The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-29 00:00:00

OPERATIONS IN THE SEA OF AZOFF.

Royal Albert, Straits of Kertch, June 12.
Sir,—l have the honour to enclose, for the informa-
tion of the Lordi Commissioners of the Admiralty,
copies of three letters from Capt. Lyons, of the Miranda,
reporting the destruction -of Marioupol, Gheisk. and
Kiten near Arabat, of immense quantities of grain, flour,
and hay, destined for the supply of ,the enemy's army in
the Crimea ; so great was the quantity that in some
cases the conflagration had not entirely subsided when
last seen on the eighth day.
2. Thus, in the space of a fortnight, the Sea of Azlff
has been swept by the Allied squadrons under Captain
Lyons's orders, and the enemy deprived not only of the
supplies which already existed in the different, depots,
but also of the means of transporting the coming crops.
3. I have also the honour to inclose a copy of a letter
from Capt. Lyons, speaking in terms of, high praise of
the officers and men employed in the launches of the
fleet, and in the Danube and Sulina tende's.
4. Considerable skill, vigour, and promptitude have
characterised these operations, and I trust that their
lordships may consider that credit is due to all employed
in them. Opportunities offered for individual distinc-
tion, which were eagerly seized by the officers whom
Captain Lyons particularly mentions, and whom I beg
leave to recommend to their lordships' favourable con-
sideration.—l am, &c.,
(Sign e. I) EDMUND LYONS,
Rear-Adm;rat atid Cornalanc:er-in-Chief.
To the Secretary of the Admiralty.

Her Majesty's Ship Miranda, Marioupol,
June 5, 1855. _ _

Sir,--I have the honour to infirm you that having
anchored yesterday evening off this place with the ships
under my orders, and six French steamers, I sent Lieu-
tena.nt-Cemrnander Horton of the Arlent, accompanied
by a French officer with similar orders, at daylight this
morning, to demand the surrender of the place, on ex-
actly the same terms as those offered by us at Taganrog ;
and I desired him to express to the authorities the earnest
hope of my-elf and of the French senior officer, that
they would not oblige us to resort to measures which
would endanger the whole town, as our object was to
destroy all contraband of war, but to respect private
property.
2. At the expiration of the delay granted, no author-
ised person appearing, I sent the line-of-battle ships'
launches (lent to the squadron) and the boats of the ships
under my orders, with all the marines under Lieutenant
Macnamara, the whole celnitianded by Lieute-
nant J. F. C. Mackenzie, of this ship, to effect our ob-
ject by force ; the French boats accompanying our=.
3. On the marines and a body of French small-arm
men landing, under cover of the launches' guns, 600
Cossapks, commanded by a Colonel, evacuated the town,
and the marines and the French small-arm men advanced
and took possession of it ; the very extensive stores of
grain were fired and destroyed by parties under the
directions of Captain Lejeune, of the French Navy, and
of Lieutenant Swinburne, of this ship, every care being
taken to cause as little damage to the town as possible.
4. Thus was a considerable town on the military high
road from the provinces of the Don to the Crimea (the
only one left since our occupation of this sea), held un-
molested possession of by a small body of Britt-13
marines and French small-arm men, for five hours, while
immense stores of grain were destroyed.
5. The grain, plank, and other stores considered as
contraband rf war, being effectually destroyed, the whole
party re-embarked without the slightest accident.
6. Lieutenant Mackenzie conducted this service with
excellent judgment ; and he speaks in high terms of the
judicious manner !'n which First Lieutenant Macnatnara,
Royal Marine Artillery, posted the Royal Marines and
Royal Marine Artillery under his orders, in presence of
a superior force, who were thus deterred from venturing
to molest them.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) E, IVI. LYONS, Captain.
Bear-Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons,
•Bart., G.C.B.

Enclosure 2.
Her Majesty's ship, Miranda, on the
Town of Gheisk, June fl, 1855.
Sir,—l have the honour to inform you, that on my
arrival here this morning with the vessels n, der my or-
ders, and the launches of the line-of-battle ships, accom-
panied by four French steamers, I s,,nt. Lieutenant
Commander Horton, of the Ardent, with whom was
associated a French officer, to demand the surrender of
the place on the same terms as tho-e offered by us
at Taganrog and Marioupol. These terms having
been wisely acceded to by Colonel Borsikoff, the Mili-
tary Gov- rnor, 'whose small force was quite inadeq.iate
to defend the town, the marines of this ship, under
Fir-t Lieutenant Macnainara, R.M.A., and a French
party, landed and destroyed a va-t quantity of bay,
stacked on the beach, ready for conveyance to the Crimea,
and several thousand quarters of wheat, &c. During
this time Lieut. Horton and the I'n-rich officer went
through the town, and had all the store-houses and ma-
gazines thrown open for their inspection, in order to see
that no evasion of the terms was attempted, and that all
contraband of war was destroyed.
ft On this as well as on the two former similar occa-
sions Lieutenant Horton conducted the interview with
much judgment and firmness.— I have,
(Signed) E. M. LYONS, Captain.
Rear Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons,
Bart., G.C.B.

No. 3 Enclosure.

Her Majesty's ship Miranda, off Kiten
Sea of Az4f, June 10
Sir,—T have the honour to enclose a letter from Lieu-
tenant Horton, commanding her Majesty's ship Ardent,
which I received on my arrival here this morning, in-
forming me that he, yesterday, set fire to and destroyed
30,@00 sacks of flour, stacked on the beach in Kiten
Bay; this flour wad the property of the Russian Go-
vernment, and evidently destined for the Russian army
in the Crimea. Lieut. I-fotton hat performed this ser-
vice judiciously and effectively'.--I have, &c.,
(Signed) E. AT. LYONS, Captain.
Rear- Admiral Sir Edmund Lyous,
Bart., G.C.B.
Sub-Enclosure.
H.M.S. Ardent, Kiten Bay, June 10.
Sir,—l have the honour to report that, on my arrival
here yesterday, having failed of setting fire to the stores
of flour by means of shells and carcases, I took advan-
tage of a favourable state of weather in the evening to
drop the Ardent's how close in shore, and to veer Mr.
i.:obero-:, the gunner, ashore in the chnay, with two ni,o,
cover of musketry from aloft. I had previomdy
ascertained that no ambuscade was there, and had
.cleared to a distance the 30 or 40 Cossacks who were
'Watching, by firino-round shot in their direction.
Mr. Roberts and his party very quickly and elec.
._„