The Press.
London, England, 1855-05-26 00:00:00

THE CRIMEA.

To under-estimate the strength of an enemy
and to overestimate our own is a dangerous
error in the conduct of a war ; and yet from the
nature of things there is a continual tendency
to its adoption. We send out noble troops in
numbers that are large in proportion to our
establishment, and we feel every confidence in

THE PRESS.

their skill and prowess ; we learn that our ally
is despatching similar reinforcements scarcely
inferior to our own. The forces of the enemy
are out of sight ; their number is carefully con-
cealed ; their condition and discipline are con-
sidered unworthy of comparison with those of
the allied armies. Our troops occupy the fore-
ground, brilliant in appearance, and irresist-
ible in power; while in the horizon are the
legions of the foe, dwindled into pigmies, in-
appreciable in numbers, and apparently con-
temptible. We do not consider the obstacles
which intervene between ourselves and our
adversaries—the strength of their positions,
and the probability of the concealment of
masses of their troops. Such appears to be
the state -of the public mind of England at the
present moment. An opinion has gone abroad
that the conquest of the Crimea is easy.
There is much to confirm the
.impression.
The French and English reserves have been
ordered up, the Sardinian Contingent is
arriving, and in a very short time we shall have
on the heights of Sebastopol an army of almost
unequalled strength and efficiency. With the
Turks at Eupatoria we shall number 200,000
men. What ought not such a force to be able
to do ? The Russians, according to some ac-
counts, can only muster 150,000. Why should
we suppose ourselves incapable of their con
quest?
But a little examination will reveal the diffi
culties that give strength to the Russians, and
weaken our own forces. We are not a single
army under one head. We have two distinct and
distant encampments under three heads. The
Turks at Eupatoria are 50,000 strong, and
yet are useless in the present operations of the
war. A few regiments of cavalry suffice to hold
them all in check. They must be struck off
the roll of those who are available at the com-
mencement of active operations. Our army is
reduced to 150,000 men. The next difficulty
is the enormous extent of the lines before
Sebastopol, no part of which can be abandoned
The camp is sixteen miles by nine, with out-
works and batteries, and railways, and har-
bours, and every species of establishment that
stands in need of the amplest protection. No
later than two months ago the immense body
of troops collected in the French and British
tents were inadequate to its perfect defence ;
and the heights above Balaklava were con
sidered open to attack by an overwhelming
force. OSIER PACHA'S troops were welcomed
because they relived us from apprehensions on
that score. What is the deduction that we must
make of those who must remain to carry on
the siege?
When the expedition has set out its diffi-
culties begin. Every mile of advance requires
detachments of troops, and lessens the strength
which can meet the opposing battalions. The
greatest obstacles are presented by the nature
of the country. All the heights and roads are
effectually closed and fortified. We advance
into a mountainous country, the accesses to
which are defended with earthworks, in-
trenched camps, redoubts, and mined roads
We engage in a succession of sieges, nearly all
RS difficult as Sebastopol. When the heights
are carried and the enemy has withdrawn into
the interior, the transport of provisions will be
very difficult. We are unprovided with a suffi-
cient number of animals; we have not sufficient
means of transport for the necessities of
10,000 men; nor do we hear of any large arrivals
of beasts of burden. As regards transport the
Crimea is peculiarly disadvantageous to an
invader from the want of water. Not only pro.
visions, but water must be brought up for an
advancing army. Will this want be antici
pated and supplied ? We fear that it will
occasion great loss, and that the nation must
be prepared for fearful sufferings. But sup-
pose all these trials surmounted, and an
allied army before Simferopol. What force
will the Russians bring against them? Ac-
counts vary. Some say 60,000 or 70,000 men.
Others report 100,000. Others go so far as to
calculate 150,000 will be found concentrated
in the Russian lines. They will be fresh, close
to their supplies, and well furnished with
water. After all our diminutions are we likely
to be able to bring into the field a force that
shall be in numbers at all equal to theirs ?

Far be it from us to insinuate discourage-
ments, or to counsel timid measures. Bold.
ness can alone succeed. The dangers must be
met, the difficulties must be surmounted, and
perhaps great battles must he fought. Th•
daring general will command the support of
the country. But one inference we do draw.
So perilous au enterprise demands the utmost
energy and the most consummate judgment.
It can only he successful by a combination of
exertions. The general will be of no avail, if the
Commissariat breaks down ; the Commissariat
will toil in vain if the Ministry fail them.
Through every branch of our military service,
and in every department of civil co-operation,
the right man must ba in the right place, or
we can expect nothing but the old story of
failure and disgrace.

THE NEW SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY.
THE appointment of Mr. PHINN to the vacant
Secretaryship at the Admiralty gave rise to a short
conversation in the Lords on Thursday evening.
Mr. Firms recently brought forward a sham sno
tion on Poland, mainly for the purpose, as
it seemed, of complimenting Lord PALMERSTON
of being a greater kingmaker than Waawicx, and of
having it in his power to remodel the map of
Europe by his word if be could but be persuaded to
speak it. The purpose of Mr. PHINN'S oration was
answered when the Premier had been sufficiently pane-
gyrised, and the motion was withdrawn. Mr. PHINN
has remained quiet ever since, but his modest merit
has been remembered by the Premier at the right time.
It is not pretended that he has had any experience
of official life, or that be has shown any remarkable
diligence in Legislative business. He receives his
appointment for the reason given by VOLTAIRE for
the shooting of poor BYNO " pour encourager les
" autres."
The Government of Lord DERBY thought the post
might be conveniently filled by a naval officer, and
the arrangement by which one of the two secretaries
should belong to that branch of the service which it is
the duty of the Admiralty to administer, seemed both
equitable and expedient. But. to have followed that
precedent would probably have seemed to the
Government like yielding to the popular cry for Ad-
ministrative Reform, so this lucrative, and at the pre-
sent time important post, is given to Mr. Phinn, a
barrister, as if to show that the old Whig rule of
confining public patronage to political adherents is
more than ever to be acted on just now, as
stricter discipline is enforced in a regiment if a
mutinous spirit is observed among the men. The
cry for Administrative Reform is getting trouble-
some, and the Premier is determined to " put it
" down."

THE FOURTH REPORT of the Sebastopol Inquiry
Committee on the Army before Sebastopol was pub-
lished on Thursday, in the form of a blue book of
nearly four hundred pages. The report merely con
tains the minutes of evidence taken from the 2nd to
the 15th instant, comprising that of Sir T. Hastings,
Mr. S. Herbert, M.P., Admiral Dundas, Sir J. Graham.
and the Earl of Aberdeen. The next publication will
be the report of the committee, properly so called.
A NAIVE CONYESSION.—Sir William blolesworth
wrote, on Wednesday, to his constituents in South
wark, "If Mr. Disraeli's motion be carried, the
necessity of Administrative Reform will become more
apparent." The result of a vote of censure against
Ministers being carried would, in all likelihood, be
their resignation. The meaning, therefore, of the
somewhat oracular epistle from which we have
quoted would appear to be, that the necessity for
Administrative Reform is not apparent to Sir William
Molesworth in office, but would become obvious to
Sir William Molesworth out of office.—Daily News.
THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE ROYAL LITERARY FUND,
which, having been founded in the year 1790, is now
in its With year, was held on Tuesday at the Free-
masons' Tavern. The Lord Bishop of Oxford was m

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the chair. Among the donations and subscriptions
announced during the evening were those of her
Majesty (18th donation), 105/. ; the Bishop of
Oxford, 211.; the Duke of Somerset (48th donation),
10 guineas; the Earl of Ellesmere (25th donation),
10 guineas; the Earl of Elleaborough, Lord Londes-
borough, Lord Hardinge, &c., 10 guineas each ; the
Stationers' Company, 201.
RESPECTING LORD DUNDONALD'S PLANS the Atht-
nrum states :—" It is said, and we believe correctly
said, by well-informed persons, that the scientific
commission appointed to consider the feasibility of
Lord Dundonald's plan for destroying the arsenals
and fortresses of the Russians, have reported in favour
of the project, subject to certain conditions, twu,ch
will have to be decided by military engineers.
'4,411
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