The Press. — London, England, 1855-01-13 00:00:00

JANUARY 13, 1855. they were simply doing hard garrison duty. The Zouaves amuse the camp at night by stealing out individually, climbing the Russian outworks, and planting French lags upon them. The Russians are bamboozled, as at night tires ar e lit at quite solitary spots, upon which they tire away as hard as they can. General Canrobert, despite his wounds, is to be seen daily in the camp, but General boaquet is the favourite of the men. The Turkish camp, which is next to the French, offers a miserable aspect—dirt, torn tents, uniforms which can scarcely be recognised as uniforms, and soldiers that can scarcely be taken for soldiers. Nevertheless they squat down quietly in the mud, and smoke their pipes with complacency. Any one coming from Stamboul is welcomed by them with as much joy as if they were thousands of miles from that city. Of the Eng lishmen and their bravery they speak with the greatest ad miration, and cannot find words enough to praise their deeds at lukermann ; but they complain of their brusque manners. We have already said so much respecting the English camps that we shall only give the description of our friend in a few words. On the whole, it is the contrast of the French camp: there are no roads, if we except one made recently to con vey the terrible mortars. On all sides, between the torn tents, dead cattle, homes, and oxen are rotting, and no one thinks of removing the pest-bringing carcases. Officers and men are so badly off for clothes that they may be placed on a par with the Turks. The officer does not give himself the slightest trouble in the world about the fate of the pri vate, his food, dress, or shelter; he leaves all that to the care of the commissariat. Lord Raglan lives in his house, and for days together is not visible. The wooden huts sent from England lie diajecla membra in the water, and will lie there useless until the nails t'or putting them toge ther arrive out. A friend of mine, who is a merchant, had the opportunity of making some characteristic observa tions—among others, that the Englishmen always asked for brandy and champagne, while the Frenchmen asked for needles and thread. Before every English bureau he ob served empty casks and broken champagne and brandy bottles. The inhabitants of the villages which lie scat tered between Sebastopol and Balaalava, at first the friends, have become, in consequence of probably necessary severe treatment, the bitter enemies of the allies, so that they are feared as spies, and not one of them is allowed to leave his hut without an escort. My informant also had a close view of the besieged fortress. He declares that there is not the slightest indication of a breach, and that the walls of Sebastopol appear intact and unapproachable. To his question, " When will the place be taken?" a Zuuave replied, " When there are three Thursdays in one week !" Despite this reply the whole camp is eager for the assault. General Canrobert never rides through the camp without being followed by cries of " L'assaut, mon General," from all quarters. THE RUSSIAN SORTIE OF DECEMBER 20. The following details have appeared respecting the Russian sortie briefly alluded to in Lord Raglan's despatches : At two o'clock in the morning of the 20th, protected by the darkness, a strong Russian force succeeded in getting up to Chapman's battery and entering it. They had no time to spike the guns or destroy the battery, for they were almost immediately dislodged by supporting parties of the 88th Regiment. Neither men nor officers were on the alert, and all were taken by surprise. There were eight companies in the advanced work of Captain Gordon's bat tery, taken from the 7th, 23rd, 33rd, and 34th Regiments. and this force, properly prepared and organised, was suffi cient to hold it against double the number of the enemy who attacked it. As it was, however, the sentries posted only a few yards in front of the work must have been utterly careless, and in all probability were lying down, if not asleep ; for the first intimation of the attack to the men and officers lying within the work was given by the Russians themselves who had mounted the parapet, and were already committing havoc among the sleepers. The consequence was there was a panic, scarcely ally resistance was made, and the covering party hastily fell back upon the battery. Some of the men even crowded in at the embrasures, and thus prevented the guns being used against the Russians who had gained possession of the advanced work. Others crowding within the battery impeded the action of the troops stationed there for a time ; but when order was restored and an advance was made to regain from the enemythe work they were supposed to be still holding, it was found they had already abandoned it. They were not in sufficient force to retain it, extending as it does for a long distance across the hill towards the middle or Orchakov ravine ; but they had had time to carry off considerable booty in arms, blankets, and accoutrements. Five men were killed, and had all been stripped even to their boots, One body was found with eight bayonet wounds ; another was mangled and thrown into the well. Fifteen were wounded; some so badly, that they were left for dead in the work by the Russians. These had been most barbarously treated, having been repeatedly wounded after they hail fallen, and in three or four instances had also been kicked and beaten over the head by the butt of the musket, to en sure destruction of life. About twenty-seven are missing, no doubt having received wounds which did not disable them from marching, and being carried away as prisoners. Among these latter is Lieutenant J. Byron, of the 34th regiment. This officer was seen to fall by a sergeant, who states that he was wounded, but apparently not severely, and has not since been forthcoming. There can be little doubt but that he was taken away as a prisoner. The sentries were men of the 7th Royal Fusiliers. THE SCUTARI HOSPITAL. Some presents from the Queen have been received at the ho,pital for the use of the wounded and sick soldiers, including essence of beef, soap, eau de Cologne, toilet vinegar, dm Whether the general THE PRESS. contributions of charitable people at home will ever arrive safely must, it is said, in great measure depend upon the care with which they inform those to whom the parcels are addressed of the mode of transmis sion. The Turkish Custom-house is a Maelstrom from which nothing that ever finds its way there is, without great difficulty, recovered. Although the number of wounded men in the hospitals here has diminished considerably, gangrene in an endemic form has not disappeared. A great anxiety is in consequence evinced by the medical officers to get those away who thus far have not been attacked. It is difficult to conceive anything more distressing than the spectacle of a poor fellow rally ing stoutly and hopefully from his wounds, and in the midst seized by a complaint which makes it re • quisite to burn the sores into huge holes with caustic. Such, however, are the penalties paid for crowded wards and defective medical arrangements. LANDING OF WOUNDED SOLDIERS. Portsmouth dockyard was on Sunday again the scene of one of those distressing disembarcations which we may expect to become now frequent, until the horrors of war shall have abated. The Penin sular and Oriental steam company's screw-transport Candia arrived at Spithead at half-past eleven, and at three she steamed into Portsmouth harbour. This time the comfort and care of the poor fellows were amply provided for, and hours before all the naval and military heads were at work providing the best means at their disposal for the ease and comfortable landing of the sick. There was no lack of superior supervision this time ; the Major-General command• ing (pro. tem.) Portsmouth garrison, Sir Frederick Smith, K.H., R.E.; Rear-Admiral Superintendent Martin; Brigade Major Dalgetty ; Flag Lieutenant Waddilove; Colonel Lord Methuen, of the Royal Wilts Militia; Master-Attendant Underwood, R.N.; and small armies of assistants, told off in files, with naval cots fitted as hand stretchers, blankets, bed. ding, dm., and a number of omnibuses or covered vans, ranged along in baggage-train array, were all in waiting long before the ship was lashed alongside the dock) and jetty, to render help, each in his al lotted position, and each seemed to vie with the other in alacrity when his turn came "to bear a hand." The " brow " or unprotected gangboard from the side of the ship to the jetty, 'gave place to well stepped and substantial double-railed landing-stages, and carpenters were busy at them as soon as the ship w as hauled alongside, and made them quite secure. Sir- Frederick Smith and Colonel Lord Methuen were most indefatigable in personally directing the move ments of those under their orders, and, as a conse• quence, the work of disembarcation was entered upon with propriety, and pursued with care and diligence until the ship was cleared. The medical staff of the garrison was most assiduous with its important aid ; the wounded were removed to sick quarters under personal medical superintendence ; and all engaged in the melancholy duty received the readiest and most cordial assistance from Captain Field and the officers and crew of the Candia, whose number of invalids amounted to 194. The most seriously wounded were removed to hospital in Portsmouth garrison, and the others to sick quarters for the night in barracks. All able to bear the journey were next day forwarded by railway to the military hospital at Chatham. RETURN OF CASUALTIES FROM 11TR TO 16th DECEMBE: 1854, INCLUSIVE. Ist Royals-1 private killed ; 1 sergeant, 1 private, wounded 4th Regiment of Foot-1 private killed 19th Regiment-2 privates wounded 20th Regiment-1 private wounded 21st Regiment-1 private killed ; 1 sergeant, 1 private, wounded 28th Regiment-2 privates wounded 50th Regiment-2 privates wounded 57th Regiment-2 privates killed ; 7 privates wounded 68th Regiment-3 privates wounded lst Battalion Rifle Brigade-2 privates wounded Total-5 privates killed; 2 sergeants, 21 privates, wounded Fitox 17TH TO 20TH DEcraruni, 1854. 7th Regiment of Foot-1 private wounded 19th Regiment-1 private missing 2.3 rd Regimeut-1 private killed; 7 privates wounded; 9 privates missing 33rd Regiment-2 privates killed; 4 privates wounded; 2 privates missing 34th Regiment-2 privates killed ; 1 sergeant, 4 privates, wounded; 1 officer missing 88th Regiment-1 private killed ; 4 privates wounded 44th Regiment-1 private wounded 46th Regiment-1 private killed 60th Regiment-2 sergeants, 12 privates, killed ; 1 officer, 18 privates, wounded; 2 officers, 8 privates, missing 55th Regiment-1 private wounded 62nd Regiment-1 private killed 63rd Regiment-1 private wounded 68th Regiment-1 private wounded; 1 private missing 97th Regiment-1 private killed Ist Batudion Rifle Brigade-2 privates killed; 1 private wanly:lad 31 Total-2 sergeants, 23 privates, killed; 1 officer, 1 ser geant, 43 privates, wounded; 3 officers, 21 privates, mis sing FROM 2114 T TO '24TH DECEMBER, IS3I. 20th Itegiment-3 privates wounded 23rd tteginieut-1 private missing 213th Regiment-1 private wounded 3Mth Regiment-2 privates wounded 46th Regiment-1 sergeant wounded 49th Regiment-1 private killed 85th Regiment-2 privates killed 07th Regiment--5 privates killed; 2 privates wounded 139th Regiment-2 privates wounded Ist Battalion Rifle Brigade-2 privates wounded Total---R privates killed; 1 sergeant, 12 privates wounded ; 1 private missing RETURN OF CASUALTIES PROM 25TH TO 28TU DECEMBER, 1854, INCLUSIVE. 20th Regiment of Foot-1 private killed; 2 privates wounded list Regiment-1 private wounded 44th Regiment.-1 private wounded bsth Regiment-1 private killed; 1 private wounded 87th Regiment-1 sergeant, 1 private, missing Ist Battalion Ride Brigade—'2 privates wounded Sappers and Miners-1 private wounded Total-2 privates killed; 8 privates wounded.; 1 sergeant, 1 private, missing lortign Corrtsponlytntt. PARIS, Jan. 11. PERHAPS you may like to have a few lines about the effect which the Russian acceptance of the " four points" has occasioned here. By the Emperor and his Ministers it was received with painful surprise; by the diplomatic and political circles generally with astonishment ; by the public with an indignant " Pshaw !" Nothing whatever had occurred at Vienna to render such a step probable ; indeed, Prince Gortschakoff, on receiving the interpretation which the allies put on the four points, is stated to have declared that it was unreasonable and unac- - - - ceptable ; and it was consequently expected by the French Cabinet that the Czar, instead of signifying his acceptance, would have given a positive and in dignant refusal. When the first surprise had worn away the French Cabinet began to reflect what the acceptance could mean. • It soon came to the con clusion that the Czar could not possibly be in earnest, and that his object was threefold :-1. To gain time, in order to bring large bodies of troops near to the Austrian frontier; 2. To delay the sign ing of the offensive treaty by Austria; and 3. To give Prussia a pretext for continuing to violate the obligations she is under by solemn trea,,y to Austria. To this conclusion the French Government up to this moment steadily adheres. It has not, 1 can assure you, the slightest confidence in the sincerity of the Czar. As to the public, you could not, I verily believe, find a dozen men, whose opinions are worth a straw, who think that Nicholas is in earnest. Even supposing that the Emperor of Russia be really anxious for peace, it is not thought in well informed quarters that peace is at present at all pro bable. In the first place, it appears that the tele graph went a good deal too far in asserting that Prince Gortschakoff had accepted the interpretation of the four points " without conditions;" he, on the contrary, has already notified that his Government hopes that the allies, instead of declaring that they will cause the Russian domination in the Black Sea to " cease " Claire teaser), will content themselves with saying that it shall be " diminished." In the second place, England and France cannot consistently with honour consent to peace without exacting a heavy indemnity for war expenses, and it is doubted whe ther Russia will be willing to pay one. Thirdly, pending the negotiations for peace, hostilities are to be continued; and, whatever may be the result of them, they will render peace difficult, not to say im possible, inasmuch as neither party will like to sub mit to the humiliation of a defeat without a revanche. Finally, sound political reason demands that England and France should take advantage of the present op portunity (the like of which may not occur again for centuries) to impair Russia's power of future mis chief. Another circumstance should be taken into serious consideration in the present grave conjuncture, and that is, the internal state of,France. Now, there can be no question that the French people en mane would think themselves dishonoured by the conclu sion of peace on any other terms than a complete, exemplary, undeniable humiliation of Russia. If, then, the four points, with their interpretation, should turn out not to provide sufficiently for such humilia tion, they would receive them with indignation and scorn. It is hardly likely that the Emperor would be more disposed to submit to national disgrace than his people; but, if by any extraordinary chance, or by the piessure of Lord Aberdeen, he should do so, he would most certitiaty exadiager ha axone,