The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-14 00:00:00

I PRICE SD.

feet, and the gun-boats in proportionally less water,
in a position which I effectuall commanded the town and beach. Here we found run o
shore and burnt to the
water's edge, and abandoned, the four steamers of war
which had escaped from Kertch, under the command of
Rear-Admiral Wolff; whose flag was flying in the Molo-
ditz. I now landed the small-arm men and marines of the
squadron under Commander Lambert of the Curlew, ac-
companied by those of the French ships, with orders to
destroy all shipping and Government stores, but to respect
private property. This was done without molestation, although we had information that 800 Cossacks with gnu
were at Petroskoi, five miles off. Many vessels woredes-
stroyed, and corn stores to the estimated value of 50,000/.
An 8-inch 62 cwt. gun was also recovered from the wiszk
of one of the Russian steamers, and is now on board the
Miranda.
Immediately the boats returned, the squadrons weighed
for Arabat; I at the same time detached the Swallow and
Wrangler to Genitschi, to command the entrance to the
Putrid Sear, and the Curlew to cruise between Krivaia.
Spit and Sand Island, and thus prevent vessels escaping
us by getting up the Don.
On the morning of the 23th we arrived off Arabat, and
engaged the fort (mounting SO guns) for au hour and a
half, at the erd of which time a shell blew up the enemy's
magazine ; the ships having been ordered to keep at shell
range, and being well handled, had only one casualty, the
chief engineer of the Medina being slightly wounded by a
splinter. The French senior officer's ship received two
shots in the hull, but fortunately no one was hurt. The
enemy must have lost many men, from the precision with
which the shells burst in his works; independently of that
caused by the explosion.
The commanders of the vessels employed * deserve every
sredit for the skilful manner in which they manoeuvred
their vessels in a very strong breeze and shoal water with-
out a single accident, and I may be permitted to say none
were more distinguished than our gallant allies. The large
garrison at Arabat rendering any attempt at landing out of
the question, I now proceeded for Genitschi, parting, with
regret, from Captain de Seiaiges and his squadron, who
left at the same time for Kertch. I take this opportunity
of mentioning the efficient, cordial, and hearty co-operation
I received on every occasion from M. de Sedaiges and, the
ships under his orders, and my hope that it may again be
my good fortune to have him for my colleague.
The allied squadrons have destroyed upwards of 100
vessels during the three days they have been in this sea,
principally laden with provisions fur the Russian army in
the Crimea. Had we sent these vessels in as prizes we
should have lost much'valnable time, and not been able to
effect so many captures. The active and zealous way in
which the officers and ships' companies perform their
duties, and the cheerful manner in which they suffer this
pecunipay loss for the benefit of the service, will, I trust,
meet with your approbation.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) E. M. LYONS, Captain.

Sub-Inclosure to No. 1.
NAME OF OFFICER SLIGHTLY WOUNDED OFF
ARABAT ON THE 28TH MAY, 1855, BELONGING
TO HER MAJESTY'S STEAM-VESSEL MEDINA.
Mr. W. H. Houghton, Assistant Engineer, first-class.
(Signed) E. M. LYONS,
Captain and Senior Officer.

Her Majesty's ship Miranda, off the town
of Genitschi, May 29, 1855.
fair,—l have the honour to inform you, that I arrived
here shortly after dark last night, with her Majesty's ships
under my orders, and joined the Swallow and Wrangler,
which ships had already destroyed or captured all the ves-
sels in this neighbourhood outside the Straits of Genitschi;
but a very great number had passed the straits, which are
only 50 yards wide, and are commanded by the low cliffs
on,which the town is built, and were moored inside under
the cliff.

At six o'clock this morning I sent Commander Craufnrd
with a flag of truce, to demand the immediate surrender
of all these vessels, and of the immense corn stores for the
supply of the army in the Crimea, and of all Government
property of every description ; stating that, if these terms
were complied with, I would spare the town and respect
private property ; but, if not, the inhabitants were im-
mediately to leave the town.

_
Commander Cranfurd was met by an officer, of appa-
rently high rank, who refused to accede to these terms,
saying that any attempt to land or to destroy the vessels
would be resisted.

The enemy at iilis time had six field-pieces in position,
and with about 200 men with them, and, visible from the
mast-head drawn up behind the town, a battalion of in-
fantry, besides Cossacks.
Having allowed till 9 a.m., for the reconsideration of
the refusal to deliver up the vessels and stores, and receiving
no answer, I at that time hauled down the flag of truce, and
placed the steamers as near to the town and the passage
into the Putrid Sea as the depth of the water would allow,
but they were only able to approach within long range.
Seeing that if the enemy, who had removed his guns from
their former position, could place them in the town, so
as to command the passage, and that, if he could place
his infantry in a similar manner, it would be impossible
for the boats to pass the channel and destroy the vessels
and stores, I directed the ships to shell the town, which
they did so effectually that the boats, as per enclosure,
under the command, of .Lieut. J. F. C. Mackenzie, got
safely through the passage, and set fire to the shipping (73
in number), and the corn stores. This service was ably
performed by Lieut. Mackenzie, and the boats returned
without accident.

The wind having shifted about two hours after the boats
came off, some of the corn stores did not catch fire ; conceiv-
ing the destruction of this corn, as well as of some more
distant vessels in so favourable a position for supplying
the Russian armies in the Crimea, to be of the utmost im-
portance, I sent the boats again, commanded and officered
as before, although I was aware that, from the enemy hav-
ing time to make preparations, it would be a hazardous
enterprise. The ships accordingly resumed their fire upon
the town and the boats proceeded. Lieut. Cecil W. Buckley,
of this ship; Lieut. Hugh'''. Burgoyne, of the Swallow; and
Mr. John Roberts, gunner, of the Ardent, volunteered to
laud alone and fire the stores. This offer I accepted, know-
ing the imminent risk there would be in landing a party in
presence of such a superior force, and out of gun-shot of the
ships. This very dangerous service they most gallantly
performed, narrowly escaping the Cossacks, who all but
cut them off from their boat; at the same time Lieut.
Mackenzie pushed on and burned the remaining vessels,
the enemy opening a fire from fpur field guns and mus-
ketry, placed almost within point blank range of the boats.
Everything being now effectually accomplished, the boats
returned. Although several of them were struck by grape
and case shot, most fortunately only one man was slightly
wounded. Lieut. Mackenzie speaks in high terms of the
coolness and excellent behaviour of ,all employed under
his orders; and I trust I may be allowed to bring t• your
notice the conspicuous merit of Lieutenant Mackenzie
himself on this occasion, when more than 90 vessels, and
also corn for the Russian army of the value of 100,0001.
were destroyed, owing to his gallantry and ability, with so
trifling a loss as one man slightly wounded.
Since the squadron entered the Sea of Azoff, four days
ago, the enemy has lost four steamers of war, 246 merchant
vessels, also corn and floor magazines to the value of at
least 150,0001.-1 have, &c.,
(Signed) E. M. LYONS, Captain.

A LIST OF BOATS UNDER THE COMMAND OF
LIEUT. J. F. C. MACKENZIE, AT GENITSCHI,
ON THE 29TR DAY OF MAY, 1854.
MIRANDA.
Pinnace—One 12 pounder howitzer, with small arms for
boat's crew.
Cecil W. Buckley, Lieutenant.
Benjamin Crabbe, Assistant-Surgeon.
Ist Cutter.
William H. Lilley, additional Boatswain.
2d Cutter—Small arms for boat's crew.
John Liddell, Midshipman.
Henry Cooper, additional Boatswain.
VESUVIUS.
Two Paddle-box Boats—One 24-pounder howitzer in each
boat, with small arms.
Herbert Campion, Senior Lieutenant.
John H. Patterson, Surgeon.
Shuldham Hill, Assistant-Clerk.
William Kirk, Boatswain.
STROMBOLI.
Starboard Paddle-box Boat—One 24-pounder howitzer,
with small arms for boat's crew.
John F. Ross, Lieutenant.
John S. Adams, Assistant-Surgeon.
Arthur K. Forde, Mate.
Port Paddle-box Boat—One 4-pounder rocket tube, with
rockets and small arms.
Augustus H. Webb, Acting Mate.
ARDENT.
Ist Cutter—Small arms for crew.
E. P. Bedwell, Acting 2d Master, only employed in second
attack. One man slightly wounded.
2d Cutter—One 12-pounder rocket tube, with rockets and
small arms.
•
J. Roberts, Gunner.
ALLOW.
Gig—One 12-pounder SW
rocket tube, and small arms for
Boat's crew.
Hugh T. Burgoyne, Lieutenant.
(Signed) E. M. LYONS,
(Captain and Senior Officer.

NAME OF MAN WOUNDED AT GENITSCHI, ON
THE 29TH DAY OF MAY, BELONGING TO HER
MAJESTY'S STEAM-TESSEL ARDENT.
William Walker, captain maintop, received a contusion
on left knee by a shrapnell shell.
(Signed) E. M. LYONS.
Captain and Senior Officer,

NAVAL OPERATIONS IN THE STRAITS OF KERTCH.
Royal Albert, Straits of Kertch, May 30.
Sir,—l have the honour to transmit to you, for the in-
formation of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty,
e copy of a letter that has been addressed to me by Capt.
Lyons, of the Miranda, recounting the measures he took
for obliging the enemy to abandon his last hold in these
straits, and reporting his having entered the Sea of Azoff
with the squadron I had placed underhis orders.—l am, &c.,
(Signed) E. LYONS,
Rear• Admiral and Commander-in-Chief.
To the Secretary of the Admiralty.

Her Majesty's Ship Miranda, at anchor
above Yenikale, May 25.
_

Sir,—l have the honour to inform you that having,
yesterday afternoon, taken under my orders the ships
named in the margin,t I, in pursuance of your orders,
passed the Straits of Kertch, and anchored for the night
just out of gun shot of the batteries of Yenikale. At seven
p.m. the enemy blew up the magazines and these batteries
with a tremendous explosion.

At four o'clock this morning I sent Mr. George Williams,
master of this ship, to find and buoy a channel through
the straits on the Yenikale side ' • and I desired Lieutenant
Armytage, in tho Viper, to follow as near as possible, and
endeavour to pass the straits and get into a position to

* Vesuvius, Commander S. Osborne ; Stromboli, Cm.
inander C. P. Coles ; Ardent, Lieutenant W. Horton ; Medina, Lieutenant H. B. Beresford ; Viper, Lieutenant W. Armytago; Lynx, Lieutenant C. M. Aynsley ; ILe
cruit, Lieutenant G. F. Day ; Arrow, Lieutenant W. K.
Joliffe ; Snake, Lieutenant H. Maillop ; Beagle, Lieute-
nant W. N. W. Hewett.
t Vesuvius, Curlew, Swallow, Stromboli, Ardent, Medina,
'Viper, Swat', Beagle.
Wrangler, Lynx, Remit, &An%