The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-15 00:00:00

SEA. OF AZOFF,

Copies of certain correspondence that have passed be-
tween the Admiralty and Vice-A4miral D. Dundas, re-
specting the blockade of the Sea of Azoff, and the
western shores of the Crimea, and the bombardment
of Odessa

(No. 622)—Copy of a letter from the Secretary to the
Admiralty to Vice-Admiral D. Dundas.
Admiralty, October 13, 1854.
Sir,—l am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty, with reference to the operations of the fleet under
your orders, to call your special and particular attention to
the necessity of exercising the utmost vigilance and care in
preventing the movement of craft of all descriptions proceeding
out of the Bay of Kherson and the River Dniester ; and I am
to signify their directions to you to take every precaution in
your power to prevent communication with the Crimea from
ports in that directioi.
My Lords are further of opinion that whenever the means
at your disposal will admit proper measures should be con-
certed with your colleague in command of the allied forces,
for obtaining an entrance by the Gulf of Kertch into the Sea
of Azoff, with a view to interrupt the communications of the
enemy with the eastern shores of the Crimea, to which their
Lordships have always attached the greatest importance.
In concert likewise with your colleagues, my Lords con-
sider that no opportunities should be lost to occupy the atten-
tion of the enemy by frequent attacks upon all parts of the
coast, extending from the mouths of the Danube to the Isth-
mus of Perekop, and that any proper opportunity for the
bombardment of Odessa should not be omitted.—l am, &e.,
(Signed) W. A. B. HAMILTON.

(No. 541). Extracts of a Despatch from Vice-Admiral Dun-
das to the Secretary of the Admiralty; dated " Britannia,"
off the Katscha, Oct. 27, 1854.
(Received Nov. 12.)
Sir,—With reference to your letter, No. 622, of the 13th
inst., I beg you will acquaint the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty that the Sidon and Inflexible, togethe*r with
two French steamers of war have been most active *
in preventing any force from entering the Crimea from
Odessa by the Bay of Khersou. * * * I have always
been fully aware of the value of the Sea. of Az ff to the
enemy, and that could only be attained by the possession Of
Kertch. Some weeks ago I urged that 2,000 men should
be embarked for that place ; but their lordships are aware
that, from disease and the action at Alma, our troops have
suffered great loss, and the French Admiral, when he ap-
plied to his General for assistance to attack Kertch, was
told of the impossibility of sending a man. The last report,
by a neutral, that we have is, that the navigation through
the, straits of Kertch is entirely prevented by the enemy sink-
ing ships and stones ; and, under existing circumstances, all
I can do is, when I have steamers to spare from the duty
here, to send them off the port, to damage the enemy as much
as possible.
It is necessary to observe that no troops have ever passed
by sea to or from Anapa, all go by land through Kertch, and
that the Wasp, which vessel recently arrived from off Anapa
and Soujak, reports that the garrisons of those places are
8,000 or 10,000 strong, so that without a military force it is.
impossible for me to act.
* * '

(Signed)

J. W. D. DIINDAS.

(No. 57L) —Extract of a letter from Vice-Admiral Dundas to
the Secretary of the Admiralty; with enclosure from Vice-
Admiral Hamelin ; dated. Britannia, off the 'Katscha, No-
vember 8, 1854.
(Received. November 22.)
Sir,—l beg you will acquaint the Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty that on the arrival of the Sphinx, Gladi-
ator, and Stromboli, I prepared a squadron for the purpose
of bombarding Odessa, and have obtained the consent of
Vice-Admiral Hamelin for .the co-operation of the French
steam frigate Cacique, already employed of Odessa with
Captain Goldsmith of tho Sidon.
2. Yesterday I received from Admiral Hamelin a letter,
of which I enclose a copy, and I have consequently postponed
the bombardment for the present.
• *

I have, &e.,
J. W. D. DIMAS.

(Signed)

Enclosure.
Vice-Admiral Hamelin to Vice-Admiral Dundas,
" Ville de. Paris," 1, 7 Noyembre, 1854.
Von Cher Amiral,—Je recois a l'instant, une lettre du Ge-
neral Canrohert, lequel me mande qu'il est d'accord avec
Lord Raglan, pour trouver qu'une demonstration de bftti-
mens a-vapour allant jeter quelque obus dane Odessa serait,
dans les circonstances actuelles, Wen, plus desavautageuse
qu'utile.
En consequence, les generaux demandant n'y soit
donne aucune suite. Agrees, &
Hc.
(Signe) AMELIN.
(No. 803.) Copy of a letter from the Secretary to the
Admiralty to Vice-Admiral Dundas.
Admiralty, Dec. 8, 1854.
Sir,—l am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty to call your attention to their letter of the 13 of
October last, No. 622, respecting an attack ou the portth
of
Odessa at any proper opportunity. Although this question
has been postponed at the request of the Generals command-
ing the Allied Forces on shore, , my lords are of opinion it
should be again taken into consideration, with a view to an
efrectual operation whenever eir.:umstances will permit.
I am, &c.,
(Signed) H. OSBORNE.