The Express.
London, England, 1855-09-22 00:00:00

THE RUSSIAN ATTACK ON KARS.

(riots ova owe 005zaar0cw........,
ERZEROI7II, iuotrill 21.
I inclose you the copy of a letter I received from
Kan on the 16th instant. Its contents confirm all
that I stated in my last letter respecting the attack.
HARE, Avocst 9.
Oa the 81st of July the Rasing left their snap at
Bova Tama, situated at a distant of &bre* leagues from
Han, and framed another in Hammy, Just beyond the
map of the heaviest Turkish guns.
Oa the 7th of Anon while of the Russian army
smareuvred towards innwomm, the Mbar half aniseed on
thus Hank Table for the pupas of savoring a canny that
had twee dospatoked from Alonadropol (Gummi). They
silmscad to within sage of the Turkish guns with IT
kalMallene of infantry, throe regiments of cavalry, a
paliesfid artillery, and soma baski.basouks, to. The
gamble la Kars anal Om to adman, sod as soon ps
they cam within toed, ummoising is aisle oakum withind
mahlog say further dinemicalits, filmb every being
thrown forward sad bongelonsambildinDo the Tasks
nand their dn. The 3wil sollory sae Wing ace/
position could only reply four VMS; wllllllll.lllll tiq
decided on retreating, hat for man than a quarter of an
hour remand expend to a cro s•firs from the Turks, whisk
was played into the midst of the enemy's MOM. The
Russian have lost ass genial of cavalry, one colonel of
dragoons, 14 ofilson, sad about 230 noncommissioned Mi-
nn sad pintos, ants killed sad others wounded.
This loss was confirmed by four Circassian in the Raisin
torviaa, mholdaertod after the actin.
My distinguished military friend, who holds high
rank in Kan, and who gave me the details men-
tiooed above, tells me that a more stupid manoeuvre
was never executed. The Turks had not a man
killed or wounded.
Yesterday we received a mail from Kars with let-
ters down to the 18th instant, confirming the account
just given. They inform us that General Moors-
veil, who arrived before Kars on the 16th instant
from his expedition to Hassan Kaleh, was furious
about this wretched manoeuvre of the artillery
General Breema, who ordered it. The Russian ca-
valry surrounds and observes Kan very strictly, ac-
cording to the letters we have received. It appears
that different copiers sent by us, and one due here
last week from Ken, have been caught by the
Russians. All this kids us to fear that our cone-
spoodence will become less frequent and more diffi-
cult.
They send to word that provisions are abundant,
but that barley and hay run very short, on account
of which the horses receive only half rations of either.
Other particulars brought here from Kars state that
scarcity of everything prevails then, and that if rein-
forcements with provisions do not arrive within 20
days, they will be compelled to surrender. Ido not
know which statement we ought to believe, since it is
probable, our friends there tell us, they have an abun-
dance oefood, being fearful lest their letters should
fall into the hands of the Russians. These, too, on
reading such a statement, might possibly be induced
to raise the siege. Or it may be, that the contrary
particulars may have been sent by pessimists—that
to say, by persons who see everything in gloomy
colours, and by exaggeration convert truth into false-
hood. It is, however, quite positive that meal is sold
to the public in Kars at the rate of 30 piasters the
batman (18lbs.), whereas in ordinary times the
market price is from 3to 31 piasters. There can be
no doubt that they are suffering more or Ma elt
Kars, and we are convinced that it the command won
exclusively held by Turks, the place would either
have been surprised by the Russians or it would
have surrendered. General Williams and his staff
are far from anticipating either eventuality. The
example they set of zeal and activity, both of which
increase with the danger, contributes powerfully to
rouse the courage of the Turkish generals and the
army. To the seltdenial of the English general we
can only add our prayers for its success.
Letters from Kars inform us that a young Russian
lieutenant, son of the Minister of War, wen killed in
the action of the 7th. Whenever General Moms-
rieff has a convoy to send to or receive from Alexan-
dropol, or whenever he has to send out foraging
parties, he puts his whole army in movement, it
seems, for keeping the garrison of Kars in a state at
alarm, and foe disconcerting its operations.
The sanitary state of the garrison is satisfactory.

Last Friday the intelligeice was brought here-that
a Russian army corps, having left Cob Khali*
was marching on Melesghirt and Bulgaria, two
districts half way between this place and Van. Both
of these places contain rich granaries, so that the
enemy will obtain not merely suppliesfor his own
men, but will destroy all that he cannot transport to
Brine.
There is also a rumour that the Remises have
captured in Melsaghirt two sons of Rerun Aga, the
Kurdish chief of the district, and that they keep them
as hostages. Perhaps they hope by this means re
gain over the father to their cause, as they did with
the Kurdish shieftaiss of Bayazid.
Last Saturday a courier extraordinary arrived Issoe
by land from Constantinople with despatches Ire
Hafis Pacha from the Porte. It is said the ministers
of the capital thank the Penh& for the zeal he dis-
played in coming to the aid of this province with his
brink s, and that he must now hasten his re-
tina to Trebizonde, where his presence is more neces-
sary than ever, leaving behind him ten thousand men
Issieeted from his troops, fixing the pay they are to
receive, and putting them under the orders of the
military authorities here. It is considered be.
that this order sent to Hags Pasha is a disgrace.
He had written to persons in Constantinople that
he was coming here with thirty thousand men,
whereas all the men that followed him were only eight,
and certainly not ten, thousand strong. Numbers se
these have once deserted, and I think there are new
not five thousand men left to take the field. This
remnant rill suffers severely from the prevailiog
epidemic, from gastric and bowel complaints of a cho-
leraic nature. The recall ot the Pasha is also known
to them, and the result is that they are all preparing
to disperse and return to their several homes, let the
worst come to the worst. Yesterday many of the
companies still entire, with their standards in front,
marched to the mountains that are nearest to their
barracks.
The arrival of these hordes at this place has, per-
haps, been of some eervios by deterring the Russians,
when approaching Hassan Kali, from advancing
against this city, hearing as they did what a large
force we had of Turkish fighting men to oppose them.
Bat it turns out that not one ot these buld-barouks
was willing to fight, the motive for their cocain
bete being, not fighting, but plunder and license.
When the inhabitants of this city saw those beads
of savages disappear they began to breaths freely,
sod tranquillity in some sort is now re-established.
As long as they remained here the regulars kept in
the back-ground, and the citizens began to wish the
Ramis= would come and be their deliverers.
Our civil and military authorities still main he
the camp of Dere Boyar. The consequence of
arrangement is that we in the city are without asp
governor,: Fortunately we bare not had many dis-
turbances, and this comparatively peaceful state of
things is entirely owing to the good feeling of the in-
habitats themselves.
Diarrhea bee been very prevalent in the city and
neighbourhood, but the deaths are few in number;
the temperature is still very high, which, together
with anxiety, has. I think, contributed to the
permanency of the disease. Among the regular
troops, and in their military hospitals, there is no
cause for complaint in a sanitary point of view.

Another letter says :
Gametal Brawnier, with 18 bettelkas of lafaatry,
Wee regimens et 'aviary, 1,000 irregular cavalry,
sad 60 gine, earns/14 ea the Bth, & roma

attack, or, more properly *peeking, a read noosnoieresee
of Hue. Two of their batteries sad the whole of their

;T:17776d.:;:a.
nog ware snowed to advance quietly for a certain distance,
vbs. tbe Tsai* batteries were unmasked, and the whole
of the vas premed • terrible Are en them. The mortars
threw *sib: the enmay, who mold only ire fear cannon
M
dim retreated in the greatest disorder with a loss of
NOM in men and several alma. The it scan Dragoons
did not exhibit their Mal STUMM sad solidity, and were
men to fly in the most unso/dierlike manner. From that
day to this the 1141441111 have net disturbed ear repose.

Anodise latter from the sane plea of the 27th says :

We me donated almost eselesively by shout 7,000 or
cavalry ; the fidgeter is still in camp sear
m►d Zan. Geserale Viotti-Pubs and Wil-
liam lam hewed an order of the day, embed is concise
and verig as. lams, sad asnemein that every spy will
be hang sad every demalge alieL The &Sealeto mart
toe the bmN•Mseeks, whir km diem gem isMalias to
pass ever le lie essay. As le the spina, the sseseure
WY absolutely measary, far the siliglmet alevemient on oar
part was at me made keews ew iminiena, On the 21st
• spy was taken, tried, and ansienised by amt-martial,
sod hang the next day. Os tie nit Ilagg Mire weae takes
and served In the same massy, OA lad we to bang all the
Persians sad Georgians who ewe here, sad who are sus-
pected by as, we should de se Mbent eammeics. If as
ass side we have to mimosa weds Mei% m the Whet we
ars greatly encouraged by tke ad neitaWe aposdset of our
chiefs, Vaasif Paella, General Williams, Colonel Isle, and
other officers. They display seal, activity, and energy be-
yond praise, and if they samed in saving Kan there can
be no reward too !great foe them. We have news fee some
days pest of the remforcemente that are to join se from Con-
stantinople and from the Crimea. We are greatly pleased
at it, bat it mast sot be lost sight of that them reinforce-
ments must opine furnished with supplies. Kars does sot
want a Mame of garrison, and if reiaforcessents are ne-
cessary it is not to defend us, but to mum the offensive,
and enable its to attack the enemy in our tarn.

THE FOOD QUESTION IN BELGIUM.