The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-29 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

(From the Daily J.News of this day.)

The news which reached, London in the course of yes-
terday morning and fotencan; Is the most important
that has been received from the Critnea since the land-
ing at Old Fort and the .:3tormia.z of the heights of Alma.
At the south-eastern extremity of the peninsular, Kertch
and Yenikale have been taken and occupied by a de-
tachment from the allied armies under Sir George Brown
—an operation which makes us masters of the entry
into the Sea of Azoff. At the south-western extremity
of the peninsular the allied armies have occupied the
line of the Tchernaya. On the. Straits of Yenikale the
Russians retreated, 'after destroying their fortifications,
,without striking a blow. - On the Tchernaya they do
not appear to have Offered any serious resistance to the
ativance of the allies.
The occupation 'of Kertch by the Allies is a severe
blow to the Russians in the Crimea. Between Kaffa
(in lat. 45 deg. N., long. 351 deg. E.) and the delta of
the Kuban (tat 45 deg. N., long. 38 deg. E.), the
stripe of land which separates the Sea of Azoff from
the Euxine is extremely narrow. Between the bottom
of Kaffa Bay (in the Euxine) and the bottom of Arabat
Bay (in the Sea of Azuff) its breadth does not exceed
ten miles. Between Cape Tchanda (the eastern head-
land of Kaffa Bay) and the Straits of Kertch its average
breadth is about 30 miles. East of the Straits it nar-
rows again to about 20 miles, great part of its surface
being, however, under water. The south opening into
the Straits is about 60 miles east of Kaffa. The width
of the opening (from Cape Takli to Cape Panagia) is
about eight miles, but off Ak Burun (20 miles within
the Straits) the navigable waterway narrows to about a
mile. From ti,e entry of the Straits to Ak Burun their
direction is due north ; thence to the Sea of Azoff (a
distance of about 20 miles more), their direction is
about north-east. A couple of miles north of Ak
Burun, in the bight of a bay, is the town of Kertch ;
about seven
.miles due east of it is Yenikale. Kertch
is 'built entirely of stone, and has a population of about
10,000 souls. Its only expert is a little salt ; but it is
here that vessels of 'deep draught stop and transship
their cargoes for the ports of the Sea of Azoff into
smaller craft. Vessels of lesser draught, too, are here
obliged to unload a portion of their cargoes into lighters,
and take it again at Yenikale. Hence it comes that in
time of peace there is always a considerable accuranla-
tion of shipping at this part of the Straits. We men-
tioned some time ago that information, to which we were
inclined to give credit, led us to believe that this stop.
page of deep draught vessels and unloading of smaller
ones was, in a great measure, a farce enacted by the
Russian authorities with a view to deceive the rest of
the world with respect to the depth of water in the
Straits of Kerte). If we may lay any stress on an ex-
pression .in the French despatches (to the effect that
" the Sea of Azoff is occupied by the Allied squadron"),
the information to which we allude may be re-
garded as confirmed. Be this as it may, it appears
that at Kertch the allies have captured several Russian
vessels of 50 guns, have obliged the enemy to destroy
several war steamers, and have destroyed a foundry
where shot, shells, and Minie balls were manufactured.
One source, therefore, whence the defenders of Sebasto-
pol have received their supplies of ammunition, has been
taken from them ; the Russian means of carrying on a
communication between the Crimea and the main have
been cut off ; and the allies command all the principal
ports of the Sea of Azoff—Taganrog, where the iron of
Siberia and the ordnance manufactured in the Ural are
shipped, and the rising grain depots of Berdiansk and
Marianopol.
These important advantages were gained on the same
day that the allies were allowed to occupy, almost with-
out resistance, the line of the Tchernaya. These com-
bined movements appear to indicate a determination on
the part of the allied commanders to deal first with the
Russian army in the field as a preparatory step to
the complete investment and capture of Sebastopol. ro
this inference additional probability is lent by the care
with which the French appear to have been strenthening
the positions of which they obtained possession on the
23d and 24th. Of course while the Allied armies are
dealing with the Russians in the field it will be necessary
to strengthen the lines before Sebastopol, for the double
purpose of preventing their falling into the hands of the
Russians, and preventing the Russians from attacking
our troops in the rear. The Russian army between Sim-
pheropol and Baktchi Serai is now closely pressed on
its left flank and seriously menaced on its right. It is to
be hoped that a few days will bring us news of a demon-
stration, or more serious attack having been made by
Omer Paella from the side of Eupatoria. The necessity
under which the Russians are of concentrating their forces,
placed between two fires by the Allies, will probably
afford an opportunity of striking a blow at Perekop.
It ought also to be borne in mind, that the same
authority from which we derived the information that
the depth of water in the Straits of Kertch exceeds what
has been given out by the Russian authorities, added
that the Bug between isticolaieff and the sea, is navigable
for ships of considerable draught of water. If this be
correct, that great arsenal and building-yard of the
Russian navy lies as open to an attack as Odessa and
IberBon.

Genoese, and even under the Khan of Khazeria, the whin
seat of power and of wealth was always on this eastern
extremity of the peninsula. These facts being well
known, it is 'difficult to explain why this expedition was
not made et a much earlier period of the war, for the
forces which languished during last July at Varna might
have long since seized the forts of Yenikale. It is true
that the soundings which have enabled Admiral Lyons
and Admiral Brunt to plan this successful attack
bad not then been taken, and the manner in which
they were obtained is curious. A Britiih navaldficer,
whose name has, unfortunately, not yet renolied tie, cap-
tured a vessel having on board a private carriage belong-
ing to the Russian Governor of Kertch-. With this
" material pledge," in his possession, he sent in a polite
message to the Governor, stating that the English cruiser
was unwilling to deprive him of bin private property,- and
would have great pleasure in restoring the carriage to
its former owner. The offer was accepted, and the ship's
boats entered the Bay of Kertch, with the vehicle on
board, sounding as they went. By this means it was
ascertained that there was a passage for the small steamers
I to within a short distance of the coast, and the Gover-
nor's carriage made a track for the British fleet.
Among the other imenedrataddvautages ,resulting from
the occupation of the Straits may he reckoned the inter-
us,essi aonf armyzoir in
ytehrye
rcurpintlioesn
hasof t the t
' large quantities of wheat, flour, and oats were found at
Kertch and upwards of 60 vessels engaged in this service,
supplies
edsrawn which
the
from theß
of which about half were burnt by the enemy and half
were taken. The maintenance of a large army in the inte-
rior of the Crimea will become a task of insuperable diffi-
culty,if the whole of its sup plies and food have to be brought
Crimea itself does not produce corn enough to fee
by land across the stepnee north of the Salghir.
feed its
O
withvn st
ph
ae
re
inexhaustiblepo
pulatipopulation,
and it w
granaries
with the inexhaustible granaries of the Sea of Azoff that
the Russian magazines were supplied. This circumstance
may serve to account in part for the fact that the Rus.
sians have apparently not attempted to throw very large
reinforcements into the Crimea. The strength of their
army must be regulated not only by the numbers they
may be able to convey there, but by the means of sup-
porting them. When people talked loosely of Russia's
power to, throw two huruired thousand men into the
Crimea, we contented ourselves with replying that it is
easier to find thet'weoo w uer mense w,
maintain thvha eavnni2tnutoghroee,
to'thofdooeo
command
mnecessarye
assert
nmtaihnn that
tt
hiotef totsch
easier
jest
mhssieeesi
aarr
for
rdb
thes shteeAnc eai
Allied Powers, having the 'command of the sea
and the coast,
l bat eu,
than for Russia to maintain 100.000 men interior. There
will
are very strong reasons for believing
out to
t suffering bri!ng f
re e
stthat:' t_
vb
ee,
rmsstrengthbcuhe.
of that Russian army which at one timo threatened
sßieaglaekdlainvao,uarnodwhnelidisoeurs: brave
tarn
below what it was, at_oLe time suppoeed to be. A
thin line of Cossacks perpetually threatened our
outposts, and even led the Allied Generals to con-
tract their position within the narrowest, "defensible
compass. But what was there behind this
screen ! Whenever a partial reconnaissance has been
made our troops have come in contact with no enemy
capable of holding a position, and it is by no means im-
probable that the innumerable hordes of Russians sup-
posed to be wintering in impregnable quarters behind
the low range of hills north of the Tchernaya,Were as
much reduced in strength and numbers as the besiegers
of Sebastopol. The last despatch received from General
Pelissier announces that the allied forces have now on-
cupied the whole line of the Tchernaya, and that this
operation met with no serious resistance, the Russians
having speedily retired behind the hills: This fresh suc-
cess confirms us in the opinion that the unseen strength
of the enemy in the Crimea has been overrated, and that
he is by no meansin acondition tooppose simultaneously
the combined movements of the three armies at Eupe-
toria, at Kertch, and before Sebastopol. The greater
probability now appears to be, that on. the advance of
the allies, in whatever direction they may assume the
offensive, the Russians will find themselves compelled to
retreat; from inferiorityof numbers and want of supplies
and the more so as, the Sea of Azoff being navigable for
our steam gunboats, their base of operations may be
threatened in the rear.

These circumstances confirm and encourage the
hopes we have never ceased to entertain of a speedy
and triumphant termination to the new campaign in
the Crimea, but they do not lessen our enthusiastic ad-
miration of those heroic soldiers who, by their endurance
and their valour. have at last won a portion of that
glorious reward for which they have .contended so long
and suffered so much. The people of England and the
most intelligent nations of the continent of Europe will
hail with enthusiasm these indic.dions of renewed and
increasing success. The defence of the Russians, though
obstinate, is evidently fainter, and the surrender of
Kertch without resistance is a proof of the moral defeat
of the hostile army. Let us proceed with boldness and
with firmness, for victory'is already in our grasp. The
ground we now occupy in the Crimea gives us the com-
mand of the Black Sda and the Sea of Azoff, from which
Russia will not dislodge us until the termination of the
war—not upon her terms, but on our own ; and the
time is probably nit distant when she will regret, far
more than we need do, the failure of the late negotia-
tions for peace. Our hopes of peace lie in victory, our
negotiators and conditions are in the camp before Se-
bastopol, and Kertch is another material guarantee of
our ultimate success.

Now that affairs on the Euxine have assumed such a
favourable aspect, a terrible responsibility will rest upon
the Allied Governments if Russia is not effectually
humbled. To enure that object—so indispensable to
the peace and liberties of Europe—nothing is wanted
but a vigorous following up of the advantazes which have
been gained. The precipitate retreat of the Russians,
' both at Kertch and on the Tchernaya, indicates that
the soldiers are disheartened, and the resources of
the Czar nearly exhausted. It would be false generosity
to spare a Government which, for mere than two
hundred years has been plundering all its' neighbours
by-its armies, and introducing .anarchy among them by
its intrigues. The cant of the Aberdeenites that it is
hereby proposed to carry on the war for an object not
contemplated at first can deceive no one. The object of
the war was from the first to give security to Turkey,
and through Turkey to Europe, against the systematic
aggressions and rapac:ons policy of Russia. If the pro
gross of the war opens up to us more efficacious means
to effect this ptirpose than were at first contemplated, it
is the duty of the Allies to adopt them. It must now
be apparent even to the most irresolute that the time for
each unsatisfactory eomprcinises as were mooted at the
o inferences has passed. Presumptuously confident in her
ability to throw dust in the eyes of the European powers,
Russia rejected terms far more lenient than her misdeeds
or real strength entitled her to expect ; Russia must now
take the consequences of her own duplicity and arro-
gance. The Crimea ought not to be restored to her. It
is for the Poles and the inhabitants of Southern Russia
to determine in what relations they are henceforth to
stand to the Muscovite Government. And it is now
time that a question which has scarcely been raised as
yet should be ripely and deliberately considered. When
any private individual disturbs his neighbour by bring-
ing an action against him which has no foundation in
justice, the courts of law decree that he shall pay the
costs of both parties. Wars are the litigation of nations.
Russia has been carrying on a scandalously unjust suit,
and ought by every principle of justice to be amerced in
costs. Russia ought to be compelled to pay not only the
expense the war has entailed upon her, but the expense
it has obliged the allies to incur. In so far as Russia is
concerned, this is no more than an application of the /ex
talionia, for in every war in which she has been victo-
rious she has exacted an indemnity from her adversary.
If Russia can afford to pay, the mulct will make her
more cautious of engaging in unjust wars in future ; if
• she cannot, Europe will be effectually disabused of its
• exaggerated estimate of the resources of that Colosus
" with front of brass and feet of clay."

( Front the Morning Post of this day,)
Our uncertain conduct has met with singular suacess
in th Csinsea. Indeed, we do not kno 4 that the most
decided purs&t of the best undsrstood object cauid have
besn rewarded with a more complete result tian that
which has followed mea•aires which, if we believe Mr.
Disraeli, or Mr. Disraeli's friends, are the uncertain
children of an ambiguous policy. We announced yester-
day two great movements of the aloes, each of which has
succeeded as thoroughly as if it had not been the work
of armies labouring heavily and painfully under the .
vacillating command of a doub:ful ministry cursed with
ambiguity of phrase and uncertainty of conduct, but bad
been the achievement of a force conscious of following
the most decisive inspiration, and proud of winning
approval from men .whose determination they un•
derstand it to be that they should beat the enemy
come what may. Let us be serious. It will be re-
membered that the occupation of the line of the
Tchernaya was expected not to be completed with-
out great loss, and after a severe conflict. The cons
trary has proved to be the case. The telegraph, it is
true, gives us but scanty information ; but that informa-
tion is of the best and most encouraging kind. It
tells us that General Pelissier reports that the enemy,
not in great force, contested the ground, was beaten,
and retreated rapidly to the hills—that the troops of the
Allies remained masters of the works taken on the 22d
and 23d, and of the line of the Tchernaya won on the
25th. The Russians had made no attempt to retrieve
this reverse on the 26th. but had agreed to an armistice
for burying the dead. It reports somewhat vaguely that
there must be between five thousand and six thousan
killed and wounded ; but on this point we shall, doubt-
less, soon have more exact intelligence. On the same
day as that of the occupation of the line of the Tcher-
naya, a force of French, English, and Turks, under Ge-
neral Brown, arrived at Yenikale, the Allied fleets took
possession of the Sea of Azoff; and the enemy aban-
doned his position at Kertch on the 24tb, at Yenikale
on the 25th, blowing up his magazines, batteries, and
steamers, leaving us masters of this most important
point without a single casualty.
From these facts, or from the mere outlines of them,
which we gain by the telegraph, we may learn the folly
of the men who believed, or, at least, would have had
others believe, in the power of Russia to reproduce, at a
moment's notice, the soldiers who fall before us—men
( Front the Times of this day.)
T who would teach us that Russia, unlimited and inex-
he victorious occupation of the town of Kertch by
haustible in her supplies, laughs at all our efforts to d
the allied forces, the command we have thus obtained minish them, and is still ready to meet us in full force a
of the Cimmerian Bosphorus and the Sea of Azoff, and every point, This is not so. The constant loss that we
the establishment of our power upon another point of have inflicted on the Russian force has undoubtedly told
the highest strategical importance in the Russian torri-
on them severely. Our greatly increased strength
has enabled us to make two most important movements,
tories, are events which augur most auspiciously for the
which the Russians have not had force to contest. By
success of the campaign in which we are now about to
the Sea of Azoff, we command their great road for men
engage, and place in our hands another material pledge and for supplies. By taking the line of the Tchernaya,
for the triumphant termination of the war. The satis- we have advanced a step to the northward of the city,
faction which this achievement will excite in all parts of
which vvetsohall now have strength to encircle,. to i
the world where sympathy is felt for the cause of the
allies is increased by the fortunate circumstance that in,has andhithn,toshut up frora that external aid
friend.aid which
The
this success has been obtained without h; single casualty.
In spite of the warning given to the Russians by the re- be•u h n no doubt, they will
details' of thessetoodimpsoortasnr mgloyvemhents will soon
call of the first expedition nearly three weeks ago, the be
sinunonered ands, and very
result shows that they had not means to place the Straits
andtici ated from the complete
of Yenikale in an efficient state of defence ; they evacu- success
Iwhichmarhese anticipated
'bringp
to bear on their
ated and destroyed the forts which guarded the Sea of succeeded and carriedh for:::rd with all the vigour
strenkgthTwhhe•ch the A
good time for our men is coining. Their
Azoff on the arrival of the combined fleet ; and the birth-
day of the Queen of England was worthily celebrated y understand, and the end of which
by planting the standards of England and France upon
will 3 be° for enough to repay even the misery that they
the hill which tradition has described as the tomb of havethe deadly troubles that they
wsothorereinThf and
hinehnetrhgey will
g ory .
ven
gone through--even . ...
Mithridatts . of the end. The
This result is the more glorious and the more
we do not doubt, the beginning
These operations are,
force of the Allies is now sufficient to do what it could
t at an enormous risk.
operation would sooner or
extraordinary, as the Russians most long have
foreseen that such an earlier, except have encountered and survived.
hater be attempted, and there is no point in the vast
Sebastopol, shut out from succour,
iisurrounded by
dominions of Russia the loss of which is more formidable
enemies who close id's her perpetua y, weakened in
to that empire. Indeed, if the allies proceeded no fur-
er own garrison, unaibd from without, must fall, after
not have attempted
Cher than to occupy and hold the Straits of Yenikale p
as brave a defence as ever did honour to troops and to
and the adjacent peninsula of Kertch, which is easily commanders.
defensible by any Power having the command of the The rapidity with which these bold and steady 1310 VG•
sea, they would remain in possession of the key to one silents have followed the increased strength of our armies,
of the principal approaches to the Russian territories• and the change to the steady decision of General Pe-
In 1851 no less than 1,000 trading vessels passed the lissier, will, we hope, satisfy or shame the veriest
Straits. Taganrog, Marianopol, Berdianski, and Kertch, grumbler who laments over our doings in the Crimea"
all commercial towns, which it has been the policy of the All that we have wanted from the first has been sufficient
Russian Governmet tto protect and foster with the ut- force. We began the undertaking
the free-undoubtedly having
most care for the last 70 years, exist only by deceived ourselves as to the means required, and we
,lour of trade between the Sea of Azoff and the Euxine. English especially paid a heavy
its tri- penalty for our want of
the whole exports of the valley of the andDonnpreparation, and for the state of •
Don and economical helplessness
hutaries, and the communication between the. into which concession to '
trade of that mighty stream a paltry policy bad continued
to drive us
the Volga, which places the
depend on , • Those days are
over. The house, the
in connexion with the markets of Europe, all Cabinet, the country,
that is no exa,ggera- see the necessity that we should
this neck of the Sea of Azoff ; so
will be felt
face the evil isolcil •
v, pill off or compromise nothing, but
that our occopstion of leertch
f sl t
lion to assert
Kazan and Nishni No• , le i out a neble and ass s •
in the interior of Russia, even to . fillies
~,,
~,_ have 3 1-., gearrel in company with our
On the Asiatic shore of the Straits the 1 "." ,
,e begun it, honestly, and frankly, and
vogorod. heir fortelieeti, n- qarely. We i 411.71- .
Russians have also destroyed t. , , ~, foe , . , . 0 AN? our children no Russian war
sides may be occupied, and tile allied legacY—we shall leave them no dread of that gigantic
so that both
will thresten or blockade Anaps, which is :Aggressive barbarism-61st frightful serni•civilisatiou
forces spays for the
the whole Circassian coast. K,rtob its ' whieb imports the vices of all countries, and
the key to ,We shall
self is a flourishing own of about ja2,ooc, juila. ' importatioli out of the miseries of its serfs.
bitants, built entirely of substantial houses. Ti„3 its, I"ntVe that Empire a lesson which will last it many a day
are chiefly Greeks and Tartars, • d for —w s shall leave
habitants An tyre , e
thence that England
first time since the commencement of these uperasam noblest battles fought it, the best a .
s 1 Russian war filling
our troops will find themselves in contact with can bo"st• We "a Yet have the
* .
what , ' era of the English his-
may be termed, by comparison, a civilized coinnou ' ;
the brightest and proudest chart
The climate, though cold in winter, is healthyi lIY. tory of our own day.
and ,
•••••••••-.••••••"""""" -- --'277_7!
genial in this season. The surrounding country, which .
is termed by the Russians the district of ' The General Steam Navigation
Is-each-al- i Quits PASSAGE.—
kOlSk, is luxuriantly fertile wherever it is cultivated •it '''
y' steam-ship Moselle, Captain S. Frost, left
is separated from Kaffa by about 60 miles of undulating on)l)baunr-oson Friday last, at 9.25 p.m., and arrived at
e, am
plain, lying between the Sea of Azoff i Ur rice's Wharf, London, on Sunday last, at
and the Black Sea, , the St. a A
and the isthmus dividing the Bay of Kaffa from that of 11 a.m., after a splendid run of only 376 hours.
Arabat is not more than 12 miles in breadth. i A LONG BALLOON JOURNEY.—An American aeronaut
A. more favourable position either for military or com- lately left New Orleans in a balloon, travelled 310 mile*
mercial operations cannot be found, and in the flourish- in six hours, landed his passengers at Port Gibson, Zitia-
ing days of the Crimea, both in antiquity, under the sissippi, and then resumed his voyage.

ROYAL 13AYMARSET.-

TO-MORROW EVENING.

illeettnd Night of Miss HELEN r AUCIT, who will appear
to her orie„al character of Pauline Desehappel!es, in the LADY
OF LYONS. Claude Melnotte, Mr. Barry Sullivan. After
which. first time, a New Farce, entitled ONLY A HALFPENNY.
in which Mr. Buckstone will appear. To conclude with the SLEEP-
ING DRAUGHT. Being for the benefit of Mr. George Turpin.
Box Book-keeper.