The Press.
London, England, 1855-03-31 00:00:00

NAVAL OPERATIONS.

H.M.S. Leopard, of 18 guns, was despatched by
Admiral Lyons to blockade the strait of Kertcb,
and, while engaged in that service, Captain Giffard
ascertained that the formidable fortress of Soikjak
Kale was so reduced by the removal of men and
guns to Anapa, that it might be attacked with suc-
cess. The Circassians engaged to make the attack
by land provided Captain Gifford would make a
simultaneous attack by sea. Captain Giffard
accordingly, desirous, as he himself relates the
transaction, to encourage the natives and embarrass
the Russians, moved the force under his command,
consisting of the Leopard, the MO:flyer, the Swal-
low, the Viper, and the Fulton French steamer, to
within a thousand yards of the south face of the
fort, where no more than ten guns could be brought
to bear upon the ships, and speedily shelled the in-
habitants and troops out of the town. The Circas-
sians, however, having failed to advance to the
attack, Captain Giffard, after inflicting much injury
to the arsenal and public buildings, and dismounting
several of the guns, retired, not having sufficient
force to land and attack the garrison. The little
squadron also, with the assistance of the Circassians,
destroyed the small fort that commanded the head
of the bay. A few days previously Captain Giffard
despatched the Viper, under the command of Lieut.
Armytage, to make a reconnoisance at the mouth of
the Kouban Lake, and that gallant officer attacked
the martello tower of Djimiteia, landed, spiked the
guns, and effectually destroyed the forts, barracks,
granaries, and ammunition.
Malta letters assert that the destruction of Odessa
has been determined, and a large fleet, both of Eng-
lish and French, named for the work. Odessa fallen,
the occupation of Perekop, Anapa, Scc., will ensue,
and the enemy be thus cut off from the means of
sending troops to the assistance of Sebastopol.
The names of the vessels to be engaged in the
destruction of Odessa are, according to the cor-
respondence of the Portafoglio Maltese, the St.
Jean d'Acre, flag of Admiral Sir E. Lyons, Agamem-
non, Hannibal, Princess Royal, and Royal Albert, of
the line; and the frigates Highflyer, Niger, Tribune,
Terrible. Sidon, Wasp, Curacoa, Vesuvius, Sphynx,
Inflexible, Valorous, Diamond, and Leopard.

THE BALTIC FLEET.
The advanced squadron, under the orders of
Captain R. B. Watson, C. 8., left the Downs on
Wednesday morning, for the Baltic. It consisted of
the Imperieuse, 51, screw, Captain. Watson ; Euryalus,
51, screw, Captain Ramsay; Arrogant, 47, screw,
Captain Yelverton ; Cossack, 20, screw, Captain Fan-
shawe ; Tartar, 20, screw, Captain Dunlop ; Esk, 20,
screw, Captain Birch; Conflict, 8, screw, Commander
Brown; Desperate, 8, screw, Commander White;
Archer, 15, screw, Captain Heathcote.
The rest of the fleet, under the command in chief
of Rear Admiral the Hon. R. S. Dundas, C. 8., will,
it is believed, leave Spithead for the Baltic on Monday
next, the 2nd of April.

LORD Doisnotur.ro has declared his intention to
communicate, without further delay, to " the wise
and energetic ally of her most gracious Majesty the
means, not only to spare the remnant of the British
army, but to insure that of France, by the speedy
destruction of the defences of Sebastopol. As to the
fortresses in the Baltic, time does not so press. 1
have offered to annihilate them, the rejection or
acceptance of which offer rests with her Majesty's
Government."
IT is stated in a letter from Vienna, in the German
Journal of Frankfort, that Ab.l-el-liader has requested
permission to pay a visit to Constantinople.
Jr is stated that Russian ships of the line and
other vessels have been sunk between piles in the
navigation-way at Cronstadt.

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