The Express.
London, England, 1855-04-13 00:00:00

STATE OF THE SIEGE WORKS.

(mom Tax orisons

WIWB-S

OP 7111 DAILY

CAMP ABOVE SEBASTOPOL, Mane 26.
The progress of the new Russian redoubt on the
Mamelon hill in advance of the Malakhoff tow*,
and of the ambuscades and other works connected
with this position, have been the chief objects of in.
terest on the right attack sines the last mail. We,
strong reinforcements of the French want down ft
the evening of the 23rd inst., with the intention, it
was generally understood, of making a reviler gawk
on the Mamelon redoubt, and avenging the Ws aft.
tained in the affair the night before against the rile,
pits. These ambuscades were still in pcasessice d
the Russians. The force marched down amounted*
thirteen or fourteen battalions, among others a bar.
talion of the Imperial Guard, and a battalion heat
each of the three regiments of Zoltan". The bat,
talion of the 3rd regiment of Zceaves, it was stated,
was formed of volunteers, bent on making a se►me
return for the loaa:of their fallen comrades. One of
the Zonave battalions was commanded by an officer
wbo carried his left hand in a sling, while he managed
his horse with his right hand. Re had received as
injury the night before from a rifle ball disabling
three fingers. As this battalion went in front
of the Light Division towards the Otchakee
ravine, all the men in the camp, as cub
regiment was successively passed, turned est mg
cheered the Zonaves. The Regimental Guards toned
out, and gave the usual salutes. The salutation.
" Bono Inglis," and " Bono Francis," which um
to have been adopted by the men is the
French for Frenchmen, were frequently inter.
changed. But the night pained off whim"
any general attack ; there was nothing billy
the ordinary skirmishing near the ambuscade. The
regiments of the Light Division were turned cet
about midnight, and moved forward, remaining cedar
arms for two hours. This was in consequence of a
body of the enemy showing itself near the head tf
the south harbour, with the seeming intention of ad.
yenning in the direction of the ravine. Althoogh
there was no fighting of importance, the waking
pareies were not idle. The trench, which had bass
open on the right of the English side, and oath
left of the French, was carried on by the wcekisg
Parties of both the allied troops, and the connexion
across the Otchakov ravine completed. The French
also advanced their zig-zag from the main line of
trench in a direction up the Mamelon hill, with the
object of taking the ambuscades in flank.

The present condition of the works on the Mamelea
hill is this. In spite of the heavy cross-fire, thefts.
sinus have. continued to make progress with the re
doubt. Seven embrasures are cat, and there are
Gemara guns in position. The enemy have bees
throwing both shot and shell from this work, chiefly
against the 21-gun: battery on Frenchman'ehill, but
without causing any damage. They still hold the
rifle pits immediately in front of the French advanced
trench. These, which were five in number, are now
connected into one fosse ; and from either end a
covered way has been commenced, leadinge up toward'
the redoubt on the top of the bill. The Mimes
who enter the ambusee during the night remain
in them during the day, and are ever on the alert to
aim against the slightest object showing itself within
range, either near the trench in front or on French.
man's hilL About half way up the hill is an mime
cads of large size, capable of holding a company, and
strongly protected by gabions and sandbags. Sod.
tired, in various parts of the hill, are smaller pits, in
which single riflemen find cover. A covered way
has been begun from the ditch of the redoubt in a
direction towards the ravine in rear of the embus.
cedes, about half way between the advanced line of
the French and the road which passes over the
saddle between the Mamelon and Malakhoff hills.
The enemy is aloe very actively engaged in making
some new batteries in front of the Rarabelnais
suburb. They are connected with the earthworks
around the Malakboff tower, and are stretching in a
direction toward the Dockyard wall, and the bat-
teries near the Admiralty buildings. Stones 'ppm
to have been taken from the ruin of the hfalakhoff
tower to be used in these works, and this building is
fast disappearing. At present only one story of the
tower is visible, and of this the whole of the wall
which faced the English works is removed. The
central column of the pile is therefore exposed to
view, and on either aide appears a dark arch, which
really is a section of the staircase originally winding
round the column, between it and the outer wall, end
forming the means of ascent to the roof. These arches
are often a subject of curiosity to persons coming up
to the front, and their true nature can only be de-
tected by observation with a good telescope, as the
ruin is so involved in the earthworks which immedi-
ately surround it.
It has not been without considerable loss that the
Russians have been able to advance their new weeks
so much. The practice against them, both on the
French and Welsh aide, has been very sucormfid.
Latterly the shells thrown from one of the large
mortars on Frenchman's-hill have been lees certain
in their effects, frequently bursting in the air before
the distance his been half accomplished. The en.
gineer officers have complained that the fume
employed have in many instances been so old u not
to be depended upon. Some, it is stated, have been
dated as far back as 1803, since which time they hays
been lying in store at Malta or elsewhere.
The Russians have lately adopted an imitation of
the ball used in the Millie rifle. Many cartridge'
were found in the pouches of men killed on the night
of the 22nd instant with the oonical ball and iron
cup at the base. The cup is very roughly mad'
There were also found cartridges containing two
balls, connected with each other by a spiral of boss
wire. The spiral, when closed, occupied a spew d
about two-thirds of an inch in length; when drove
out, was capable of being stretched to a lecgtker
proaching to half a foot. This is a new device: it s
the application of the chain-shot to small firearm

BALLICLAVA, It&aca 2S.
Napia, in his "History of the War in the Pais.
sula," pares some very stringent remarks on thei¢
possibility of an army acting with vigour if it is under
the orders of mere than one man. In another plot
he observes :—" By an abuse too common, so anol
men had been drawn from the ranks se °caulks
to general officers, and for other purpose', that sot
more than 1,000 English troopers were in the
field." How very applicable are his words t°
the army at this moment. Instead of one, we hue
three commanders-in-chief. At this moment it is
whispered throughout the English camp that the
French Commander-in-Chief stated that the Eget
army was a burden to him. Some believe it.
say it is not true. However, the fact is, the Froth
will not follow the English ; and most certainly the
prestunption of the young staff officers would newt
allow thern•to follow the French; and both Tejo
would Kern being led by Omer Paella. And the
abuse is very common of taking fighting men tog
for all sorts of purposes but what they are sent ost
for, and weakening the army very considerably
thereby.
Some very unkind, but I believe just, remarks sus
freely made by the navy here on certain appoiounents
and favouritism shown if parties have either aristo-
cratic or parliamentary interest. Why is the count
burdened with the support of naval surgeons on half-
pay who refuse to go afloat? Surely England is put
to expense enough, without supporting a number of
idlers who refuse to serve in the hour of need. Now
is the time to weed the army and navy lists of
all such unprofitable burdens.
The general opinion is that %it require a than of
decision—a man to command in chief. Well informed
men say that there is every reason to believe that the
Russians have removed nearly all their troops frws
Sebastopol, and particularly from the north side. We
know they have withdrawn the army that we, in
fact, besieging Balaklava. All their troops are wi.th'
drawn for the pumose of bringing an oTerwhy=
foto spinet the Tutu at Eepetorse, sad it

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aTieing them into the seat and I regret to say, very
@irises doubts are MA whether Omer Puha will
be able to resist thee'. Are we going to do
nothing to save our allies I' Are we not going
to make an dkirt ? Could we not make &diversion!'
There are thins who openly Mate that an active
renal would sew feel bin way with a strong ream-
fares, end see if the north side is not now
last the heights and pm we lost in
Os battle or bstobery of Balaklava might now be
'ease. The Raglans have been very bold in their
mew Wily, probably "sly to oover their weakness.
*ay well guarded movement in their rear would
age a diversion in favour of the Tarim. It is pm-
able those critics may be wrong, bet long before this
lettor eau reach you the opportunity. if it is an op-
portunity, wilt have passed. In going through the
maw I wee delighted to OM the excellent spirits of all,
sad the extraordinary and robust health of them who
well. Is fact, they look the very picture of men
gre
le fall health and spirits.
It is stated everywhere—by 080911 of high rank,
privates, in fact, everybody—that this day week the
mid attack on Sebastopol is to take pleat, each gun
hies supplied with 400 rounds : but I think the
date must be a mistake. We should never be mad
enough to warn the Russians, and prepare them to
sepals, as, for it is notorious that everything in the
English asp is immediately known to the Russians.
Modes which it must depend on a variety of events.
U the Ranks& return from Eupatoria and Simphero-
pel. and is large numbers threaten an attack on our
position, dooms we must postpone ours.

Of WIWS.)

PARIS, TROISDAT Evame.

General Canrobert's despatch, dated Sebastopol,
March 27, correcting his original report of the 23rd,
and tioalleming the telegraphic despatch published in
the 3fortUtir, with the date of the 29th, estimates
the Russian loss in the battle of March 22 at 2,000
Ytilled sod wounded, instead of from 1,000 to 1,200.
Os this, as on former occasions, the General says his
calculating of the enemy's losses have turned out to
be under-rated, and, he adds, " perhaps they are so
still." It will be remembered that the two former
reports differed also materially as to the French loss,
01011 stating it at 600, and the other as little more than
300. The present despatch confirms the more serious
version. The precise figures given are 13 officers
and 169 men killed or died of their wounds, 12 offi-
cers and 361 men wounded, and 2 officers and 54 men
miming, making the total number of French hors de
combat, 611.
I understand that M. Dronyn de Lime is expected
ste arrive from Vienna an Sunday to accompany their
Majesties to Ragland. No positive uws is known
with respect to the proceedings of the Conferences,
bat I have every reason to believe that they are vir-
tually at an end. The latest private letters from
St. Petersburg represent the Russian government as
wholly indisposed to make concessions. I am told
that Prussia has already intimated her intention to
remain neutral in case the Conferences should not
had to peace, and that (as was to be expected) the
Allies will not recognise her neutrality. Then is a'
talk here of • new levy of 100,000 men, and it is
said that the Austrian Minister is already discussing
the number of a French contingent to be sent to co-
operate with the Austrian armies, in the event of a
teal breach between the governments of Vienna and
Bt. Petersburg.
At the Bourse there were considerable fluctuations.
A feeling of great discouragement prevailed at the
opening, in consequence (principally) of the fall of
per cent. in Console. This was, however, attributed
to special causes, such as the contemplated loan of
twenty millions and the failures in Australia, and
later in the day the Rents experienced a favourable
reaction. After opening at 69k. 30o:, it closed at
69fr, 60c., with a fall of only 150. Railways in go-
weal closed 2fr. or 31r. lower.
Tilly of the Cent Gerdes are to accompany their
Majestiss to Rushed.
We mid is the °Latest News " of the Petrie :
We her. hen Oesseatiseple that &sera Bisles_Q) is
ossabsiessi *the IsSeinersaisa to nava Moos
Oman& volusteese . The libeekenies. sr env
assiler-aohiel the Beseech, has hoes sat is
Bbfee, at the armee at Lied de Avatars. is WINO Ile-
koo COO besseises tee t English anise. The sholl
Goa a Me leibale (heresee)he ie mime/ mein eL The
royalties Is lasinsils by the Bread esaon behms.