The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-05 00:00:00

ROYAL OPERA, DRURY-LANE.
Lessee, Mr. E. T. Smith.
THIS EVENING.
WM be performed Li SONRAMPULA. 'Tharairters by Messrs.
Elliot Osier, H. Braham, and J. Halford; and Miss Lucy Escott.
To be followed by THE SLAVE.
Prices of admission :—To the two galleries. 6d.; second circle of
boxes arid pit, ls.; dress circle, 2s. 6d. ; rta la, 43.; private boxes to
Admit two persons, 103. 6d.; four persons, one guinea. Box-office
spen from 10 to 6 daily.

THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET.
Under the management of Mr. Buckstene.
THIS EVENING.
Will be performed THE MAN OF MANY FRIENDS.
After which, LE GEGARRERA DE SEVILLE. Pere Nena.
Followed by COURT FAVOUR.
After which, THE SPANISH DANCERS.
To he followed by OLYMPUS LN A MUDDLE ; or, Wrong
People in Wrong Places.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. C.Asa.se KRAN.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed HOW STOUT YOU'RE GETTING.
After which, KING HENRY THE EIGHTH. Queen Katha-
rine, Mrs. C. Kean; Cardinal Wolsey, Mr. C. Kean.

THEATRE BATAL ADELPHI;
Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Directreas, Mulams Ueda.

THIS EVENING,
Will be performed VICTORINE.
After which, HOW'S YOUR UNCLE ?
To conclude with NORMA.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Under the direction of lfr; Payne.
THIS EVENING,

Will be performed VICTORINE. Characters by Messrs. Kin-
loch, Ashley, Shalders. &c. ; Mesdames Summers and Bummer.
Followed by EL TONADOR,
After which, FOUNDED ON FACTS.
To which yrill be added trisTA NOCHE DE FIESTA EN
SEVILIA.
To conclude with the WATER WITCHES.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. Wm. Cooke.
THIS EVENING,
Lord Evron's MAZEPPA and the WILD HORSE, with all its
original effects and splendid spectacle arrangements.
After which, the Equestrian EXERCISES in the ARENA, in-
vented by Mr. William Coeke.
To conclude with a favourite Afterpiece.
Rog-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W.
West. Acting Manager, Mr. Nelson Lee. Equestrian Director,
'fr. W. Cooke, Jun.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tiu J)AY—Morn. 17 min. aft. B.—Evening 1 min. aft. 9
TO-MORROW—Morn. 47 min. aft. 9—Evening 31min. aft. 10

Hg WEATHER—boa Ovrwa, Sept. 5.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SEAM
68 highest since noon yesterday.
56 —lowest this morning and during the night.
68 —this day, at noon.
BAROMETER, 30.
Virrvrt •• N E —Sliaht breeze, with dull weather.

7:4 1.1 •
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• .4.4,119‘
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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1855.

Are the Allied armies new in the Crimea the
besiegers or the besieged ? This is a question of
considerable importance at the present moment,
and the answer may not be altogether satisfactory
to the British community, or quite in accordance
with our preconceived notions on the subject. It
is true that a demonstration has been made
against Sebastopol, that it has been repeatedly
bombarded, and sundry attacks have been made
on its outer defences. But the chief condition
of a siege has been wanting. It has never been
completely invested. From the very commence-
ment of the attack it has maintained communica-
tions with a relieving army and the open country,
which have never been, even for a single hour,
interrupted. The garrison were thus enabled to
receive constant supplies of men, ammunition, and
provisions. All the resources of the Crimea and
of Russia were available for its use. Relays of
fresh soldiers were ready to take the place of those
exhausted by over-fatigue, and 'ample rations
were supplied, at least, until the operations in
the Sea of Azoff blocked up the principal channel
by which they could be obtained. They still,
however, although nominally besieged, keep
up their communications with the army
stationed on the Mackenzie heights, and can
receive from it assistance of any descrip-
tion that may be required. Both may be united
at any hour either within or outside the town,
wherever combined action may be considered ad-
visable, and bear with all their force on any
chosen point of attack.
On the other hand, the allied troops are at pre-
sent cooped up within their lines. They have the
complete command of the sea, and can therefore
receive reinforcements at pleasure. But they can-
not venture into the open country. They are, in fact,
more completely hemmed in than the garrison of
Sebastopol; and that, although their forces far
exceed those of the enemy—and they have nearly
200,000 men in the aggregate to oppoa,e to
less than 150,000 ! The numerical superiority
is, however, of but little practical advantage,
when they cannot so arrange their operations as
to prevent the co-operation of the relieving army
and the garrison, or, what would be better still,
cut off the supplies from both, and besiege not
Sebastopol itself, but, to a certain extent, at
least, the army which recently ventured to attack
the allied position on the Tchernava.
We have already indicated how this important
operation may be accomplished. A junction could
easily be effected with the Turkish troops at
Eupatoria, and a sufficient force established to
meet any attack of the Russians, and place their
army on the Mackenzie heights between two fires.
Half the men now in the trenches could maintain
the operations against Sebastopol, while the resi-
due, if despatched to Eupatoria, would not only
be able to defend themselves against any Russian
attack, but could themselves assume the initia-
tive, and commence offensive operations against
the Russian army.
But if this is to be done, it should be done
quickly. The favourable season is rapidly wear-
ing away. A few weeks only rennin during
which it would be possible for an army to take
the field, and operate in the rear of the Musco-
vites. Every hour is precious. It is a golden
opportunity, which, if neglected or misapplied,
cannot possibly be retrieved. " The light cloud"
is passing o'er the moon, and the result may be of
a very serious description, if we still display a
degree of apathy and indifference similar to that
for which we have already obtained so unhappy a
notoriety.
But, even if such a diversion should not 'be
attempted, something at least may be done to
block up the freedom of communication between
army and the north side of Sebastopol.
the covering
While that is maintained ,pomplete success cannot
be anticipated. Even though the Malakhoff
should yield to our repeated onslaughts, and we
should be thereby enabled to destroy the scanty
remnant of the Russian Fleet, and to drive the
enemy from the South side, our task would not
yet be accomplished. We should merely find
heap of ruins, which would be just as untenable
by ourselves
as by the enemy. The northern.
forts would still command the position, and until
they had been silenced and destroyed the labour
and expenditure should be continued, without
cessation or intermission. The fleet might cer-
tainly render im..Tortant services—but we do not,
and cannot, ente; 7tain any sanguine hopes of naval
triumphs while F_4ir C. WOOD remains at the head

of the Admiralty. However daring may be our

Admirals, tli ere is that paralysing influence at

head-quarter s that will Flynt the possibility of