The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-27 00:00:00

THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR.

Mr. ROEBUCK then rose to bring forward the motion of
which he had given notice, to the following effect :—" That
a select committee be appointed to inquire into the condi-
tion of our army before Sebastopol, and into the conduct of
those departments of the Government whose duty it has
been to minister to the wants of that army." The hen. and
learned gentleman said,—ln bringing forward the motion
which stands on the paper in my name, I must, in the first
place, beg the kind indulgence of the house to aid in some
degree my physical inability. (Hear.) The queAioa itself is
so serious that it requires no apology. , We have sent from
this country an army the mast unparalleled in its efficiency
and in its numbers that ever left this coast; which has by
its deeds not only maintained but enhanced the glory of
its country—(cheers)—and it now appears by the askaow-
lodgment of the noble lard this evening that this army, by
the neglect of the Government at home, has been reduced
to a condition that wrings the heart of the nation. (Hear,
hear.) Therefore, I say, Sir, when I consider the ditties
of this house, what they are, and how they are to be sin.
ployed, I think the question which I am about to bring
forward requires no apology. (Hear.) But, when I ad-
dress myself to the question itself, I cannot but regret
I what has fallen from the noble lord this evening. The
noble lord says that he was unable, as a Minister of the
Crown, to resist this motion. He says that the house
ought to exercise its inquisitorial duties with regard to
this question, and in the same breath he says that he will
not support the motion either by his speech or his vete,
thus neglecting that which, as a patriot, he ought to per-
forms. (Hear, hear,) He ought to forget private affec-
tions and personal regards when he considers not only
that an army of England is at stake, but also that the
very existence of the country is in jeopardy. Deserted,
then, by the noble lord, but maintained, as I believe, by
the inherent value of the question itself, I shall boldly ad-
dress myself to that which I have to propose to the house.
The question naturally divides itself into two parts—first,
what is the condition of our army before Sebastopol ; and,
next, how has that condition been brought about ? Now,
sir, it appears to me, as the noble lord himself has con-
fessed to-night, that about the condition of the army there
cannot be two opinions. They are without shelter, with-
out clothes, without food, and without ammunition. That
is the condition to which they have been reduced, as I be-
lieve, by the incapacity of those whose duty it was to mi-
' nister to their wants. (Hear.) We have nothing before
us to make us believe that the position of the Govern-
' ment as regards the army is in the slightest degree
changed, The incapacity that has brought about this
result still continues to govern—(hear, hear)—therefore,
all I have to do is to submit to this house that inquiry
is requisite as to the causes that have brought about
this state of misery in which the army now exists, and
when I have done that I think I shall have done my duty
to this house. Now, sir, it may be thought necessary
that I should say something as to the state of tho army
new before Sebastopol. I beg, first of all, however, to
say that with the military part of the question I have no
concern; as to the expedition to the Crimea I am unable to
judge. I am no soldier; but as to the conduct of those
whose duty it wan to minister to the wants of that army,
when so placed, I think this house is able to judge, and, as
a member of this house, I think I am bound to pass a
judgment on this matter. Now, sir, the first question I
have to inquire into as to the number of soldiers before
Sebastopol. I think it is pretty well ascertained that we
have sent from the shores of this country 54,000 soldiers,
equipped as we have never equipped soldiers before, who
have done all they could to support the honour and glory
of this country. I want to know what has become of those
54,00 e soldiers 1 It appears, from the best information, that
there are now not more than 14,000 mon actually in arms
before Sebastopol, and of those 14,000 less than 5,000 are
in a state of health. I have now in my hand a letter dated
January 8, from Constantinople, the writer of which sk.tos
that, according to the best information, the effective force
of the British before Sebastopol did not exceed 14,000 men;
that the artillery and engineers have diminished in a simi-
lar ratio ; and that the cavalry had ceased to exist as a
.force, the horses having been taken up for the transport of
previsions. The writer also says he is sure that the British
army will within two months be totally destroyed; and,
speaking of a general who has been out there and has now
returned, he states that, in accordance with his opinion,
and the opinions of those most likely to be well informed,
he is firmly persuaded that a great disaster is about to befall
the army now before Sebastopol. 14,000 men, then, re-
main out ef the whole 54,000. I want to know, sir, what
has become of the 40,000 troops who have disappeared from
the ranks of your army? (Hear, hear.) This is a simple
matter of figures, and if your force has been reduced from
51,000 to 14,000 men, I repeat—and I am obliged to ask the
question—what has become of those 40,000 troops ? (Here
a brief pause intervened, from the evident physical weak-
ness of the speaker. He then resumed.) I feel, sir, that
my strength is very inadequate to this task, and I there-
fore hope that the house will bear with me. (Cheers, fol-
lowed by a recommendation to the hon. and learned gentle-
man to be seated.) No, no • I will endeavour to proceed.
The condition of the army being such as I have stated, ley
next inquiry is—How was that condition brought about?
My belief is, that it has been produced by incapacity at
home and incapacity abroad —by incapacity on the part
of those whose duty it is to minister to that army's wants.
At the present moment I am given to understand that
the harbour of 13alaklava is encumbered with stores—
that the country, which possesses means of transport be-
yond those of all the world, has been enabled through
the enthusiasm of the people to lay on the shores of
that harbour stores sufficient to maintain an army twice as
storiesif h ic which
3n woitexeiusir;esbufotrtitihiet,irli
trans-
portedlargeasththeasetdeprived of everyth2e'gen
seven miles intervene miles across the ocean, another
provision.
occasioned ?
that, therefore, your forces are
as an army.. How has thisr
army was sent to the Crimeahurd
by the insufficiency of the Why,vaiinngt
first,anc
made here when the
ineffi-
ciency of those to whom it was c;onLle'axtext, by the
p,winhteonf
hisit reached that country. (Hear, hoar.) [At this
again unable to pro-
ceed,
the hon. and learned gentleman was la
and at length he observed]--I
really,
strength so feeble that I cannot continuetsee remarks feel
my
in my present state, I shall at once
(cheers)—and,
the resolution which is now in your hands"( 0
ewmove
cheers)—viz., for a committee of iuquiry into threen
condi-
tion of our army before Sebastopol, and into the conduct
of those departments of Government whose duty it was to
minister to its wants. (Hear, hear.)
The motion having been duly seconded and the question
put, an interval of several moments elapsed without an-
other speaker presenting himself to continue the discus-
sion. After repeated cries of " Divide," and " Read,
Read,"
Mr. S. HERBERT roes and said,—Sir, I have felt some
hesitation in rising at this moment through that which, I
am sure, has been the subject of pain to everyone present—
uaniely, the physical infirmity tinder which my hen, and
learned friend was compellecttodesisttirompisitaettempt to
address the house in support of the se!
My hon. and learned friend, frwieniPPme hasu
make that motion from the most
say, was fully entitled to Ina
this house, from the high
great
given notice. (Hear.)
position which ho holds
marls his character. (Hoar, hear.) I
independence which mar
under which he labours,
talents by which he is distilniguired, and likewise from the
still more regret the indisposition
case substan•
because it places me in a po.,itiou of some difficulty, inas-
much as there has been no charge made, no