The Press.
London, England, 1855-01-20 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

THE WAR.

The latest news from the Crimea is of the 10th
instant, on which date we learn that nothing of
importance had occurred. The preparations for
resuming the bombardment were slowly continuing,
and the French works had been pushed somewhat
nearer the Russian fortifications. Heavy snow had
fallen, which had delayed the completion of the Eng-
lish batteries, but an interval of clear weather had
occurred, and when the latest despatch was sent off
the last parallel had been completed. The Russians
made another vigorous sortie on the Bth, but were re-
pulsed with loss. A Constantinople despatch of the
4th states that five more ships laden with troops had
passed here on their way to Balaklava. . . . .

The first of a series of French cavalry brigades
was expected to arrive on the 6th from Adrianople.
The brigade of cuirassiers under General Forton
would follow.

On the sth instant Omer Pacha arrived at the
camp before Sebastopol. Having made himself ac-
quainted with the intended movements of the allied
armies, Omer departed, on the Bth, for Varna; and,
after giving his orders at the latter place, was to
proceed immediately to take direction of the oper-
ations.

Half of the intended Turkish force had already
landed at Eupatoria. Before the end of the present
month their army in the Crimea was expected to
muster 60,000 men.

General Canrobeyt distributed decorations to the
army on the 31st December.
. ._ _

Lord Raglan, it is said, has sent to India for the
10th Royal Hussars. The regiment, numbering 050
sabres, is now on its way to Turkey.

Accounts from Vienna state that Prince ➢fenschi-
koff had demanded a reinforcement of 40,0(X)
men, and that 35,000 infantry and 500 cavalry
had been sent to Bessarabia from the army of the
north.

The Austrian Military Gazette (formerly the
Soldaten Freund) says :
We place confidence in what we hear from Balaklava,
that the allies, reinforced by the army under Omer Paella,
aim at intercepting the communication between Sebastopol
and the Russian army in the interior; at penetrating as
far as Utsch-Kuju,on the route leading from Baktchi Serai
to the forts on the north side ; that they have determined
on executing this movement at a sacrifice, so as to hold the
heights of Inkermann as far as Utsch-Kujn, and thus
completely invest Sebastopol. According to the opinion
of a military correspondent, this design is well conceived
and capable of execution.
A reconnaissance en force was made against the
Russian camp on the opposite side of the Tsehernaya
plain by a large body of French troops on the 29th
ult., under General Bosquet. Several battalions of
Ottoman troops accompanied the expedition. In-
cluding all arms, there were about 25,000 men. The
Russian pickets having been driven in, it was found
that a body of cavalry was drawn up to resist the
advance of the French force, but a charge of the
Chasseurs d'Afrique quickly caused them to disperse.
The Russian troops abandoned their camp, and our
allies did not give them time to take away much in
their burry. Contrary to what had been anticipated
from the reports made by deserters, it was dis-
covered that there was no scarcity of provisions, or
of the necessary protection against the inclemency
of the season. A quantity of cattle, sheep, and
poultry were seized; there was also a considerable
amount of timber ready sawn into planks. The
men were living in huts, which were well covered
in and warm. The road leading northwards towards
Simferopol, and which winds along the foot of the
mountain, was found to be in excellent condition.

In consequence of the absence of proper persons
at Balaklava to warehouse the vast quantity of
goods lying at the port, a communication has been
forwarded from the War-office to the directors of the
London and St. Katharine Dock Companies, request-
ing them to provide a number of men who are to be
despatched to the Crimea, and who are to be en-
gaged in unloading the vessels upon their arrival,
and in placing the various articles in store-rooms
that will be provided for that purpose. About 400
men will he required; the wages will be 24.. a week,
with rations, for the labourers, and 2/. a week, with
rations, for the foremen; and the men will be under
an engagement for two years. A large number of
men have offered their services, and above 100 have
been approved of, who will be conveyed immedi-
ately to the Crimea.