The Press.
London, England, 1855-04-07 00:00:00

THE WAR.

The latest intelligence from the Crimea is of the
28th ult., but it reports no incident of importance
subsequent to the attack upon the allied intrench-
ments on the night of the 22nd. It is said that the
regular operations were to commence on the 3rd of
April.

In reference to the encounter of the 22nd a
despatch from General Osten-Sacken telegraphed to
St. Petersburg is as follows :

The troops of the garrison of Sebastopol made a sortie
on the nights of the 22nd and 23rd to destroy the ad-
vanced works of the allied armies near the lunette of
Kamstchatka. The attack was successful. The loss was
great on both sides. Two French officers and one English
officer were amongst the prisoners which fell into the
hands of the Russians.

The Paris Moniteur published telegraphic advices
from General Canrobert, giving an account of the
sortie make by the Russians on the night of the 22nd.
He states that the enemy were vigorously driven back,
with a loss of no less than 2,000 killed or wounded.
The loss of the allies was 600.

Full particulars, so far as they were known in the
British camp when the mail of the 24th was
despatched, are given below.
The Vienna Fremden Blatt of Wednesday states
that the operations of the allies had begun. It was
said that Omer Paella was advancing on Old Fort
from Eupatoria, and that the French were to take
the field, while the English defended the plateau, the
railway, and Balaklava.
A series of official despatches from Lord Raglan
have arrived during the week at the War-office and
were published in successive supplementary
Gazettes as follows :

Before Sebastopol, March 20.

In my despatch of the 17th inst. I reported to yoar lord:
ship the progress made in forming the parallel constructed
to unite the right of our right attack with the left of the
French on the lnkermann heights.
The contest of the latter with the enemy for the pos-
session of the rifle pits in their immediate front was re-
newed after dark on that night, and was continued for
several hours, the fire being excessively heavy, particularly
of musketry, and considerable loss must have been sus-
tained by our allies, I fear, as well as by the enemy, who
continue to hold the ambuscades; but the French perse-
vere, notwithstanding, in working forward, and are ap-
proaching the Mtzmelon on which the Russians are busily
engaged in building a formidable work, though fre-
quently interrupted by our batteries and those of the
French.

On the night of the 17th the English parallels were not
attacked, but the fire to which I have above alluded was so
• mtinuotui that the whole force was either under arms or
ready to turn out. _ • _ . _ _

It was currently reported yesterday that Prince Mens-
chikoff had died on his way to Moscow. 1 have not been
able to ascertain if this report be founded, but it was
so fully credited as to have been despatched to Constan-
tinople.
Prince Gortschakoff is stated to have arrived at Baktchi
Serai, and to have assumed the command of the army.
Reinforcements are reported to be on their way from
Russia, and the 9th Division to have reached the neigh-
bourhood of Eupatoria. The position of the Russian
troops in the vicinity of the Tschernaya remains un-
altered.

The progress of the railway continues to be satisfactory,
and we are already enabled to use it with considerable ad-
wantuge, both for the conveyance of supplies and hutting, so
tar as the high ground some way on this side of Kadikoi.
Mr. ileattie's exertions deserve every commendation.

RAOLAN.
March 20.—1 t is with deep concern that I transmit for
tour lordship's information the copy of a letter which I
received on the 18th inst. from General Canrobert, an-
nouncing, with every expression of concern, the death of a
British officer, who appears to have wandered into the
French camp, and, not answering the challenge that was
repeated three times, was shot dead by the French sentry
"hose post he had approached.

This officer, Surgeon Le Blanc, of the oth Foot, occupied
tent near the hospital huts of his regiment, situated at
some distance from the encampment of the regiment it-
self. He was a gentleman of most temperate habits, and
was occupied in reading, when suddenly, upon the alarm
sounding, he rose from his seat, leaving his candle lighted
and his book open, and walked out; he was never seen
alive afterwards.

It should be explained that, shortly after the close of
day on the 17th, there was a very heavy fire on the left of
the French right, which was maintained for several hours.
None of the English posts were attacked, bnt it was con-
sidered prudent to get the greater portion of our troops
under arms. Mr. Le Blanc was shortsighted, and proba-
bly mistook his *ay from the first, the night being exces-
sively dark, for he was found far distant to the left, end
must have wandered from our position without knowing
the direction in which he was going.
Being anxious to ascertain the facts of this unfortunate
case as correctly as possible, I have set on foot an inquiry
to be conducted by English and French officers, in a isocia-
i( nwith each other; and I propose to do myself the honour
to send you their report. Ita.orAN.