The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-04 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1855.

The bloodless triumphs achieved by the expe-
dition to Kertch, Yenikale, and the Sea of Azoff
cannot fail to be productive of the most important
results, not only on the campaign in the Crimea,
but on the entire war with Russia. We have at
length tardily entered on the course in which we
should already have made considerable progress.
We only hope that we may fully and fairly follow
up our successes, not contenting ourselves with
mere demonstrations, but really endeavouring to
cripple the power of our gigantic adversary, which
has been so grievously abused, and to prevent her
from carrying out the nefarious designs which
nothing but imperative necessity will induce her
to relinquish. Like the old man in the fable,
we have tried the effect of persuasion—the Con-
ferences, to wit. It has wholly and unequi-
vocally failed. We have flung grass in
our warlike exhibitions, but the absence of '
earnestness was too clearly perceptible to the wily
foe. Had we been as resolute as Russia we should
not have contented ourselves with a few hours,
ball practice before Odessa by a few steamers, while
the great body of the fleet were idle spectators of
the so-called bombardment. We should not have
allowed the depot for provisioning and reinforcing
the army of the Crimea to remain almost intact ;
nor should the punishment it received, such as it
was, have been attributed to merited retribution
for an insult to a flag of truce, but rather to the
natural consequences of the hostilities in which
we were then engaged.
It is manifest that Russia has been still under
the expectation—would that we might call it
.illusion "—that we would not take any really
important step, but that we would be cajoled by
the negotiations still nominally pending. She
entertained that belief while the ABERDEEN Go-
vernment remained in office, and the recent
speech of Mr. GLADSTONE, and the conduct of the
Peelites, prove that she had but too much foun-
dation for the supposition. Lord PALMERSTON
ostentatiously avowed that the policy of the Go-
vernment was altogether unaltered by the changes
that had taken place. Consequently, the absurdly
lenient conditions tendered were contumeliously
rejected, and the insolent propositions put for-
ward which Count Buor, thought "to contain
elements of which Austria would endeavour to
avail herself for an understanding." 'Until the
Conference be finally dissolved, and a formal
notice given that the Western Powers will no
longer accept the conditions on which they were
previously willing to treat, there will be no secu-
rity against a dishonourable and transitory peace,
without any real guarantees for its stability,
and which 'will only be observed by Russia
until she sees a favourable opportunity for its
violation.

Our uninterrupted and bloodless triumphs prove
that the Russians did not anticipate so vigorous
a proceeding on our part. Had it been other-
wise they would have made at least some show
of resistance. Since entering the Sea of Azoff
no less than four war-steamers, and two hundred
and forty vessels, employed in carrying supplies
to the Russian army in the Crimea, have been
destroyed. We have not only taken possession
of Kertch and Yenikalc, and thus cut off the
communications with the troops in Asia, but we
have also taken Genitchi, o" venitchi, with a de-
tachment of Seamen and 11.. • , .s, aud, " after
driving the Russian force frudi the place, de-
stroyed all the depot 3 and vessels laden with corn
and suppliesfor the army ;" and in all this not a single
life was lost. " One man only was wounded !"
It is said that no less than six millions of rations
for the garrison of Sebastopol have been thus de-
stroyed. The troops stationed at those different
posts have fallen back in the direction of Kaffa,
and it is said, on Russian authority, that they
took care to place no less than thirty miles be-
tween them and the invaders before they ven-
tured to halt.
Besides these advantages we learn this after-
noon that we have taken the town of Stranychi,
at the entrance of the Putrid Sea, burnt a month's
rations of the whole Russian army, and destroyed
the shipping. There was no resistance offered by
the enemy. No loss to the Allies.
Genitchi is a peculiarly important position.
It lies at the entrance of what is termed the
"Putrid Sea," which it entirely commands. It
-S is Uoueii this sea, or marsh, that the military
,L44'
...__ - Ifni 171?een: constructed, of which, until last
-'.: ' rrs *liitlervy as known, and by means whereof
~-!. .: ' 'SO rilani r4i ira.
(
...,, ---oTeeplents were poured into the Crimea.
\''. 4;110 =Wit of the wooden causewab
\..... a work of
IFraVrISM:I---,k;

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