The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-11-06 00:00:00

THE WAR.

• OPERATIONS in the Crimea have now to a considerable
extent ceased to occupy the chief place in public estimation,
the allied forces, by sea and land, having directed the!r efforts
at different and distant points towards the -subjugation -of
. .

strongholds, and the defeat of objects vital in their import-
ance to the successful resistance -of the Russians. These
operations have not only withdrawn the observation of the
public from that close attention to the proceedings at head-
quarters, which they have hitherto received, but have in.point
of fact tended in a great degree to prevent the necessity of auy
very marked alteration in the position and movements Of the
Allies in Sebastopol and the vicinity. Added to these con-

siderations, it must also be borne in mind, that such .opera-
Cons as are in reality determined on, depend in a very great
degree upon the secrecy with which they can be carried out,
for their value in effett. As a natural consequence of this
state of affairs, the communications forwarded by the -special
correspondents of the London journals are more filled with
details of comparatively trivial matters, and with speculations
concerning expeditions of which they have obviously little
knowledge, than with those thrilling narratives of stirring
events with which for many months past they so freely
abounded. Instead of the graphic narratives of well-qualified
spectators, the public is now dependent on the more circum-
spect, if less glowing, accounts of military and naval exploits
contained in the official despatches.

Notwithstanding these drawbacks, sufficient interest still
attaches to the condition and anticipated movements of -the

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army concentrated in the neighbourhood of the late scenes.of

eventful conflict, to render the morsels of intelligence commu-
nicated concerning them matters of interest. The corres-
pondent of the Times, writing on the 15th ult., from the
Fourth Division camp before Sebastopol, says :
A pleasanter spot for a camp, in such sunny and delightful'
weather as we at present enjoy, could hardly be found than
the slope beyond the village of Kamara, on which the High-
landers have pitched their tents, and whither materials for
huts have already been sent in large quantities. Great, never-
theless, was the satisfaction of that gallant Division—now so
long inactive—on learning two days ago that it was under '
orders to embark for Eupatoria. It was said the embarkation
would take place to-day, but it will hardly be until Wednes-
day. Transports are reported to be wanting, but that is im-
probable, for Balaclava harbour is crowded with shipping to
such an extent that vessels which arrived on Friday morning
still awaited admission yesterday. It takes a little time
to get the necessary land transport supplies, baggage, &e., on
board, especially when, as in this case, the troops are ordered
to take with them as much of their heavy baggage as they can.
From this we infer that they are probably to winter at Eupa-
toria, and not necessarily to be at present engaged in active
operations. On the other hand, the departure of the light
cavalry, under Lord George Paget, would lead us to believe
that fighting is meant. There can hardly be an intention of
keeping them at Eupatoria all the winter, since stables are
now erecting near Sautari, and on an island in the Sea of
Marmora, amply sufficient to receive the whole of our cavalry
and horse artillery, which, it has been positively stated, are to
be quartered there until spring. A large number of French
(12p00 or 15,000) are to embark at Kamiesch, where, accord-
ing to one report, the Highlanders are also to embark, as the
nearest port for Eupatoria. Expeditions are quite the fashion
of the moment, and, had we before us the prospect of two or
three months' fine weather, we should be bound to suppose
that an important combined operation was about to be entered
upon. But, judging from precedent and probability, two or
three weeks must close the campaign, At present the wea-
ther is all that could be desired. The sun, which in that
little kettle Balaklava harbour, is still oppressively hot, is
tempered on the heights by refreshing breezes; the ground is
everywhere dry—the atmosphere pure and healthy. Never
was our army, since its first landing, so free from disease as at
the present moment. But this second summer may any day
be brought to a close, and exchanged for a season of rain and
tempest. It will be unusual, not to say extraordinary, if such
be not the case early in November. Brief time, therefore,
remains for the expeditions to carry out their objects, what-
ever those may be. The five regiments of cavalry (4th and
13th Light Dragoons, 12th and 17th Lancers, and Carbineers),
the Highlanders, and the 12,000 French, are believed to be all
bound for Eupatoria, Captain Montague's company of Sap-
pers and Miners also goes.
PREPARATIONS FOR WINTERING.

The English army, convinced that it is to winter in its
present camp, has set seriously to work to guard itself from
the inclement weather from which it last year suffered so
grievously, and to make itself as comfortable as it can. Officers
and men are busy with domestic arrangements. Hutting and
roadmaking are the occupations of the hour, and rapid progress
is making with both. Strong wooden huts are springing up
on all sides, and here and there a solid stone dwelling is in
course of construction. There will be lots of chimneys smok-
ing this Christmas on the heights before Sebastopol, and,
doubtless, many a good dinner will be eaten on that day, and
many a glass emptied to those memories and hopes of home
which are almost the sole consolation for the many privations
that must be endured, even under the most favourable circum-
stances, by the dwellers in a camp. It is now pleasant to
contrast the sufferings of last winter—the cold, exposure,
famine, and want of clothing then endured—with the prospect
of plenty and almost of comfort during that which approaches,
and to observe the activity that prevails to make the most of
the ample means supplied. The necessary roads progress
rapidly towards completion. Drainage is not neglected, and,
indeed, it is a question whether it be not almost overdone.
Some of the ditches, dug along each side of roads, and around
stores, hospital huts, and other establishments, are of formidable
width and depth, and of a dark night are likely to prove
dangerous pitfalls to wanderers through the camp, especially
if they have been taking " just one more tumbler" in the
quarters of some hospitable friend. On the other hand, here,
where the rains are frequently torrents, during which the
water sweeps down the slopes in sheets and floods, deep drain-
age is essential if we are not to live in a quagmire, as we hitherto
have done as often as the weather has been wet.