The Express.
London, England, 1855-02-20 00:00:00

THE WAR.

The Post Post Gazette of Frankfort publishes a letter
from Poem (misdated) Feb. 17, in which we read,
"The rumour runs in military circles that orders to
assume the offensive have been received from St
Petersburg. However this may be, the army of
Poland has again been set in motion within the last
few days, and the troops previously withdrawn from
the frontiers of Galicia are again marching towards
the south. The main army seems es if it were about
to take up its position on the right bank of the Vis-
tula, along the frontiers of Gallicia and the Buko-
wine. On this side there will only remain a corps
of 30,000 men at the central point of Czentochau."
Letters from Constantinople, of the Bth, reached
London last night at a late hoar. Our own cor-
respondence from the Crimea is by some accident
delayed. We learn, however, from private letters,
that on the sth the weather was still very fine, and
the situation of the troops, in respect of food, cloth-
ing, and shelter, was much improved. General
Osten-Sacken had attacked the position of our
Turkish allies at Eupatoria, but without success.

We yesterday published some particulars respect-
ing the new military convention with the Porte,
under which a force is to be raised by the British
government in Turkey. It will be seen by our
report of last night's proceedings iu the House of
Lords that the convention is not yet ratified. The
want of this formality, however, will not delay the
execution of the measure ; and Col. Mundy, we are
informed, is receiving at the War Department the
names of officers desirous of serving in the new corps.
Our Paris contemporaries are just now publishing
letters from the French camp, the writers of which
bear very high testimony to the valour, patience, and
good conduct of the Turkish common soldier. Gen.
Canrobert, it is stated, holds their military qualities
in high esteem, and has written an official letter to
Osman Pacha to that effect. This praise is not given
in ignorance. There are eight Turkish battalions
serving with the French: viz., three at the defile of
Balakrava, three at Kherson, and cwo in front of Gen.
Canrobert's headquarters.
Unofficial intelligence from the Russian positions
in the Crimea seldom reaches the west. The Vienna
and Berlin papers, nevertheless, favoured by the set-
tlement of Germans in Russia, are occasionally able
to publish a letter, throwing light upon the situation
of the enemy. The Oat Deutsche Post of Vienna
publishes two such communications. The first, from
St. Petersburg, is to the following effect :
Tho situation of the allied armies in the Crimea is not so ,
bad as the Eosin's journals affirm. Their effective amounts
to 120,000 men—French, Foglia), and Turks. The vic-
tualling of this force becomes easier every day. The
French in particular, who form the most numerous portion
of the army, are amply provisioned in every respect. The
allies have collected in ,the Crimea the finest war risaft,risi
ever seen. This is the reason why we at St. Petersburg
are so anxious about the fate of Sebastopol, notwithstanding
the confidence so ostentatiously displayed. The Emperor
is much irritated against the officers of the staff, who de-
clared last year that the disembarkation of more than
40,000 men in the Crimea was impossible ; sad hence it was
deemed sufficient to augment the army by a third. It has
been raised to 100,000 men now, aad possesses an excellent
body of cavalry ; but a large portion of the latter has been
necessarily withdrawn, on account et the scarcity of fodder
and the great difficulties in the way of the commiseariat—
difficulties which prevent a larger number of troops being
seat thither. From Simpheropol to Sebastopol the way
lies across salt steppes devoid of vegetation, and you are
obliged to carry water with you for man and beast. Nearly
7,000 draught horses have already died along that route,
end they now use oxen instead. It is, therefore, impos
sible to support an army in the Crimes, unless one has
tins sea ; and if the allies succeed in cutting off the commu-
nications of the Russian army by land, albeit for a very
short period, the fate of Sebastopol will be soon decided.
They are making unheard-off efforts for the spring cam-
paign, and every day we expect extraordinary measures.
No one desires a peace prejudicial to Russia, and more
especially because the war is considered over all the empire
as a holy one. They will cheerfully give up to Austri► the
protectorate of the Principalities, because they feel sure of
getting it back again before long, provided Russia's power
remain intact. We consider the free navigation of the
Danube a mere verbal order, with whioh Russia will wil.
Tingly comply. The main point is Ms domination of Me
Black Sea. 'lids domination was the first cause of the war,
and it will be defended to the very last. The Black Sea
lost, all is loot ; but the Black Sea saved, all is saved. Such
is the rallying cry of Russian policy.

The Oat. Deutsche Zeitung publishes an Odes
letter with news from Sebastopol, which, although
only of the 23rd ult., is interesting on account ell
its source. On the 22nd the Russian generals bald
a council of war, at which General Osten.Sacksais
proposition for keeping on the defensive met with
the :opposition. He • ' that it --
to

warmest, , urged . was DIM
advantageous to remain on the defensive, since the
allies were so strongly intrenched as to render a suc-
cessful attack almost impossible, and that they would
be therefore forced to take the offensive themselves.
Admiral Stansikovitch now commands in Sebastopol.
The frost has carried off a great many victims.
It is stated that sixty men, of the Greek-Sclavonic
volunteer legion, had been frozen to death while on
the much to Perekop, and the Ist brigade of the
Grenadier Guards, which were also marching to
Nicolalef, and which are to be at Sebastopol by the
end of the month, have also met with heavy loss.
They complain a good deal at Sebastopol of the way
in which the troops are lodged. Although it had
been long known beforehand what number of troops
would arrive, they nevertheless neglected to make
due preparations, and whole regiments are obliged
in consequence to bivonack in the open air during
the present temperature.

THE CZAR'S

Waiting the text of the manifesto of which we
published an analysis in yesterday's Express, letters
from Vienna speak of explanations alleged to have
been made respecting it by Prince Gortchakoff.
The prince has had interviews on the subject with
Count Baol and Count Arnim, and has assured them,
it is said, that the measure does not partake of the
character of a menace, but is simply an act of self-
defence, rendered necessary by the constantly extend-
ing coalition which the Western Powers seek to
form in Europe against Russia.
A ukase hu been published at Bt. Petersburg,
which suspends the action of the civil code, as far as
regards the army and navy, and even the civil
employh attached thereto, until the war is at an end.
The Gazette de &leaie speaks of a coming circular
from M. de Nemelrode, in which "the Russian cabinet
makes known the resolve of the Czar to continue the
preparations for war with all possible energy, but, at
the same time, to show himself disposed to peace, if,
in the projected conference at Vienna, a settlement
honourable to Russia is proposed."