again revived. The foundation of it lies in the report of deserters that several Russian divisions have gone northward, where, none of them could tell; whether merely to watch Eupatoria, or to guard Perekop or Nicolaieff. The '2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th divi sions are mentioned as having gone. We know of the two latter being in the Crimea since the battle of the Tscher naya, hut we have not yet come across the two former, so there may be some confusion as to numbers.—Times cor., Oct. 22. Some persons profess to know that the Russians are gradually withdrawing two divisions only of their forces from the Crimea, and that the remainder are to hold the north heights, and other positions between them and Sim feropol, during the winter. There seems to be great un certainty on the subject ; as on many other occasions, the movements of the enemy are involved in an obscurity which is r.ot easily penetrable. Some, and these are not a few, cling to the belief that the Emperor Napoleon would not have expressed himself so strongly as he did, in his celebrated letter to Marshal Pelissier, which was published to the troops, respecting the inability of the Russians to maintain themselves during the winter in the Crimea, had he not had some very positive and well-grounded assurance of their suffering from a deficiency of supplies and means of transport, such as would compel them to leave.—D. News cor., Oct. 26. A Vienna paper, the Fremden Blatt, states on authority that:— The Russian army in the Crimea has now a strength of 200,000 men. The Grenadier corps which lately arrived at Simferopol was accompanied, says this authority, by " 8,000 waggons drawn by oxen, so that the Russian army is provisioned for six months." Prince Gortschakoff will not expect convoys after November, its ty that time the steppes will be covered with snow. A private letter published in the Vienna Military Gazette, dated Simferopol, Oct. 23, gives the fol. SATURDAY, lowing flourishing account of the state and position of the Russian army : The position of our army in the Crimea is a very firm one, and Prince Gortschakoff has made every arrangement which can the better enable him to offer effectual oppoei. tion to any operations undertaken by the enemy. H e occupies at present a commanding position, extending from the northern forts up to Simferopol, while our out posts extend on the one side as fur as the river Argyl to tributary at the Upper 13elbeck), and on the other to the Alma and the Belbeek themselves, a third line being thrown out on the road from Simferopol to Eupatoria. From foreign sources we know that strong rein forcements were being sent into the Crimea to take the place of some divisions which had been des patched to Prince Gortschakoff for the defence of Kherson and Nicolaieff. According to the Czar of the 27th ult., eight regiments of grenadiers have en tered the Crimea, under the Generals Plautin, Scher. koff, and Kryloff When the Russians (adds the Czali) received the first hint that an expedition was about to be sent to the liman of the Dnieper, Prince Gortschakoff did not send the gre. nadiers who were posted at Perekop to protect Cherson end Nicolaieff. Some reserve brigades which were on their march to the army in the Crimea were ordered to proceed to the places menaced, and the prime troops were coin. mantled to join the army in the field. The grenadiers have their artillery division, which is commanded by tie. neral Kornileff, with them. • ----- In the valley of the Belbeck, as the French re treated from their advanced position the ltussians pushed forward strong bodies of cavalry, and occu pied the ground. Letters in the German papers down to the 20th ult. state that the convoys conti nually sent from the North Forts to Baktchi Serai contain articles belonging to the Crown which were saved from the destruction of Sebastopol, and are not now considered safe in the northern forts. The main body of the Russian army Is still encamped on the plateau of the Belbeok. General Liprandi occupies the sources of that river with his division, forming the Russian left wing, and General Wrangel the upper part of the valley of Radar, facing the right wing of the allies. A letter from Odessa of the 23rd ult., in the Post. Ampt Gazette, speaking of the intentions and dis• position of the Russian army, says The Russian army, having been encouraged by the at. rival of fresh reinforcements, dues not think of quitting the Crimea. On the IHth General Gortschakoff reviewed all the cavalry and infantry at Simferopol. Among them were the Grenadiers of the Guard, recently arrived. Tfe general has received an intimation that the Emperor and the Grand Duke had renounced their intention of visiting the Crimea. The Grand Duke Constantine felt averse to quit the threatened coasts of the linen, and prevailed on the Emperor to remain at Nicoisieff. General thruleff has taken the command of the troops concentrated at Perekop, and in the upper Crimea. General Luders has distributed his forces, amounting to about Cio,ooo men, between Nioolaieff and Aleschki, and is in direct comment. cation with the troops at Perekop. ADDRESS OF PRINCE GORTSCHAXOFF TO HIS TROOPS. The following is the text of the order of the day, dated " Heights of Mackenzie, Oct. 15," by which Prince Gortschakoff announces to his troops his in tention not to evacuate the Crimea:— - - His Imperial Majesty, our master, having charged me to thank, in his name and in the name of Russia, the valiant warriors who have defended the south side of Sebastopol with so much abnegation, courage, and per severance, is persuaded that the army, after having am quired liberty of operations in the field, will continue by all possible efforts to defend the soil of holy Russia against the invasion of the enemy. But, as formerly it pleased the solicitude of the father of the great family (the army) to order, in his lofty foresight, the construction of a Lridge at Sebastopol, in order to spare at the last moment as much Russian blood as possible, so now the Emperor has also invested me with full powers to continue or cease the defence of our positions in the Crimea, according to cir cumstances. Valiant warriors ! you know what our duty is. We will not voluntarily abandon this country, in which St. Vladimir received the water of grace, after having been converted to the Christianity we adore. But there are conditions which sometimes render the firmest reso• lutions impracticable, and the greatest sacrifices useless. The Emperor has deigned to leave me the sole judge of the moment at which we must change our line of defence, if such be the will of God. It is for us to prove that we know how to justify the confidence of the Czar, who has coma into our neighbourhood to provide for the de fence of his country and the wants of his army. Have confidence in me, as you have hitherto had during all the hours of trial which the decrees of Providence have sent us. THE WAR IN ASIA. " - - - THE following despatches have arrived from Trebi• zond, dated Oct. 20 : The Russians have marched 12,000 men from Kars on Ardelman. Selim I'acha is appointed Commandant of Kars. Omer Pacha, who loft Batoum with 22 battalions, may penetrate as far as Tiflis before winter. Georgia is now only occupied by 10,000 Russians. By letters of the 12th and 13th Oct.., from Souk ham Kaleh, we learn that, although Kars was still closely invested, Omer Pacha was hurrying forward with the utmost energy every preparation for its relief by a diversion against Kutais ; 20,000 men had been