The Press.
London, England, 1855-06-30 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

THE HANGO MASSACRE.

OUR Baltic correspondent relates that Admiral
Des DAS sent a flag of truce to Helsingfors with
a demand for an explanation of the assault
made on the boat's crew of the Cossack while
protected (as they imagined) by a flag of truce.
The Russian Commander-in-Chief, in his reply,
admitted that the flag of truce was seen but
not acknowledged, that the boat's crew landed,
and, when called upon to surrender, seized
their arms ; and hence the conflict. This
may, or may not, be a true account of what
took place, and we cannot contradict it until
the evidence of the prisoners is obtained.
Even assuming it to be correct, it still becomes
a question how far the Russians were justified
in laying a trap to kill or capture the boat's
crew.

In war it is admitted that every stratagem,
artifice, and surprise is perfectly justifiable as
long as they are consistent with the recog-
nised laws of war, and do not infringe the
rights of humanity as established by custom
among civilised nations, but the rule as
regards flags of truce does not appear to have
been very clearly stated. Neither VArrEL,
PUFFENDORF, GROTIUS, nor any of the later
jurists have, so far as we can discover, laid
down clear and precise rules regulating the
custom and practice of flags of truce. Obvi •
ously there are three courses open to an
enemy—of acknowledging the flag of truce, in
which case the party or parties bearing it
must be held sacred, of rejecting it, in
which case the bearers must advance at their
proper peril, or of taking no notice of it what-
ever. And the question really in dispute is,
whether in this latter case the flag is a pro-
tection, or whether from the fact of its not being
recognised it is no protection whatever to the
persons bearing it. This is a point deserving
of elucidation ! for if it be settled that a flag of
truce is no protection unless it be acknow-
ledged, and that there is no obligation on the
part of an enemy to warn it off when it is not
meant to respect it, then we shall have no
right to complain of a positive infraction of
the laws of war, however severely we may cen-
sure the craft and cruelty of the Russian pro-
ceeding in firing upon a party who came to
restore Russian prisoners to their own soil.
But if, on the other hand, an enemy is bound
to either acknowledge or warn off a flag of
truce, and is not permitted to attack the party
bearing it without previous notice, then the
Russian assault must be held to be an infraction
of the laws of war, calling not for censure
merely, but for some severe example. We
content ourselves with stating the difficulty,
in the hope that it may be satisfactorily
cleared up.
The Russian General, in concluding his
reply, is said to have observed, in reference
to the flag of truce, " Your boats have been
" too much in the habit of approaching the
" shore under this pretext."

This is an accusation which the commanding
officers of the different ships should be callel
on to reply to, for such a proceeding is quite
inconsistent with carrying on the war in a
proper manner. The conduct of Captain
FANSHAWE appears to have been extremely
reprehensible in permitting his own and other
stewards to proceed ashore with the flag of
truce. We are afraid that this very fact
proclaims an excess of confidence, and a
want of that strict attention to the rules of
war which should limit the operations of a
flag of truce to the sure and simple execution
of its duty.
Captain FANSHAWE, in his explanatory letters
to the Admiral, asserts that his instructions to
Lieutenant GENESTE were to land the prisoners
and to return on board, not permitting any
straying of the boat's crew, nor to allow the
boat to remain on shore a moment longer than
was requisite. But hire such instructions con-
sistent with his permission to his steward to
go on Shore to buy stock? Without any feel
ing of hostility towards Captain FANSHAWE, we
must say it is necessary that his conduct in

SATURDAY,

this instance should be thoroughly investi-
gated, and the privileges of a flag of truce
clearly laid down, that our officers may
not again have to receive instruction in strict
rules of warfare by such cruel lessons as the
enemy has taught them in this case of the
Cossack's boat's crew.

We have reason to believe that some misunder-
standing exists between General Pelissier and the
French Government. The General hesitates to obey
the orders he receives from Paris, alleging that from
commanding on the spot he must be the best judge
of the operations required.

Lord Raglan has been attacked by dysentery, and
has been ordered to remain quiet in his hut for two
or three weeks at least. General Simpson, Chief
d'Etat Major, commands during his absence.

WE regret to have to announce the death of the
Rev. J. H. Whitfield, officiating chaplain to the forces
at Scutari. The reverend gentleman was attached to
the Palace hospital, where he was unremitting in
the discharge of the duties of his sacred calling. He
was seized with diarrhma on the evening of the 7th
instant, which continued with unabated severity till
the afternoon of the 17th, when he died. The
highest testimony is borne to his zeal and devotion.

The resignation of Lord Raglan on account of ill-
health was announced in very positive terms by the
Times yesterday morning, but officially contradicted
in Parliament last evening by Lord I'anmure and the
Prime Minister. The Globe states on this subject:—

We announce with extreme satisfaction, that there is no
authentic foundation for the statement that Lord Raglan
has applied to be relieved of the command-in•chief of the
British army in the Crimea, in consequence of severe ill•
ness. Lord Raglan, it is true, has been suffering from
dysentery, and has, we believe. been confined to his bed for
the last few days. We are happy to state, however, that the
accounts received by telegraph represent his health as very
greatly improved within the last few hours, and we have
every reason to hope that there is no prospect of our forces
in the Crimea being deprived of the commander under
whose guidance they have so nobly maintained the honour
of the country. We believe that if any such change should
be rendered necessary by Lord Raglan's state of health, it
is arranged that the command of the army should be con-
fided to General Simpson.
We are also glad to be enabled to state that by the
last accounts Sir George Brown was better; he, too, had
been suffering from dysentery on board the Royal Albert,
off Balaklava.

Lieutenant-General James Fergusson, for some
time past in command of the troops at Malta,
according to the Globe, will succeed Sir Robert
Gardiner as Governor and Commander-in• Chief of
Gibraltar.

Mr. 11. J. R. Gaskoin, of the War-office, has been
appointed private secretary to Lord Panmure, in
succession to the Earl of Gifford, who has resigned
that office.

The Standard understands, from a private source,
that two officers of high rank in the British service
are ill of cholera., but does not vouch for the accuracy
of the report.
lams NIGHTINGALE is about to return home, her
health being still imperfectly recovered from the
effects of the late serious indisposition.

Yesterday's Constitutionnei says that the camp at
Satory is about to be re-established.
The corn crops throughout France look exceed-
ingly well, and a bountiful harvest is confidently
anticipated.

By the last advices from Madrid we learn that
M. Bruil, the Finance Minister, though beaten on
his finance plan, is not likely to retire from the
Government, as his colleagues have refused to
acknowledge it as a Cabinet question. To supply
the money required to cover the deficit Ministers will
ask for a new loan of 200,000,000 of reals.

Accounts received from the mouths of the Russian
prisoners at Constantinople, state that 15,00►)
wounded were lying in Sebastopol, that cholera was
raging in the town, and that in the immediate neigh
bourhood the soldiers were suffering dreadfully from
the pangs of hunger.

The steamer Bombay arrived at Trieste on Thurs-
day morning with the Overland Mail. The advices
were from Calcutta of the 19th ; Madras, 24; Bom-
bay, 27; Shanghai, 4; Hong-Kong, 10 ; and Canton,
Bth of May.
There is nothing new from India. Trade was
inactive; the Money Market tight; freights falling.
Famine prevails in many parts of China. The
rebels have taken some towns, and the Imperialists
have gained soma battles.