The Press.
London, England, 1855-06-09 00:00:00

THE WAR.

The telegraphic advises received during the week
add a few further details respecting the operations in
and around the Sea of Azoff. A despatch was re-
ceived at the Admiralty on Tuesday from Sir E.
Lyons, bearing date the 31st ult., and stating
that the squadron had appeared before Jenitchi,
landed a body of seamen and marines, and, after
driving the Russian force from the place, destroyed
all the depots and vessels laden with corn and sup-
plies for the army. One man only was wounded.
Since entering the Sea of Azoff four steamers of
war, and 240 vessels employed in conveying supplies
to the Russian army in the Crimea, had been
destroyed.
Later despatches were subsequently received,
bringing intelligence to the 4th inst., when Sir E.
Lyons states that Captain Moore, of her Majesty's
steamer Highfiver, who has just returned from the
coast of Cireassia, reports that the enemy had en-
tirely evacuated Sotijak Kale, after destroying all the
public buildings, sixty guns, and six mortars.
The enemy appears to be concentrating at Anapa,
and to be strengthening his works there. The fort
on the road between Soujak Kale and Auapa is also
evacuated.

Russian reports of the same transactions have
been transmitted to St. Petersburg and published
there.

On the 27th ult. Prince Gortschakoff reports that
the enemy burnt, at Berdianski, two houses, some
coasting vessels, and a large depot of wheat. On
the 20th seventeen of the enemy's vessels cannonaded
Jenitchi, and burnt there some transports and some
corn upon the coast. Two of our pieces forced the
enemy's long-boats, from ,which the tire proceeded, to
retire. On the 30th the enemy had not undertaken
. .

anything new against Jenitchi.
On the 3rd the Prince announces that the allies
had left Jenitchi. It was hoped that a portion of
the burned stores of provisions can be saved. The
steamers of the enemy have since visited Arabat,
and burned a merchant ship, with some small craft.
They made no movement towards the interior of the
peninsula of Kertch.
The telegraphic cable beneath the waters of the
Euzine had become somehow deranged, and com-
munications were interrupted for some days. On
Thursday, however, the line was again in order, and
Lord Panmure on that day announced the receipt of
a message from Lord Raglan, dated the oth (Wed-
nesday), and stating that the bombardment of
Sebastopol had been commenced that afternoon.
The Moniteur publishes the following telegraphic
despatch from General Pelissier, dated the Ist
instant :

We have sprung two mines in front of the Flaffstaff
Bastion; the second explosion (lid considerable damage to
the enemy.
In the ravine of Careening Bay in advance of our works
our engineers discoveted a transverse line of twenty•four
cubic cases filled with gunpowder, each forty centimetres
thick in the inside, placed at equal distances, and buried
just beneath the sod ; each case, containing one•fiftieth
of a kilogramme of powder, is covered with a fulminating
apparatus, which would explode by the simple pressure
of the foot. These cases have been taken up by our
engineers.
The corps which Omer Pacha has embarked at
Eupatoria and landed at Kamiesch consists of
25,000 picked men and forty guns. They were to
be replaced by an Egyptian and Tunisian division.
The Russians are rapidly raising redoubts on the
north side of Sebastopol, but they are not yet armed ;
60,000 of the allied troops will remain before Sebas-
topol when the advance is made.
In general orders "Before Sebastopol, May 21,"
was published a letter from Lord I'anmure to Lord
Raglan, expressing her Majesty's gratification at the
gallantry displayed by the troops engaged in the
affair of the rifle-pits on the night of the Illth of
April, her regret at the loss sustained by the death
of Colonel Egerton, and the other brave men who
fell on that occasion, and conveying her sympathy
with the sufferings of the wounded.
The French soldiers speak of Canrobert with great
regard; they say that during the winter he visited
the ambulances, and went into their tents, found out
their wants, and supplied them, and that for the
army he was a pere de famille. Some will tell you
that he was tender to a fault: that more might have
been done perhaps had he not husbanded (menage)
the soldiers too much.

The following official despatches have been pub-
lished during the week :
From Lord Raglan :
- - -

-
Before Sebastopol, May 2tl.
I have the honour to report to your lordship that a por-
tion of the allied armies took up a position yesterday on
this side of the Techernays, the left of the French resting
under a redoubt established upon the e
ms:edg f this ridge
eierhanging the volley, and opposite lnkermesut

is3ue of a fire with the enemy Prince Consort, is the agent for the Foreign Legion I under a redoubt eitsousneu upon toe euse VA WWI EMISCP
1 aYery departmout or their new being enihedied, oietheuitnit the fie' end %Tooke the Ida

540

heights ; the right extending beyond Tractir ; and the
ground more to the right, behind Tchourgouna, being occu-
pied by the Sardinian troops, aided in their advance by the
10th Hussars and 12th Lancers and the Horse Artillery,
under Colonel Parlby.
Omer Pacha at the same time moved forward to the low
heights in front of lialaklava, and thus afforded support to
the French divisions before him. These were commanded
by General Canrobert, who pushed forward across the
bridge of Tractir, and drove the enemy, who were not in
great numbers, off; and having cleared his front, be with-
drew to this side of the river, where he now remains.
Sir Colin Campbell advanced the Royal Marines from
the high ridge on our extreme right to a point command-
ing the old Haider road; and Colonel Parlby, with the
regiments I have mentioned, reconnoitred the country on
the immediate right of General de la Marmora's position,
and patrolled along the Woronzow road, iu the direction
of Molar.
The appearance and bearing of the Sardinian troops are
highly satisfactory. and I anticipate the greatest advantage
from their addition to this army, under their distin-
guished leader, General de la Marmora, whose zeal for the
service and ardent desire to co-operate with ne I am happy
to have so early an opportunity of acknowledging and
recording. Nothing of importance has occurred in the
British trenches since I wrote to your lordship on the 111th
instant.
The death of Colonel Egerton, of the 77th, on the night
of the 19th ultimo, as already announced to your lordship,
prevented my receiving in due course the official report of
the conduct of the officers serving immediately under him,
and it was only a few days ago that I learnt that Captain
Gilby was the next in seniority to him, of the 77th, on the
occasion, and that he had highly distinguished himself.
I deem it an act of justice to a most deserving officer to
bring his conduct under the notice of your lordship.
I inclose the returns of casualties to the 24th instant.
Your lordship will regret to see that Lieut. Williams, of
the 17th, has been severely wounded.
I have the greatest pleasure in announcing to your
lordship the brilliant success which attended an attack by
the French army of some ambuscades at the head of the
Quarantine Bay, and in front of a cemetery near it. The
attack was made on the night of the 22nd, and the opera-
tion was completed on the following evening. The enemy
had collected a very large force on the first occasion to
resist our allies; but, notwithstanding, the French were
enabled by their brilliant gallantry and determined resolu-
tion to maintain themselves in the pits at the head of the
bay on the 22nd, and on the 23rd to occupy the whole with
less resistance on the part of the Russians, who are stated
to have sustained a very severe loss.
The French were necessarily exposed to a very heavy
fire, sad were assailed by vastly superior numbers.
The achievement they accomplished redounds, therefore,
highly to their renown, and is hailed with satisfaction by
their allies.
An expedition, composed of British, French, and Turk-
ish troops, sailed for Kertch on Tuesday evening and
Wednesday morning, and I hope soon to be able to announce
the landing of the corps, and the result of its first opera-
tions. It is commanded by Lient -General Sir George
Brown, and has been conveyed in English and French
ships, under the command of Admiral Sir E. Lyons and
Admiral Bruat, whose exertions to carry out this impor-
tant service have been most conspicuous.
The 31st Regiment has arrived from Corfu.
I inn much concerned to have to report that Major-
General Buller has been obliged by the failure of his
health to leave the army. He has been constant in the
discharge of his duty since he joined this army, distin-
guished himself both at Alma and Inkeruaann, and perse-
vered in taking his turn in the trenches until driven by
illness to withdraw.
I regret the loss of his services exceedingly.
RAGLAN.
From Admiral Lyons :

Royal Albert, Straits of Kertch,
May 26, 1835
I have great pleasure in requesting yon to inform the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty that the allied
forces are masters of the Straits of Kertch, and that they
have in the Sea of Azoff a powerful steam flotilla, of light
draught of water. capable of cutting off the enemy's supplies,
and harassing him at all points ; and, moreover, that the
means are at hand for sending in a vast number of gun-
boats of the lighter draught, if it should be found desirable
to do so.
My letter of the 22nd instant will have informed their
lordships that an allied expedition, consisting of 15,000
men of all arms, and five batteries of artillery, were then
on the point of leaving the anchorage off Sebastopol for
Kertch, and my message by electric telegraph will have an-
pounced the complete success of that expedition; but it
now remains for me to give an account of our proceedings
for their lordships' information.
The fleet, which consisted of her Majesty's ships named
in the margin,• anti a French fleet of nearly equal force,
under the command of my very gallant and energetic col-
league, Vice Admiral Bilet, assembled off the Straits of
Kertch at early (lawn on the birthday of her most gracious
Majesty the Queen, and both armies and navies confidently
anticipated a successful celebration of that auspicious day.
The fleets steamed rapidly up to Kamiesch to the south of
Kertch, where the army landed under cover of the guns of
the steam frigates, and immediately ascended the heights
without opposition, whilst the steamers of light draught of
water pushed on towards Kertch and Yenikale ; and
the enemy, apparently taken by surprise at the rapidity of
these movements, and at the imposing appearance of the

• Royal Albert, Hannibal, Algiers, Agsmeninon, St. Jean
d'Acre, Meese Royal, Sidon, Valoroas, Leopard, Tribune,
Siumour, Furious, Hightlyer, Terrible. Miranda, sphinx, Spitfire,
Gladiator, Vesuvius, Curlew, Swallow, Carachm, Stromboli,
Ardent, Medina, Wrangler, Viper, Lyux, Recruit, Arrow, Ban-
shee, baste, beagle.

THE PRESS.

expedition, blew up his fortifications on both sides of the
straits, mounting not less than fifty guns I new and of heavy
calibre),which have fallen into our possession, and retired
after having destroyed three steamers and several other
heavily-armed vessels, as well as large quantities of provi
sinus, ammunition, and stores, thus leaving us masters of
the entrance into the Sea of Asuff, without our having
sustained any loss whatever.
As the disembarkation was unoppfsed, in consequence
of the fire of the steam frigates having arrested the advance
of the enemy, there was no field for the gallantry that ani
mated every one in the expedition ; but the duties they had
to perform were very arduous, and I should be doing injus-
tice to them and to my own feelings if I were not to say
that no commander-in-chief was ever more' ably assisted
than I am by the captains and those under their command.
One and all followed the admirable example of the zealous
and talented second in command, Retir Atliniral Stewart,
and they could not possibly do better. There was, however,
an incident during the day that called forth the admiration
of both fleets, and which deserves to be particularly noticed.
Lieutenant McKillop, whose gun-vessel, the Snake, was not
employed like the others in landing troops, dashed past the
forts after an enemy's steamer, and although he soon found
himself engaged not only with her but also with two others
who came to her support, be persevered, and by the clever.
ness and extreme rapidity of his manoeuvres, prevented
the escape of all three, and they were consequently de-
stroyed by the enemy, and the Snake had not a man hurt,
though shot passed through the vessel.
Yesterday Admiral Bruat and I accompanied the com-
bined steam flotilla named in the margin+ into the Sea of
Azoff, and despatched them, under the orders of Captain
Lyons, of the Miranda, on the interesting and important
service they have before them.
Had this expedition been deferred but a short time
longer there would have been many and great difficulties
to overcome, for the enemy was actively employed in
strengthening the sea defences, and in replacing the
sunken vessels which had been carried away by the current
during the winter months.
Of the forty vessels sunk last year some still remain, and
a French steamer touched upon one of them yesterday. It
appears that the enemy did not succeed in destroying the
coals, either at Kertch or Yenikale, so that about 17,000
tons remain, which will be available for our steamers.

It will be evident to their lordships that the rapid opera-
tions which I have had the honour and happiness to de-
scribe to them, could not have been brought to so satisfac-
tory a conclusion, if the most perfect understanding, and
the most hearty good will towards each other, had not pre-
vailed throughout the allied fleets and armies.---T sun, &c.
EDMOND LYONS.
With reference to the above despatch. an Admiralty note
states! that Lieutenant Henry Frederick 111'10110p will be
promoted to the rank of Commander. so soon as he shall
have completed the sea.time required to qualify him for
that rank.
Despatches from General Pelissier and Admiral
Bruat, describing the same operations, have been
published by the French Government.