The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-01-08 00:00:00

A SNOW-BALLING ENGAGEMENT.

Last Monday evening the 7th Fusiliers had a great snow-
balling. One wing of the regiment had to assault and take a
hastily-thrown up redoubt from the other wing. Rifle pits
and barricades were made on the occasion, and a great deal of
amusement was caused by the plucky manner in which one of
the besiegers' pits, formed of snow and barrels, was destroyed
by a sortie from the garrison. At last, after some hard fight-
ing on both sides, the work was carried by assault. Similar
challenges have taken place in various regiments during this
week, one company attacking another, and so forth ; and in
many cases several casualties have been caused by wounds in
the face. For example—Major Watson, 7th Fusiliers, and
others.

The correspondent of the Daily News, writing from the
camp before Sebastopol, on the 22nd December, makes the
following observations on the

POSTPONEMENT OF THE DESTRITCTION OF

THE DOCKS.

CAMP BEFORE SEBASTOPOL, Dec. 22.—After our allies
the French had postponed blowing up one of the docks of
their half portion last Monday, they gave out that the
anxiously looked for demolition would take place the following
Thursday ; but, much to the annoyance of the whole army,
the engineers, or else the commander-in-chief, Marshal
Pelissier, again postponed the event, and no further day for
the effectual destruction is yet mentioned. Yesterday I heard,
on good authority, that, owing to the water percolating
through the soil into the galleries in greater measure than
had been expected, the French were rather in a fix, as they
don't happen to have made arrangements like our engineers
for being supplied with pumps in case of emergency. This
circumstance, together with the severity of the weather, not
permitting the prosecution of the underground works at night,
will, it is generally expected, prevent the entire demolition of
these famous stone docks being completed, or ready for com-
pletion, for some days to come. The destruction of these five
dry docks, basin and entrance, may be considered by many as
a great piece of barbarism ; still, unless Sebastopol is declared
a free port, this sacrifice of property, tantamount to about 20
millions, is a necessary evil. The last rumour with reference
to the movements of the generals is, that La Marmora, whose
head-quarters are at Kadikoi, is going to Paris, and that Sir
George Brown, G.C.8., is also ordered from Nice to that
capital.

THE FAILURE OF THE L AND TRANSPORT

CORPS. -----
The failure of the land transport is still a subject of conver-
sation in camp. It is said that last month the loss in mules
and horses missing and dead amounted to twelve hundred or
upwards, and that in one week after the bad weather set in
five hundred animals were lost. If this statement be only an
approximation to the truth, what a serious expenditure of
money is involved in the account. Surely there ought to be
some searching public inquiry into the subject. The means
adopted for the protection of the animals, and the cause of so
many being permitted to stray and be lost, should be investi-
gated. Even now it can be seen, on riding through the camps,
that many of the divisional transport animals are without a
shed, roof, or any other protection against the inclemency of
the weather than their clothing. Engines of greater power
are required for the railway, and it is understood have been
sent for. We are now experiencing the benefits of having
formed central and divisional commissariat depots, the absence
of which was one of the many sources of the calamities which
befell the army on these heights during the last fatal winter.
THE CASUALTIES FROM THE RUSSIAN FIRE.
No casualties of note have occurred in the English portion
of Sebastopol, although both on public works and in the pri-
vate occupation of fetching firewood and other materials, the
number entering the Karabelnaia has been by no means a
limited one. There has been no intermission in the enemy's
fire from the north aide. They have lately been employing
red hot shot, with a view of setting on fire some of the few
buildings which retain their timber, but have hitherto been
unsuccessful in their attempt.

TIIE Secretary of State for War, says The United Service
Gazette, has re-considered the small amount of daily allow-
ance to officers when ordered to proceed to the head-quarters
of Militia regiments to receive volunteers for the Royal Ar-
tillery, and decided that for the present the personal allowance
of 15s. per night be granted to all officers of that branch of
the service performing such duties.

TIIE MITITAEY CONFERENCE IN PARIS.—The approach-
ing military conference at Paris will, in all likelihood, be at-
tended by the Duke of Cambridge, Quarter-Master-General
Airey, General Sir H. Jones, Sir Edmund Lyons, and Admiral
R. S. Dundas, on the part of England. It is said that his Im-
perial Majesty the Emperor, General Neil, General Martini-
pret, late chief of the staff to the French army in the Crimea,
and Admiral Penaud, will be the representatives of France at
the conference. •

THE Polam AMNESTY.—A telegraphic despatch from
Vienna, dated Friday, says :—" The amnesty granted in
Poland includes some foreigners, among them ten Germans
and three Frenchmen. Prince Paskiewitsch has suffered a
relapse. Colonel Manteuffel was received yesterday by the
Emperor of Austria. The chances of an understanding between
Prussia and Austria are improved."
REPORTED RESIGNATION OF 03IAR PASHA.—Late ad-
vices from Constantinople state that Omar Pasha had been
requested to resign his post as Commander-in-Chief of the
Turkish army in Asia, for not having exerted himself to hid
uttermost to relieve Kars. This report is believed by some,
but disbelieved by the many.
EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS.—A new exchange of prisoners
between the French and Russians took place recently at
Odessa. Among the French prisoners given up were three
officers of the Vautour, who were captured, it may be remem-
bered, some time ago by the Cossacks whilst out shooting in
the neighbourhood of Kinburn.
We read, in the Presse d' Orient, under date Sevastopol,
18th ult. :—" The Russians, encamped on the north of the
bay, must feel rather uncomfortable, for they have not one-
half of the little conveniences we enjoy. As far as we can
judge, with the aid of telescopes, their installation is most
deficient and incomplete, and their supply of wood very insuf-
ficient, for we frequently see numbers of their men seeking
fuel amid the 'brushwood of Inkerman and on the sites of
some ruined houses close to the bay. They have become of li
late more sparing of their gunpowder and projectiles. We
have remarked for some days considerable movement in the
Russian camp, from which it is inferred that Prince Gortscha-
koff must have received reinforcements. The works intended
to blow up the docks are nearly terminated. An officer of the
Engineers told me the day before yesterday that eight cham-
bers were ready for the purpose, but not yet loaded. The
destruction of these gigantic works will not be the least curi-
ous episode of the great drama we have been acting here for
upwards of a year. I visited, some days ago, the Sardinian
camp, where we have many friends. I found our brave com-
rades in excellent condition. Their General-in-Chief pays
every attention to the welfare of his troops, and they will get
over the winter as comfortable as it is possible in the Crimea.
The number of sick is quite insignificant. Cattle were begin-
ning to be scarce in the Sardinian camp, and the intendant
had been obliged to apply to the English commissariat
for a number of oxen.