The Express.
London, England, 1855-01-04 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY

THE WAR.
- HAMBIIRG. Dic. 29,
TAN admlral;el the Russian Baltic fleet and the
generals havinstammand in the large towns on the
shores of the Oaf of Pialand have- been summoned
to the Ministry of War at St. Petersburg, where a
number of councils have been held. It bee been
decided that the fortifications of the coast towns
must bb strengthened, and that entrenched camps,
each large enough to receive an infantry division,
must be formed near them. A system of strongly
entrenched camps, which is forthwith to be carried
into execution, will extend from Croastadt to most
of the strategetic points in Poland.

sr. P.

I, Dsc. 26.

The Invalid. .Retate gives news from Sebastopol to
the 16th, aid states that nothing of importance had
occurred at that date. The cannonade had continued
as before. During the nights the Russians had
made frequent and successful sorties.
The Emperor has conferred the Order of St.
Vladimir of the First Class upon General Annenkoff,
Governor of Odessa.

The Ganges, which arrived at Toulon on Tuesday
morning, left Constantinople on the 25th ult. At
the last dates from the Crimea 18 Turkish battalions
had already landed at Eupatoria. As soon as the
30,000 men shall have been completed the allies will
resume their grand operations. The besiegers had in
part re-opened their fire. The weather had become
better, and the communication by sea was regular.
The Saint-Louis, as well as other vessels, had
arrived from France. In consequence of the ex-
tension of the siege lines of the allies, the com-
munications and the transport of provisions had
become very difficult between Sebastopol and
the Russian army posted near Balaklava. The Duke
of Cambridge, who has received a visit from the
Sultan, is, it is said, to retura to England. Lord
Cardigan has already left for London. General de
Montebello has delivered to General Cenrobert 20
crosses of officers and 125 chevaliers in the Legion
of Honour to be distributed to the army. It was the
Polish General, Jordhn, who commanded at Redoubt
Kale, and who, with the English, defended the place
against 10,000 Russians. Suleyman Pacha has been
degraded. Mecklee Pacha has been named com-
mandant in chief of the Turkish army of Asia.
Telegraphic despatches from Warsaw, of the 30th
ult., given in the German papers, allege that the
concentration of the Ist infantry corps of the Russian
army, with the division of grenadiers, between the
Pilika, the Warta, and the Vistula, is completed.
On the authority of letters from Odessa, the same
journals inform us that immense reinforcements,
drawn from the god infantry corps in Volhynia, are
passing by that town to the Crimes. Three
divisions, the 7th, Bth, and 9th, of the 3rd
infantry corps, are said to have passed by
Odessa to Perekop, whence they would be con-
veyed in post-waggons to the scene of action. It
has been computed that the divisions', in ques-
tion may furnish Prince Mentchikoff with a rein-
forcement of 32,000 bayonets. About 3,500 cavalry,
14 field batteries, and six battalions of field-train are
attached to these corps.
A letter from Vienna of the 28th ult., in the
Augsburg Gazette, says :—" I had to-day in my hand
a copy of a despatch from Prince Mentchikoff of the
17th, and it makes no mention either of the malady
of the Prince or of his replacement by General Osten-
Sacken. The Russian commander-in-chief only
complains that the severe weather makes great
ravages amongst his troops, as well as amongst his
cavalry and artillery horses."
The Berlin journals announce that nearly 100
German surgeons have been enlisted by Russian
legations for military hospital duties, and that they
are to assemble there in a few days, in order to be
provided with the necessary passports and directions.
The following is the outline of the contract concluded
between the Russian General Benkeadorf and the
enlisted surgeons: _

The medioal me& engage to serve as doctors, or army
surgeons, for the duration of the war; they submit to Rus-
sian military jurisdiction, and take an oath of fidelity to the
Emperor so long as the contract lasts ; after which, they may
remain in the Russia& service if they please. Thos re-
crafted are to proceed to the appointed place of destination
forthwith, and to swear to do their duties, whatever they
may be, truly, faithfully, and submissively; the Russia.
Government to appoint the place of destination and mode of
employment. These engaged to enjoy the same privileges,
rank, and immunities as Russian surgeons of the same
claws, and are not to be submitted to examination in
Russia. Journey and expenses to be paid. Contract to
terminate with the termination of the war.

It ,is asserted in Berlin that the Russian govern-
ment hues issued orders to its agents to engage as
many rifle gunmakers as possible in Germany and
Belgium, and to forward them to the Imperial arms
factories at Tula and elsewhere.