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

NOVEMBER 10, 1855. townspeople ; and to resent this, the scoundrels availed themselves of every opportunity to abuse and otherwise annoy the captives. —/b. Among these men was a colour-sergeant of the 97th, who had deserted from the camp on occasion of losing or using the regimental money. The man appeared heartily to regret what he had done, but feared to come back to his colours : Shortly before the prisoners left Voronetz, the Russian authorities offered to the whole of the deserters liberty to return, if they chose, but all—with one exception, who declared he would rather go and he shot by his coun trymen than remain as he was—declined availing them selves of the permission. The poor sergeant was strongly urged by the prisoners to accompany them, encouraging him to hope that his case would be mercifully considered ; but the wretched man's sense of the deep disgrace he had brought upon himself would not let him yield to their urgent advice. g THE EUPATORIAN EXPEDITION. As " Our Own Correspondents" are by no means regular in their communications from Eupatoria, and their presence even in the camp is somewhat doubtful, the intelligence we receive of the move ments of General d'Allonville is extremely scanty, and mainly derived from Russian sources. How ever, the despatch from Marshal Pelissier contains details of the strong reconnaissance made on the 27th nit. by General d'Allonville from Eupatoria by Sak as far as the ravine of Tchobata, where an intrenched camp of the Russians was discovered, strongly posted and defended by thirty-six long 32-pounders. The French general advanced with twenty-four battalions of infantry, thirty-eight squadrons of cavalry, and fifty-six guns, but the Russians refused the offer of a fair fight, and on the 29th, being in want of water and forage, and having discovered the point at which the Russians will defend an advance upon Simfero pol from Eupatoria, General d'Allonville returned to the latter town to prepare for a fresh reconnaissance, upon which he started on the Ist, advancing by another route on Tchobata, but no intelligence has yet arrived of the result of this movement. THE CAMP IN THE CRIMEA. As far as active hostilities are concerned, matters appear to ha unusually quiet on both sides. The an t cipated Russian attack up to the 23rd bad not come off, and the temporary excitement caused by Lord Fanmure's " canard" had quite subsided:— As regards military operations there is literally nothing worth recording. The Russians remain very quiet, and so do we. There is not much firing from the north side ; now and then some artillery offier, as if suddenly exasperated, jumps up in a fury, and fires half a dozen mortars at once, but, as far as I can see, the French continue not caring, and scarcely take the trouble to reply. In the cavalry plain, on Saturday afternoon, our allies treated the Rusaians to a fine view of the Imperial Guard. General 111`Mahon, having assumed command of the corps d'armie of reserve, passed it in review. I rode down there after sending off my despatch, and the sight was certainly very fine, and highly creditable in every way to the French army. Grena diers, Chasseurs, Zouaves, Engineers, and Artillery of the Guard, were drawn op across the plain in a long line, up and down which the general rode, followed by a numerous staff, of which Sir Colin Campbell and a large number of English officers had temporarily attached themselves. The Grenadiers looked martial and imposing in their long blue coats and lofty bearskins, the Chasseurs smart and active in their most excellent and service like costume ; the Zouaves, as usual, picturesque and effective. These two amps (the Chasseurs and Zouaves) excite the warm admiration of our officers, and are probably the most perfect soldiers in the world—l do not mean in respect of fighting, although they are no fools at that, but considering them with respect to all their military qualities and accom plishments, as well as to their dress and equipment, their powers of marching and endurance--everything, in short, that constitutes perfection in a soldier. They really looked magnificent on Saturday—an honour to their service and a credit to the system and officers by which such soldiers are made. The day was fine, and of course ponies were put into requisition, and no end of scarlet jackets, inter spersed with the blue frocks of the cavalry, sere seen con verging from all points towards the parade-ground.—Times eor., Oct. 22. The position of the allied armies for the winter ap pears to be settled: — From all we can see, the last directions about the pod. tions which the allied armies are going to keep during the winter have been given, and all the movements going on are rather to regulate the details than with a view of making any material changes. The position chosen is certainly such that very little fear can be entertained of any distubance from the Russians. Both armies will be opposite to each other on a series of heights, with only a few accessible points, and separated by a kind of neutral ground formed in part by the Tschernaya valley, which as soon as the rains begin will be a most effectual barrier to an attack from eitber aide, and on our right by the low range of hills which form the banks of the Upper Belbeck before it enters the defile near Albaud. The road over Alan, which, as I told you in my last letter, the French were constructing to connect their position on the heights of Ozembash with the rest of the line, is progressing rapidly, and will be available in a short time.—lb , Oct. 27. The English troops which had been sent to Kin burn, according to camp rumour, were expected back at head-quarters very shortly : THE PRESS. The English troops which formed part of the expedition to Kinburn are expected back on Monday next. The place will be kept in winter by the French.-16. - - - The first brigade of the fourth division, which was en gaged in the expedition against the forts on the promon tory of Kinburn, is expected to return to its former position in a few days. Kiuburn is to be garrisoned by French troops. It is stated that the approaches to Nicolaieff by the river channel were closely examined, and found to be very strongly protected and fortified.—D. News cor., Oct. 26. The first anniversary of the battle of Balaklava was celebrated by the English cavalry by a 14rand parade and manoeuvres upon the very spot of the charge of last year. The review was favored by fine weather, and although the whole of the light brigade was away at liupatoria, the hussar and heavy brigade presented an imposing array : The first anniversary of the battle of Balaklava was cele• brated by a cavalry review on the ground where the famous light cavalry charge took place. The number of sabres actually present was 2,100, under the command of General Sir J. Scailett. After marching and trotting past, they charged over the same spot as on the memorable 205th of October, 1654. In addition to a large number of French, there were present, as spectators, Generals Barnard, Garrett, Codrington, and two ladies—viz., Mrs. Forrest, wife of Lieut.-Col. Forrest, of the 4th Dragoon Guards, and Mrs. Duberly, wife of the Paymaster of the 6th Hussars. — lb., Oct. 27. We learn from the Daily News correspondent that in a late exchange of prisoners at Odessa some forty out of the odd hundred men had been captured in the famous light cavalry charge last year, and by a singular coincidence they returned to bead-quar ters upon the first anniversary of their capture. The orders for suspending the destruction of the docks of Sebastopol appear to have been rescinded, as active preparations were being continued in order to insure their complete demolition : The engineers are now busily employed in sinking shafts and preparing mines for the destruction of the magnificent stone docks of the Karabelnaia. It is said that orders have been received from home for the total an nihilation of these costly and elaborately constructed works. These instructions have led to various surmises respecting the views of the allied Governments on the ultimate disposal of the Crimea, and it is argued that as, if held by any allied or friendly power, these dockyards would be of the utmost value for the construction and repair of ships even of a mercantile marine, their abolition must be considered significant of a possible, if nut proba ble, restitution to Russia of the harbour of Sebastopol.— D. News cor., Oct. 26. There is very little firing now going on between the French and the north side of the harbour, and the only piece of intelligence worth recording about Sebastopol is that the demolition of the docks is being proceeded with, a company of Sappers being told off expressly for this and other duties.—lb. The native inhabitants of the little village of Ka rani having expressed a wish to be removed to some part of the Crimea occupied by the Russians, com munications took place with the enemy upon the sub ject, and it was arranged that they should be trans ferred to Kaffa. One of our men-of-war ' under the temporary command of Prince Victor of Hohenlohe, embarked the inhabitants and proceeded direct to Kaffa. Upon arriving there a flag of truce was im mediately sent on shore and replied to. The officers of the ship then landed their cargo, accompanying them on shore, when the following circumstance oc curred, which speaks well for the good feeling exist ' ing at Kaffa:— No sooner had they got on shore than they were sur rounded by a crowd, including a number of Cossacks, who came down full speed. Each one of them was forthwith elevated upon a high Cossack saddle—rather an awkward seat for equestrians unaccustomed to such machines— and away they went at a scamper. Everything was done Cossack fashion—full gallop. They were taken to the country-house of Prince Gagarin, about two miles from shore, and were there courteously received by the Prince himself, a man of some sixty years of age, minus a leg, which he lost when campaigning in the Caucasus, and who went about on crutches. The Prince spoke French, and told them he understood English. Chairs and a table were brought out of the country-house (over which the visitors were shown), and wine and fruit were placed before them, whereof they partook. The conversation was well sus tained, and, judging from the account of it given me by an officer present, almost cordial. Subjects connected with the war were not altogether excluded, and incidents of the siege were related. In the course of the conservation the Russian officer who bad gone on board said something to Prince Gagarin, in which the English present distinguished the word " Kinbuni." The Prince replied by a passionate exclamation, unintelligible to his foreign guests, and pre sently asked them what was the latest news. " Nothing from England," was the reply, " but in the Crimea the attack upon and capture of Kinloirn." The Prince ap peared to feel the intelligence painfully, hut merely shrugged his shoulders, and remarked that it was "la for tune de la guerre." He informed them of rather a curious fact, which was that, by the great explosion of the French magazine in the Mamelon at the end of August, persons in Sebastopol were killed and wounded.—Times car.. Oct. Z. LORD PANMURE'S RECRUITS.I The recruits who are sent out even at this day are mere raw boys, and so thoroughly ignorant even of 1067 he use of the rifle that no little disgrace is reflected upon the authorities at home for supplying the army with such inefficient material : All the officers with whom I converse on the subject de plores the necessity under which Government finds, or considers, itself placed, of tilling up the gaps iu our army in the East with recruits of tender age and no instruction, peculiarly liable to be struck down by disease, and com paratively inefficient in front of the enemy. Owing to the smallness of our army when the war began, and the heavy losses since suffered from sickness and the sword, some young and raw soldiers must inevitably be sent out, but it is thought that ought not to be the ease to such au extent ' as it at present is. It is a well•known and proven fact that some of the recruits lately sent out were ignorant, on their arrival here, how their musket or minis should be fired. They had been enlisted one day and embiuked the next. And of these some were sent to take the ltedan! Granted that after nearly two months of deplorable inaction, spent in waiting on the movements and preparing for the attack of the foe we had defeated, bad weather is now at hand, and campaigning becomes impracticable ; but do the authorities at home imagine that during the four months' rain, mud, snow, and storm we may now expect their raw material will be converted into skilled soldiers? The ex• pectatiun is rather too sanguine.—Times cur., Oct. 25. As an instance of penny wise and pound foolishness on the part of the Government at home, we may offer the following fact with regard to " tarpaulins " for covering the reserve stores of provisions collected at the head-quarters of the different divisions : Besides the c 3ntents of store-huts, one sees great masses of rations piled up in the open air, on spots from which deep surrounding trenches will carry off the rain. Here are huge mountains of pressed hay, piles of barrels, heaps of sacks, telling of providence and promising abundance. Trunks and branches of trees (firewood) raise these pro visions sufficiently from the ground to preserve them from its humidity, and many of the packages—such as casks of beef, rum, not be injured by water pouring down upon them. For other descriptions of rations—such as hay, straw, and corn—it appears to me that the amount of tarpaulin covering is insufficient. lam assured that this is in no way the fault of the Commissariat, but that, on applica tion being made some time ago for several thousand tarpaulins, the reply was that these were very expensive, and that shift must be made for the present with what were already provided —namely, with about as many hundreds as there had been thousands asked for!—lb. THE HUTTING PREPARATIONS. In spite of all the reports of the foresight and care of the War-office, it appears that only a limited por tion of the army will be huttod this winter : It has been announced by officers most competent to give an opinion on the subject, that only a very limited proportion of officers and men can expect to be provided with hut accommodation. Under these circumstances, it is hoped that no more draughts may be sent from either England or Malta until the spring, for Assuredly if they come during the cold and rainy season, which we have a right to expect shortly, the change from barracks to damp tents will be productive of much sickness and mortality. Even many of those now in camp, and who, under the in• fluence of warm and genial weather, have preserved their health, will suffer when the rain and frost find them still in tents.—D. News cor., Oct 22. The authorities appear to cling to the hope that the Karabelnaia suburb will yet be available:— In consequence of the intended occupation of Sebasto pol, should the Russians on the north side leave us any thing to occupy, the troops have been forbidden to fetch any more timber from its ruins: otherwise, if time and permission were granted, the men would be able to get much that would be useful in forming substantial protec tion, in lieu of the Government huts. There are solid beams and rafters without end to be obtained, but service able planks are becoming very rare. These can be ob taMed, however, at a reasonable rate' from Sinope and other places on the coast of the Black Sea.—lb. Sir Colin Campbell was conspicuous for his efforts to hut his men before the winter set in : Sir Colin Campbell is certainty a striking example of a general who looks after his men before himself and his staff in the way of huts. To this day he may be seen at Kamata with only a small marquee to live in. Every week-day ta o thousand men of his division, with a proper complement of staff and regimental officers, march down to Balaklava, a distance of four miles, to carry back butting, and by to: morrow the men hope to have conveyed up their whole number. But do not be misled by this statement, for I don't think there is a chance, although huts are on their way out, of more than one-third of the army in the front being properly hutted by the end of November. By a late order no sailors or civilians are allowed to enter the Kara beloala suburb without a pass, and there is some talk of repelling the roofless and ruined houses fur occupation.— D. News Cor., Oct. 23. The Government preparations for winter, accord ing to every correspondent, were far below the wants of the army : Seeing the large number of huts collected for the High land division, and ready to be put up, one cannot avoid making comparisons between it and other divisions, in which there seems to be as yet no signs of similar activity. People at home, perhaps, imagine that the majority of the regiments—at least those that came out first—are hutted ; but this is not at all the cue. There are regiments, and those old ones, too, which have only four huts in all ; and these must be repaired, as those first sent out let every shower through like sieves. The materials are brought up from Balaklava in large quantities, but the men have been, and are still, so busy with the main and division roads that they have no time for anything elm—Times car., Oct. 2