The Press.
London, England, 1855-11-10 00:00:00

THE CAMP IN THE CRIMEA.

As far as active hostilities are concerned, matters
appear to ha unusually quiet on both sides. The an-
t cipated Russian attack up to the 23rd bad not come
off, and the temporary excitement caused by Lord
Fanmure's " canard" had quite subsided:—

As regards military operations there is literally nothing
worth recording. The Russians remain very quiet, and so
do we. There is not much firing from the north side ; now
and then some artillery offier, as if suddenly exasperated,
jumps up in a fury, and fires half a dozen mortars at once,
but, as far as I can see, the French continue not caring,
and scarcely take the trouble to reply. In the cavalry plain,
on Saturday afternoon, our allies treated the Rusaians to a
fine view of the Imperial Guard. General 111`Mahon,
having assumed command of the corps d'armie of reserve,
passed it in review. I rode down there after sending off
my despatch, and the sight was certainly very fine, and
highly creditable in every way to the French army. Grena-
diers, Chasseurs, Zouaves, Engineers, and Artillery of the
Guard, were drawn op across the plain in a long line, up
and down which the general rode, followed by a numerous
staff, of which Sir Colin Campbell and a large number of
English officers had temporarily attached themselves. The
Grenadiers looked martial and imposing in their long blue
coats and lofty bearskins, the Chasseurs smart and active
in their most excellent and service like costume ; the
Zouaves, as usual, picturesque and effective. These two
amps (the Chasseurs and Zouaves) excite the warm
admiration of our officers, and are probably the most
perfect soldiers in the world—l do not mean in respect of
fighting, although they are no fools at that, but considering
them with respect to all their military qualities and accom-
plishments, as well as to their dress and equipment, their
powers of marching and endurance--everything, in short,
that constitutes perfection in a soldier. They really looked
magnificent on Saturday—an honour to their service and a
credit to the system and officers by which such soldiers
are made. The day was fine, and of course ponies were
put into requisition, and no end of scarlet jackets, inter-
spersed with the blue frocks of the cavalry, sere seen con-
verging from all points towards the parade-ground.—Times
eor., Oct. 22.

The position of the allied armies for the winter ap-
pears to be settled:—
From all we can see, the last directions about the pod.
tions which the allied armies are going to keep during the
winter have been given, and all the movements going on
are rather to regulate the details than with a view of
making any material changes. The position chosen is
certainly such that very little fear can be entertained of
any distubance from the Russians. Both armies will be
opposite to each other on a series of heights, with only a
few accessible points, and separated by a kind of neutral
ground formed in part by the Tschernaya valley, which as
soon as the rains begin will be a most effectual barrier to
an attack from eitber aide, and on our right by the low
range of hills which form the banks of the Upper Belbeck
before it enters the defile near Albaud. The road over
Alan, which, as I told you in my last letter, the French
were constructing to connect their position on the heights
of Ozembash with the rest of the line, is progressing
rapidly, and will be available in a short time.—lb , Oct. 27.
The English troops which had been sent to Kin-
burn, according to camp rumour, were expected back
at head-quarters very shortly :

THE PRESS.

The English troops which formed part of the expedition
to Kinburn are expected back on Monday next. The place
will be kept in winter by the French.-16.
- - -

The first brigade of the fourth division, which was en-
gaged in the expedition against the forts on the promon-
tory of Kinburn, is expected to return to its former
position in a few days. Kiuburn is to be garrisoned by
French troops. It is stated that the approaches to
Nicolaieff by the river channel were closely examined, and
found to be very strongly protected and fortified.—D. News
cor., Oct. 26.

The first anniversary of the battle of Balaklava
was celebrated by the English cavalry by a 14rand
parade and manoeuvres upon the very spot of the
charge of last year. The review was favored by fine
weather, and although the whole of the light brigade
was away at liupatoria, the hussar and heavy brigade
presented an imposing array :
The first anniversary of the battle of Balaklava was cele•
brated by a cavalry review on the ground where the famous
light cavalry charge took place. The number of sabres
actually present was 2,100, under the command of General
Sir J. Scailett. After marching and trotting past, they
charged over the same spot as on the memorable 205th of
October, 1654. In addition to a large number of French,
there were present, as spectators, Generals Barnard,
Garrett, Codrington, and two ladies—viz., Mrs. Forrest,
wife of Lieut.-Col. Forrest, of the 4th Dragoon Guards, and
Mrs. Duberly, wife of the Paymaster of the 6th Hussars.—
lb., Oct. 27.
We learn from the Daily News correspondent that
in a late exchange of prisoners at Odessa some
forty out of the odd hundred men had been captured
in the famous light cavalry charge last year, and by
a singular coincidence they returned to bead-quar-
ters upon the first anniversary of their capture.
The orders for suspending the destruction of the
docks of Sebastopol appear to have been rescinded,
as active preparations were being continued in order
to insure their complete demolition :
The engineers are now busily employed in sinking
shafts and preparing mines for the destruction of the
magnificent stone docks of the Karabelnaia. It is said that
orders have been received from home for the total an-
nihilation of these costly and elaborately constructed
works. These instructions have led to various surmises
respecting the views of the allied Governments on the
ultimate disposal of the Crimea, and it is argued that as,
if held by any allied or friendly power, these dockyards
would be of the utmost value for the construction and
repair of ships even of a mercantile marine, their abolition
must be considered significant of a possible, if nut proba-
ble, restitution to Russia of the harbour of Sebastopol.—
D. News cor., Oct. 26.
There is very little firing now going on between the
French and the north side of the harbour, and the only
piece of intelligence worth recording about Sebastopol is
that the demolition of the docks is being proceeded with,
a company of Sappers being told off expressly for this and
other duties.—lb.
The native inhabitants of the little village of Ka-
rani having expressed a wish to be removed to some
part of the Crimea occupied by the Russians, com-
munications took place with the enemy upon the sub-
ject, and it was arranged that they should be trans-
ferred to Kaffa. One of our men-of-war' under the
temporary command of Prince Victor of Hohenlohe,
embarked the inhabitants and proceeded direct to
Kaffa. Upon arriving there a flag of truce was im-
mediately sent on shore and replied to. The officers
of the ship then landed their cargo, accompanying
them on shore, when the following circumstance oc-
curred, which speaks well for the good feeling exist-
' ing at Kaffa:—
No sooner had they got on shore than they were sur-
rounded by a crowd, including a number of Cossacks, who
came down full speed. Each one of them was forthwith
elevated upon a high Cossack saddle—rather an awkward
seat for equestrians unaccustomed to such machines—
and away they went at a scamper. Everything was done
Cossack fashion—full gallop. They were taken to the
country-house of Prince Gagarin, about two miles from
shore, and were there courteously received by the Prince
himself, a man of some sixty years of age, minus a leg,
which he lost when campaigning in the Caucasus, and who
went about on crutches. The Prince spoke French, and
told them he understood English. Chairs and a table were
brought out of the country-house (over which the visitors
were shown), and wine and fruit were placed before them,
whereof they partook. The conversation was well sus-
tained, and, judging from the account of it given me by an
officer present, almost cordial. Subjects connected with
the war were not altogether excluded, and incidents of the
siege were related. In the course of the conservation the
Russian officer who bad gone on board said something to
Prince Gagarin, in which the English present distinguished
the word " Kinbuni." The Prince replied by a passionate
exclamation, unintelligible to his foreign guests, and pre-
sently asked them what was the latest news. " Nothing
from England," was the reply, " but in the Crimea the
attack upon and capture of Kinloirn." The Prince ap-
peared to feel the intelligence painfully, hut merely
shrugged his shoulders, and remarked that it was "la for-
tune de la guerre." He informed them of rather a curious
fact, which was that, by the great explosion of the French
magazine in the Mamelon at the end of August, persons in
Sebastopol were killed and wounded.—Times car.. Oct. Z.