The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-21 00:00:00

(Front the Morning Post of this day.)

For the third time the Allies have opened fire upon
Sebastopol, and now with greater advantages and
chances of success than ever. The whole of the Rus-
sian outworks are in our possession. The guns of the
enemy are, in some cases, turned against their masters,
and a direct attack is being made upon the actual for-
tifications, the strength of his position. Taking into
calculation the nearness to which our batteries have been
pushed forwards, and the immense power of ordnance
that will be brought to bear upon the walls, it is quite
possible that by this time a considerable breach has
been effected. The Allies were in excellent condition
and spirits, burning to be led to the assault, and in suffi-
cient numbers to justify the gratification of their im-
petuosity, should a breach be made. The destruction of
the Mamelon, and the damage already done to the Gar-
den Battery, justify the expectation that a breach is far
more practicable now than at any previous period since
the siege began. On the other hand, it is certain that,
at no time since the memora)ile night that followed the
battle of Alma, have the Russians been less capable of a
strong resistance at Sebastopol. Our men are elated
with recent successes. Theirs have never gained a vic-
tory. Till lately the gsrrison has been tolerably sure of
supplies, now it can calculate on no more than are al-
ready within its walls. The Crimea is virtually closed
to the Russians, it is everywhere open to us. The gar-
rison is now dependent entirely upon its own resources.
Whatever it has in the way of men, stores, and ammu-
nition, with them it must fight its battle and stand its
ground. No help of any consequence can be looked for
from without, for to this point the attention of the
Allies is keenly directed, and woe betide anything
short of a large army that should show itself within
reach of our legions on the Tchernaya. That the gar-
rison will sell its existence as dearly as possible is only
too certain. Whatever facility the inhabitants of Anapa,
Taganrog, Genitchi, and Yenikale may have offered to
our forces by a timely evacuation of their quarters, the
like will not happen at Sebastopol, so that, under the
best circumstances, the conflict will be obstinate and
bloody on both sides. But of the- termination we can-
notthe his
confessedtroo skill ofs, the excel-
lent allow ourselves to doubt. It is now a point of hon-
our with England and France to take Sebastopol, and
taken, therefore, it must be. The obstinacy of the
P
enemy,
gunnerythe
of undoubted
his
bombardiers,o
his riflemen, and the strength of his fastnesses may en-
hance our difficulty, and cost us many lives, but there
is no retreat from the'position we have taken until the
allied banners float over every fort in the city. -
While this bombardment is going on, a large army is
preparing or rather is prepared, for field operations. It
is quite certain that before very long an engagement
with the main body of the Russian army must be come
to, if only to complete the isolation of Sebastopol. For
this purpose we have an army equal to that of the
enemy, besides that engaged before the city, and the
Turks have a secure lodgment at Eupatoria, in little
danger of disturbance, and with some troops to spare.
Impossible as it ever must be to forecast the fortunes