The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-11-20 00:00:00

THE RUSSIAN FIRE :

The fire from the north side has continued very active.
Yesterday, the Ist instant, an explosion occurred in the part
of the town occupied by the French. The report was com-
pressed and loud, and the reverberation was so strong as to
lead to the impression that some considerable magazine had
been exploded ; but some Frenchmen, bringing up a wounded
man to one of the ambulances, declared that it was loose pow-
der in an ammunition waggon which had been accidentally
fired, and that two or three injuries to by-standers, and these
comparatively slight, were the only ill effects resulting. Our
allies are not very, communicative on such matters. The
Russians evidently concluded that they bad blown up one of
the magazines of the mortar battery behind Fort Nicholas, not
far from which the column of smoke which followed the ex-
plosion appeared to rise, for during the remainder of the day
they concentrated a heavy shelling fire in that direction. They
also kept up at intervals during the night a fire against the
same position, as if with the intention of annoying working
parties. To-day a truce was held for a short period, between
two and three hours. A boat from the .Russian side crossed
early in the afternoon, but what was the nature or object of
the communication has not transpired.
Preparations for wintering seem to be going on in a satis-
factory style. On this subject the correspondent of the Daily
News conveys a few interesting particulars. He says in
reference to
THE HUTTING FOR THE WINTER :

Some of the huts for winter use have arrived, and fatigue
parties are busily employed in unloading the ships in which
they have been conveyed. The troops are still working at the
roads. The other preparations to meet the exigencies of the
coming winter, accumulation of stores at the central and divi-
sional depots, erection of stabling, construction of kitchens,
draining, &c., are in active progress., In spite of the oposi-
tion
made by the enemy from the north side, large quantities
of cut stone, roofing, bricks, timber, and other building mate-
rials are daily brought up from the ruins of Sebastopol. The
weather has fortunately continued very propitious for these
operations. No rain of any account has fallen, although on
the 30th of October there was every indication of an approach-
ing change in this respect—and the roads and beaten tracks
have remained firm, and in a favourable condition for the pass-
age of transport mules and vehicles. Since the 31st of
October, the temperature has been remarkably mild. The
wind has been blowing from the south and south-east, and has
been accompanied with all the unpleasant and oppressive cha-
racteristics of a Mediterranean sirocco. The troops continue
very healthy. A few scattered cases of cholera have occurred
in various parts of the camp.
Nov. 3.—Great exertions are being made to have the army
hutted and the roads completed before the wet weather, and
one may say winter, sets in ; but the general opinion is that
the hutting is being lost sight of too much, and that too many
men are employed each day on the roads, which latter are
becoming far too numerous. Besides the main roads there
are division roads, regimental roads in each camp, and also
roads leading from the commissariat of every division to each
regiment. If only 9,600 men are employed on the roadi, one
cannot understand where the remainder of the 30,000 men
are. Nothing can exceed the beauty of the weather. It is
coldish at night, but very warm during the day. There can
be little doubt that the Almighty has given every opportunity
for this army to make itself comfortable in every way for the
winter.

Having given utterence to some smart remonstrances
against "our military system," and indulged in some daintily-
concocted illustratons of his grievance theory, he proceeds to
give some accounts of the
AMUSEMENTS FOR THE TROOPS :

- --
The Second Division races came off on the plateau near
head-quarters, on the 31st October and followingl
Al-
though there were by 2 o'clock each day about 100, anda by Ali
p.m. 200 mounted officers present, still there was a scarcity of
ladies and generals, but certainly not of staff. Mrs. Sekole,
of Jamaica, and Crimea notoriety, came on the ground attend-
ed by her spirit bearer, a coloured boy with drinkablesg,hn
about
s
two, and was received with all honours by his Royal Highness
Prince Victor-Hugo, lieutenant of the Leander. In a short
time her two-mule cart, with two black niggers, arrived,
which was the signal for a general rush round it. Beer was
to be obtained at 2s. per bottle; sandwiches, two for 6d.;
cakes and tarts ls. each ; mince pies, 9d. ; champagne, 7s. a
bottle. On the first day five races were contested, two of
which were afterwards disputed. On the second day were
the Redoubt Stakes, 11. entrance, £l5 added, for which seven
horses ran ; three-quarters of a mile heats. Balaklava Sweep,
£1 entrance, and £2O added, one mile; three horses, all fo-
reigners, started, ridden by English officers. Sebastopol Stakes,

£2 entrance, £25 added, three-quarters of a mile heats; seven
ran. This race caused a great deal of excitement, as most of
the horses were thoroughbred, and were valued at about £lOO
each, and three of them, Blacksmith, Kate, and Zouave—the
last a newly-arrived animal, the property of an engineer offi-
cer, were supposed to be near matches for one another. Both
the first and second heats were won by Kate, ridden by Major
Worth, of the Staff, Zouave being second. After this a bad
mule race took place. The sums added are to be paid to the
winners on the sth of November.

Concerning the return of the French troops from their
threatening position on the Upper Belbek, the correspondent
of the Times, writing on the 3rd inst., says of
THE RETROGRADE MOVEMENT :

For the last two days there has been a great deal of move-
ment in the moveable—that is, the French—part of the allied
armies. Several large bodies of infantry belonging to the di-
visions composing the Ist corps d'armee, which is forming our
right wing, have come back from the Baidar side to occupy
their old position on the plateau of the Chersonese. For him
who has seen the position which these troops have held on the
heights of Baidar, this retrograde movement in the beginning
of November, when every one is looking with apprehension to
the skies for the first storm, and when a strong south wind at
the same time seems to give reality to the apprehension, can
have nothing very surprising. The series of heights above
Baidar on which they have been spread form essentially an
offensive, and not a defensive position. From the large in-
dented plateau of Kamur-Tchesme, which runs down from
Ozembash to the gorge of the Tchernaya at Alsu, up to the
bold naked rock called Yaila Bashi, the last promontory of the
great Yaila range, there extends a number of plateaux and
mamelons, which on one side overlook the Valley of Baidar,
and on the other the Valley of the Upper Belbek and the de-
file of Aitodar. For an army engaged in offensive operations,
therefore, this extensive position offers the advantages of an
encampment in a line of battle which cannot be turned ; it
threatens the enemy on all sides and leaves him uncertain, as
the troops can be thrown with great facility on every point.
Besides this, in summer, the occupation of all the heights be-
came necessary, because, as the two roads which lead over this
chain are separated by several miles' distance from each other,
it would have been possible for an enterprising enemy to force
a way through the intermediate heights, notwithstanding the
difficulty of the ground and the copiousness of brushwood.
Now that offensive operations can no more be thought of this
year, a defensive position which can be held as easily as pos-
sible becomes necessary, and this long line over which the
French troops have been scattered begins to show its incon-
veniences. So far off from their resources the feeding of a
large body of men becomes a very serious consideration, espe-
cially if it be added that these heights have absolutely no stra-
tegical importance for the next campaign, as they may be
taken at any moment by an army for the trouble of marching
up, and as, besides this, they may easily be turned by a flank
movement from either the Tchouliou valley or that of Apu.
Hitherto the French have not abandoned all the heights, but
only drawn in those posts which were too much advanced, but
the large bodies of all arms which have been retiring for the
last two days show evidently their intention of occupying only
the two roads over the heights to Ozembash and Koluluz, both
of which have been fortified in the most commanding points,
and of considering even these points rather as advanced posts
than as forming part of their line of defence, which must al-
ways be more or less the Tchernaya,
The same correspondent, on the same day, has the following
observations on the subject of an

IMPENDING ATTACK, INTIMATED BY A

RUSSIAN DESERTER :

There seems to be, however, another circumstance besides
the necessity of contracting our too extended line for the
winter, which may be brought into connection with this
movement of French troops. Yesterday afternoon, a younker,
or cadet, who, according to his own account, was for some
slight offence taken from his regiment, and attached, as a
punishment, to the Cossacks, came over to us ; and, among
other valuable information, brought the news that the Russian
army of the Crimea, about 70,000 men, had received orders,
and was preparing to attack our lines, especially our right,
from Tchorgoun to the extreme right, on the 6th or 7th of
this month ; and, if the attack should not succeed, the army
had orders to evacuate the Crimea, and to take up its position
at Cherson and Nicolaieff. According to the accounts of the
younker, who seems to be marvellously well informed in
everything, the preparations for this retreat are already made.
The heavy position guns which were in the batteries on the
Mackenzie Heights have been removed, and replaced by others
of lighter calibre. The heavy baggage has likewise gone.
The Times' correspondent remarks on the improbable cha-
racter of the information referred to, and also says the posi-
tion of the pretended deserter, as stated by himself, was one
in which be was not likely to have acquired the kind of informa-
tion he affects to communicate. Nevertheless, the intelligence
appears to have received some attention at head-quarters, .and
to have excited great alertness of observation on the part of
those in command.

The same correspondent says, in respect to the return of the
Kintntrn expedition ; -

Late on iVednesday evening the Triton, Odin, and Fire-
brand, the latter two with mortar and gun boats in tow,
arrived, after rather a rough passage, at Kazatch. The Triton
went round to Balaklava next morning, and in the course of
Thursday a number of French and English vessels, with
troops and stores on board, arrived, one after the other, and
anchored off Kamiesch and Kazatch. It blew so hard that it
was considered inexpedient to land the troops. Yesterday the
whole of the fleets arrived at their anchorage, but the wind
still blew strongly on shore, and no disembarkation took place
that I am aware of, nor has the brigade under Brigadier-
General Spencer rejoined the Fourth Division up to the time
at which I am now writing.
RECONSTRUCTION OF KINBURN FORT.

Kinburn is quite secured against any forces the enemy can
bring against it, covered completely as it is by the guns of the
formidable flotilla we have left behind to protect it. The
French troops will occupy the fort, but a small body of Eng-
lish will be left to guard the flag which waves along with the
tricolour from its ramparts, and the task of its defence will be
shared by a powerful English squadron with our allies. They
have worked with extraordinary energy to repair the place. All
the curtains are rebuilt, the ruins cleared away, the damaged
guns removed, and fine ships' guns put in their place; the
fosse cleared out and deepened, the palisades repaired, the
south-eastern gateway filled up, and its' approaches
covered by a strong ravelin ; the crest of the parapets re-
paired solidly and well with fascines and earthwork, the
Russian guns rendered efficient, the casemates cleared out and
filled with stores or adapted as barracks, and the interior
buildings in course of reconstruction and renovation. The
batteries on the Spit are to be destroyed, and that process is
easily effected by removing the massive beams which support
the sand and few gabions used in their construction. The
total strength of the expedition was 4,541 men and 279 horses.
On the first day they only marched to a village two miles
beyond the place of disembarkation on the Spit, the French
being in another village a mile in advance. On the second day
the men remained inactive. On the third day the force marched
to another village three miles further down the Spit, which
was completely deserted, except by an old man and his wife,
and by a peasant, who was found up a chimney. Two of the
Cossack douaniers came in and surrendered themselves to the
troops. On the fourth day the force returned, having still
another day's supplies, and having laid waste the country, and
captured and slain immense quantities of poultry, geese, pigs,
&c. The French were about 2,200 strong. None of the enemy
molested them, but a body of 200 horse watched them closely,
retreating before them as they advanced, and following them
up on their return, not without some shots from a French
gun-boat, which accompanied the expedition as closely as pos-
sible, but was still a long way from •the shore. The rafts are
all safe off Kinburn, and they are no insignificant prize just
at this moment, when such efforts are being made to put the
Bug in a state of defence. -
THE RUSSIAN DOCKYARD AT
NICHOLAIEF F.

The dockyards of Nicholaieff are supplied with timber and
wood from the government of Ligtewski, which contains seve-
ral large forests of fine trees. These are chiefly in the neigh-
bourhood of Minsk, Mohilev, and Vitebsk. The wood is
floated down the Dnieper to Kherson on rafts firmly clamped
and bound together, with strong and substantial huts upon
them for the navigators. Each raft is generally composed of
4,000 large trunks of oak trees, which are covered with knees
and smaller pieces roughly shaped after drawings and instruc-
tions sent to the cutters, so as to require little trouble in being
made available at once for use in the dockyards. They are
floated as far as the current will take them down the Dnieper,
and are met by the government steamers outside or inside the
bar off the mouths of that river, and are by them towed up to
Nicholaieffi There must be at Nicholaieff some small steamers
at all events at this moment, but they have never stirred, nor
have we seen any trace of them in the Bug. Kherson was the
great ship-building and maritime yard for the Black Sea fleet
in former days, but the difficulty of building large ships there
or rather of getting them away thence when once they were,
built, owing to the shallow water on the bar of the Dnieper,
forced the Russian government to remove their establishments
to Nicholaieff, on the confluence of the Bug and of the Ingul.
The bar of the Bug has a depth of 18 or 19 ft.; the bar of
the Dnieper has only 8 feet water on it in ordinary seasons.
The ships of the line are built at Nicholaieff, but it is not im-
probable that small vessels and frigates of light draught may
still be constructed at Kherson. The arsenal at Nicholaieff is
very extensive, but its principal supplies of timber came from
the Dnieper, and the loss of these two rafts will be no incon-
siderable injury, for fine oak timber such as they contain is
very dear and scarce in Russia. The timber in the casemated
Spit Battery, and the expense of erecting it, came to no less a
sum than 45,000 silver roubles, or £7,500 English currency.
It remains to be seen if Austria can supply Russia with wood,
as she already furnishes her with supplies of oil, groceries and
manufactures of all kinds ; that is, they are brought to
Southern Russia through the Austrian provinces. Sir
Edmund Lyons bas presented one of the rafts to the French—
an act of courtesy and consideration which our polite allies,
no doubt, estimate at its full value. Their demensions are as
follows :—The first is 420 feet long by 63 feet wide, and is 6
feet deep. The second is nearly the same length as the first,
is 54 feet broad, and grounded in 8 feet water. At a rough
calculation the two rafts contain 90,000 cubic feet of the
finest timber, and the present made by the English fleet to the
French, through our Commander-in-Chief, cannot be esti-
mated at a lower value than £20,000; at least, if the timber
was in England, it would be well worth the money, for the
majority of the balks, spars, and centre pieces composing it
are of the very finest white oak.