The Express.
London, England, 1855-06-19 00:00:00

DESPATCHES FROM LORD RAGLAN.

Committee are of opinion that the sufferings
of one army have been materially augmented by
inefficient management. Apart from personal /a-
chase and incompetency in our administrators,
various defects in the administrative organisation of
the Army Department are pointed out, to which
this inefficient management is at least in part
attributable. The MINISTER of WAR, we are
told, bad no separate office for his work,
no precedents to guide him, no adequate
means of managing the war. The SECRETARY at
WAR, we are told, bed no power to originate anything.
Of the Ordnance Department it is stated that the
public business was obstructed by the conflict of
parties which arose at the Board when unanimity was
most required. The C immittee profess to be unable
to decide which department is to blame for the
non arrival of supplies at their destination, the
want of adequate stowage in the transports, Use must
of warehouse room at Balaklava, &c. 'Without pea
needing further at present, the defects in the orga-
nisation of the War Department now mentioned p
far to account for its inefficiency. That the members
of the Board of Ordnance should have been
indulging in personal squabbles, instead of minding
their business, shelve the inadequacy of Boards to
manage public affairs. Where three, four, or five
men u.eet on a footing of perfect equality, no one feels
it his duty to give way to another, and one wayward
or crotchetty individual may at say time bring the
action of the Board to a stand. Moreover, when there
are several persons employed to transact one piece of
business, the sense of responsibility is weakened ;
each feels that only a fractional part of
the blame for mismanagement can attach to
him. The necessary inference from these
considerations is that the practice of entrusting
public business to Boards ought to be discontiued.
Let one individual be placed at the head of each
II department with full power to command the
obedience of his assistaste, and with full respon-
sitAlity for his and their faults of omission or com-
mission. By such an arrangement we shall escape
the painful and disreputable spectacle of Boards
wasting time in personal altercations ; by such an
arrangement we shall know to whom we are to look
for the performance of any duty—who is respon-
sible for its neglect. The pressure of Parlia-
mentary and Public Opinion will thus be brought II
to bear upon official delinquents; co offender will be
able to hide himself among a crowd of colleague'
equal with him in power. Again, the person to
whom the management of any department is en-
trusted should have full power to originate the mea-
sures necessary for carrying out the business dele-
gated to it. Having been told by his superior what
be is expected to do, he ought to have full authority
to set those under him to work in the manner he
deems most conducive to the attainment of the
sod in view. When this is the case, no
minister and no official under him will be
able to plead, with Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT,
in extenuation of his shortcomings, that he has
mot power to originate anything. Yet, again,
the official at the head of any department ought to
have ample means of working it placed at his dis-
posal. He ought not to be left, like the luckless
Duke of NEWCASTLE, without a staff, without precise
and definite instructions as to what is expected of
him, without even house accommodation for himself
and his assistants.
From these samples of the results of the inquiries
of the Sebastopol Committee, it is evident that
they indicate the principles upon which any reform
of the War Department mast be set about, if
it is to be effectual. The duties of the department—
the limits of i s field of action—ought to be clearly
defined. This having been done, one Minister ought
to be placed at the bead of it, with full powers to dis-
charge those duties, and wi+h the entire responsibility
in the event of their non-fulfilment. As one man cannot
perform all the functions of so extensive a charge,
the department ought to be parcelled out into sub-
departments. The Minister ought to confine himself
to the general direction and control of all of these,
leaving their internal details to the persons placed at
the head of each. To enable him to exercise the
necessary authority over these subordinates, he must
have the power of appointing proper men to the sub-
departments, and of removing such as are found in-
competent. Each head of a department ought to I
have the same power of appointing and removing
those who work tinier him. In this manner the
lowest subordinate would be responsible for his con-
duct to the head of his department ; the head of each
department would be responsible for himself and his
employes to the Minister; the Departmental Minister
would be responsible for himself and the heads of
departments to the Prime Minister; and the Prime
Minister to Parliament and Public Opinion. Such as
organisation, accompanied with perfect publicity,
would go far to ensure efficient action in the War
Department—and nothing else can.—Daily News.
and

(71031 A TOTPLINIIIT TO THE ITAZOTTI.)
WAR DEPARTMENT, aux' 18. 1855.
Lord Panmure has this day received three des-
patches and their eLeloeurts, of which the following
are copies, addressed to his lordship by Field-Marshal
the Lord Raglan, G.O B.
Before Sebastopol, June 5.1855.
My Lord,—l am deeply concerned to have to
inform your lordship that Rear Admiral Boxer died
on hoard the Jason last night, outside the harbour of
Balaklava, atter a very short illness.
Ho was removed to that ship in the hope that the
pure sea air might prove beneficial to him ; but this •
expectation was not fulfilled. His malady made rapid
progress, and early in the afternoon of yesterday it
was intimated to me that hie life was despaired of.
His nephew died of cholera last week, and this
melancholy event so deeply effected him that his
health at once gave way, and he sank under the
same disease.
It is well known that this officef,devoted his
whole life to the public service. Since he under-
took the appointment of Admiral Superintendent
of the harbour of Balaklava he has applied himself
incessantly to the discharge of his arduous duties,
exposing himself in all weathers, and he has ren-
dered a most essential service to the army, by im-
proving the landing-places Red establishing wharves
on the west side of the port, whereby the disembwka-
tion of stores and troops has been greatly accelerated,
and communications with the shore have been ren-
dered much easier.—l have, &c., RAGLAN.
The Lord Panmure, &c.

Before Sebastopol, June 5,1855.
My Lord,—l have great satisfaction in informing
your lordship that I received intelligence the night
before last of the e,mcuation of Soujak Kali by the
Russians on the 28th ult.
It appears that previously to their retirement from
the place the troops destroyed the principal buildings
and the armament, which consisted of about sixty
heavy guns ..nd six mortars, and it is concluded that';
they have joined the garrison of Anapa, from whence,
many of the inhabitants have removed.
Sir Edmund Lyons has been so good as to send me
the detached report of the naval operations in the
Sea of Muff, which will reach England either before I
or at the same time as this despatch. They reflect
the highest credit on Captain Lyons of the Miranda,
and the officers and men serving under his orders,
and are remarkable for the intelligence, gallantry,
and judgment with which they have been conducted;
and it is a matter of much gratulation, which will he I
peculiarly felt by her Majesty, that, whilst great I
injury has been inflicted ou the enemy in the loss of '
resources of every description, the most brilliant and
unwonted success has been achieved in an incredibly
short time with only one casualty, and that not of a
serious nature.
These gallant exploits of the navy have spread joy
in our camps and afforded vast satisfaction to every
iudividual in the army.
A body of French troops, under the command of
General Morris and General Canrobert, and a column
of the Sardinian corps under General La Marmora,
made a reconnaissance on Baidar on the morning of
the 3rd.
The former proceeded along the Woronzow•road
and pushed their cavalry several miles beyond Baidar
the latter operated on the left through a mountainous
district, and advanced into Baidar, after a fatiguing
march ; only a small number of Cossacks showed
themselves.
Nothing has occurred in front of the town.
I enclose the return of casualties to the 3rd in-
stant inclusive. I have, &c., RAGLAN.
The Lord Faumare, teic.

RRTrIOI or CAM:ALMS FROM ink InT TO TUX 3RD OF iron, 11134,
trectratva.-2nd Battalion, sat Reenact: of Foot-1 rank and file
; 1 rank end file wounded. 3rd Foot —5 rank and the wounded.
1 nth Font-1 rank and fLe wounded. 21rd Vot-1 rank and file
killed. 24th Foot-1 officer. 3 rank arid file, woinded. 30th tout—
-1 rank and file wounded. 33rd toot —I rank and file killed ; 2 ufficers
wounded. Siik Foot-1 rank and 14;e woun.led. 39th Foot—l midi
and tile wounded. 41st Foot-1 rank and file wounded. 40th ',Got—
t rank and file killed. 57th Foot —2 rank and file wounded. Beth
Vont -.1 rank and file killed; 2 rank and file wounded. 89th Foot —6
rank and tile wouteed. Il7th on
rank and tile killot ; 1 rank
and file wounded. 2nd Battalion Rifle Fri.:Ade-1 sergeant killed.
Royal Sappers and Miners—l rank and file killed. Total: 1 serseuit,
7 rank and Ole, Slued ; 3 officers, 25 renk and tie, wnurded.
Remind Return oft Ificenr who have been ‘rounded from the let
to the 3rd June, 1852. inelusive.-2.th toot: Lieutenant lOU
F.
%organ, severely. 3;rd Vent: Brevet Licut..Coloned 0. V. Mundy,
slightly; Lieutenant J. lhampeon,
Nominal Return of NoneContinieaioned Officers and Private Killed.
from the Ist to the 3rd June. 1.55, inclurieve.-23M Foot: Private
James M'Crorev. Royal Sappere end Miners private John Wright.
tr,th Foot: Private Michael SIB rtek. 970 Foot: Private Michael
Connote. 2nd Battalion, let Foot: Private James Smelter. 33d Foot
Private Witham King. 49th Pout : Private Owen While. 2nd Pot.
talion Rifle Brigade: Sergeant George Past.
A Retur of Cesualtias the Roal Naval Brigade, before Sebasto-
pol, on then 4:b June, 1455 i.—n Killedy Stephen N elsh, A. 8., Queen;
John IBerritt, Ord., Queen.
Before Sebastopol, June 5, 1855.
My Lord,—l have the honour to enclose a letter
from the lospector-General of Hospitals forwarding
the weekly suite of the sick of the army.
The cholera has sensibly diminished in the camps
before Sebastopol, but it has attacked the Guards and
the 31st Regiment, near Balaklava, and some of the
new batteries, as well as the followers of the army in
that town. It is hoped that the disease will pass
from them as it has from the stations where it first

appeared.
I am grieved to have to say that it has fallen
heavily on the Sardinian Contingent, and that General
La Marmora is in great anxiety about it. lam ren-
dering him all the assistance in my power. Whilst
writing to your lordship, an officer has brought me a
letter from him, announcing that his brother, General
La Marmora, who commands his second division, bas
been very severely attacked. He has been accommo-
dated with a quarter at Kadikoi, and every attention
shall be paid him.—l have, &c.,

RAGLAN.

The Lord Penmen, &c, &c.

GERMANY.

Letters from Frankfort of the 14th state that in
the sitting of the Germanic Diet of that day M.
Gaols presented the Russian despatch milling on
Germany to maintain a strict neutrality, or as one
communication states, "to maintain the attitude
hitheito observed by Germany." The Diet ordered
the despatch to be recorded and receipt acknow-
ledged to the Russian agent.