The Press.
London, England, 1856-01-19 00:00:00

CAMP AFFAIRS.

The spirit of the army, from all accounts, appears
excellent. The correspondent of the Daily News,
writing on the 31st Dec., observes :
The troops appear no less cheerful and inspirited than
they are conspicuous for sturdiness and health. Their
duties chiefly consist in perfecting their drill for future
service, and the younger soldiers are rapidly advancing to
a condition of frame and training which will put them on
an equality with their more experienced comrades in fitness
for campaigning. Whatever may be the nature of future
operations, the British force will be found, judging from
present observation, in a high state of efficiency, whenever
the spring loosens the facilities of communication and
movement. As to the probable site and plans of the next
campaign, the suppositions are so various and contradic-
tory that they are hardly worthy of notice. Seeing the
substantial quality of our roads, and of many of the dwell-
ings and buildings which have been constructed by us, the
Frencb can hardly believe that we contemplate abandoning
our present position in the spring. On the other hand,
the fortifications which are still increasing around the ports
of Kamiesch and Kasatch, and which have already ren-
dered their position nearly as strong cs was that of Sebas-
topol, together with the absence of similar works elsewhere,
seem to indicate a removal of the great mass of the allied
armies, a sufficient garrison bring left for the defence and
security of the harbours before mentioned and their imme-
diate neighbourhood.

A fire had occurred at Balaklava, on the 28tit, says
the Post correspondent, which threatened great
destruction, bui, was happily discovered and sup-
pressed in time :
We have just escaped a great danger. About three
o'clock this morning the sentry stationed near the Ordnance
Wharf, on the east side of the harbour, observed sparks
flying from the chimney of Mr. Young's storehouse.
Knowing that it was usual not to leave any one on the
premises at night, and that all fires ought to be extin-
guished about sunset, the sentry immediately raised the
alarm, and it was then found that a rafter, left by the
builders in the chimney, and which must have been
smouldering for days, was in flames. By the great exer-
tions of the military and bluo-jaeloats, the fire was confined
to the roof, but this Was destroyed. The stores were all
removed to a place of safety. Had the fire not been dis-
covered when it was, the probability is, that some of the
immense stocks of fuel and forage in the immediate
vicinity must have caught, and then many huts and ships
would have been inevitably lost. The rapidity with which
the engines were brought to this fire, proves that the
authorities are thoroughly well prepared to meet any
danger from fire that may occur by night or by day.

THE TURKISH CONTINGENT.
An extract from a letter just received from Kertch,
dated Dec. 20, gives the following account of the
treatment by the Russians of the prisoners lately
captured by them in MAjor APDonald's skirmish :

Major Goldsmid returned yesterday, and had met with
much civility from the Russian officers. He remained for
three days within their lines, and was taken blindfolded to
the place where poor Sherwood had been carried, and
where he died. On entering the room, still blindfolded,
he heard a low chanting, and was then told to unbandage
his eyes, when he found himself standing by the body of
our poor friend, laid out with the most delicate cafe, and
with a priest of the Greek Church praying over him. He
had died only that afternoon. The host of Major Gold.
smid du►'ing the greater part of the time was a lieutenant
of Cossacks, who treated him most kindly. The Russian
officers are all apparently extremely well disposed to the
English, and one evening insisted upon drinking Queen
Victoria's health. There is no sort of hostility to the Eng-
lish ; and the feeling among them appeared to he that they
would be most glad if the war were at an end; but not the
least from any feeling of having been beaten.
THE WAR IN ASIA.

Letters of the 12th ult., from Omer Paella's head
quarters, clearly point out the critical position in
which his army was becoming placed, from want of
transport and of provisions, and the severity of the
weather. The rivers in his front and rear were
rapidly ricing, his communications were stopped, his
men began to sicken, the impetuous current of the
Rhion whirling down fallen trees like walking-sticks,
carrying away the banks and flooding the country, ren-

SATURDAY,

dered an advance impossible, so that nothing was left
but a speedy retreat to the seacoast. The Sirdar,
at length, reluctantly ordered a retreat, and the
campaign, began under such prosperous circum-
stances, was rather ingloriously concluded. The
Times correspondent, writing from Zierve on the eve
of the retreat. att,:t‘o.. the 11l success of the expedi-
tton " to those who threw every obstacle in the way
of Omer Pacha," and prevented him from reaching
Asia Minor a month earlier in the year. For the
present, the army has gone into winter quarters, at
Choloni, a short distanceifrom Redout Kateh, where
the head quarters are established.