The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-27 00:00:00

THE CRIMEA.

A letter from the Crimea brought by the last
arrival from Constantinople, says :
" Tartars daily reach the camp who have deserted
from the Russian army ; they. are immediately put in
close confinement, and ma,,le to communicate every pos-
sible detail as to the operations of the enemy. All the
information obtained tends to indicate that the Russians
are making a retreating movement towards the interior.
The evacuation of the forts on the northern side of Se-
bastopol cannot be long delayed. The dangers incurred
by the Russian artily in the plain of the Balbek, and
the little resource which the northern forts offer as a
strategic pivot for the operations of the Russians, lead
to the expectation every night of hearing explosions
announcing the departure of our enemies."

THE ALLIES AT EUPATORIA.
(Prom the Times Correspondent.)
ELTPATORIA, CRIMEA, OCT. 7.
During the past week there have been various
rumours of another expedition into the interior,
but nothing definite was announced until to-day.
This morning a fleet of French steamers and gun-
boats, -16 in rum ber, entered the bay, and almost
immediately departed, taking with them the ves-
sels that had been stationed here. Soon afterwards
orders were issued to prepare for a march during
the night, and befo:o tho departure of the troops
1 will carry down my letter to the present date.
It is said that the losses of the French in the af-
fair of the 29th ult. were much more severe than
was at first confessed. The highest estimate I have
heard speaks of more than 50 burials on the field
and from subsequent deaths among the wounded.
M. Siber, a Sous-Lieutenant of Dragoons, received
a lance thrust in the chest which terminated
fatally, and his funeral took place yesterday, seve-
ral officers from the staff of Achmet Pasha attend-
ing, and au oration being pronounced by the Colo-
nel of the regiment to which the deceased had be-
longed. Several Tartars deserted to the enemy on
the 29th, but the exact number cannot be ascer-
tained from the Turks.
The two captured Russian officers are still here
at large upon parole, and the wounded men are in
hospital ; but the remaining prisoners, the guns,
and most of the horses have been sent on to Ka-
miesh. Weapons and clothing of every description
are daily offered for sale, as trophies, in the bazaar.
The veritable stock has been long since exhausted,
but every vagabond possessed of anything saleable
puts it up to auction, and swears that it is 44 Mus-
ts
The Turks have mended their ways with regard
to the rations of the British surgeons, who are
again receiving their proper daily allowance of
meat. The change is in some measure duo to the
French (who are disturbing all manner of comfort-
able arrangements, even to the extent of insisting
that the Bashi-Bazouks shall be paid), but chiefly,
I think, to the appearance of my first letter in your
columns. lam assured that the Pasha felt much
uneasiness at the knowledge that he was "in
print," and that immediate orders were given for
the removal of the grievance complained of.
OCTOBER 9.
The expedition undertaken yesterday was only a
cavalry reconnaissance of the interior, over and
somewhat beyond the ground traversed on the last
occasion. General D'Allonville and Aali Pasha
departed before daybreak, with 1,500 French,
3,000 Turks, a field battery, and the Bashi•Bazouks ;
but during the morning a strong body of infantry
and sortie guns were posted in reserve upon this
Sic
-1.6 of the arm of Lake Sasik which nearly sur-
rounds Eupatoria and is crossed by a stone bridge.
The cavalry pushed on to the large village called
by the Tartars Ooroloo, in which the fire of coals
mentioned in my last was kindled. In the
several hamlets destroyed upon the last occasion a
few Cossack scouts were lurking, and among the
ruins huts were found slightly constructed of sticks
and a roofing of litter, to afford shelter to the
soldiers upon outpost duty. The huts were burnt,
and the Cossacks made an expeditious retreat,
after exchanging harmless shots with the Bashi-
Bazouks. At Ooroloo a halt was ordered, and
thence Russian soldiers could be seen perched on
tumuli a mile 01 So in advance, and frequently
communicating, by messengers going and returning,
with a place or persons beyond the horizon. After
resting for two hours the troops proceeded, catch-
ing occasional glimpses of retreating Russians, until
at length, on crowning a ridge of hill, looking into
a valley of unusual width, two villages were
seen down upon the plain below, and several
squadrons of the enemy's cavalry slowly retiring
up the opposite slope. Around the villages horses
and cattle were grazing, and Tartars were hurrying
about among the houses. The main body of Bashi-
Bazouks was away to the right, but a small party
of them, upon whom this pleasant prospect dawned,
pushed on at a gallop to the first village, and, while
some secured the fourfooted prizes, 20 or 30 men
rode shouting among the terrified inhabitants, who
had loaded their household goods upon the backs of
the women, and were preparing to depart they
knew not whither. While most of the " empty
heads" were demanding money or rummaging for
whatever they could get two or three cast longing
glances at the further village, and after a moment's
hesitation between absolute possession and more in
prospect, rode forward, accompanied by your cor-
respondent and another amateur, anxious both to
see the proceedings and to temper the energy of our
irregular allies by the amenities of civilisation.
When very near our goal the foremost Bashi sud-
denly pulled his horse upon its haunches, pointed
to a party of men riding in the same direction with
ourselves, but a hundred yards to the right, and
said, " Muscovs !" confirming his startling mser-
tion by a shot from his very primitive gun. Ten
or a doyen rifle bullets were the immediate re-
sponse to his challenge,
and only good horses
saved us from being intercepted in our speedy
the the
rsteatretioantectupoonli
halted' the guns
hill veaionbrolodyok The Generals were
overlooking the two villages ;
and, the Russian forces. having
were ordered to the ircit, anhopes were entef-
tained of a fight ; but the enemy speedily disap-
peared over the litt.6±,ch Witholit a suet being fitcl,
aer,,, then the Bwihis entered the village towards
Which our stets haA beri directed,ps sts an-
other Onie fl4.t.hei io the right. In the nrst a
itussian sutler was taken prisoner, his edible and
drinkable stores being speedily consumed by his
captors ; and in the two hay and cern to the
amount of 5,000 horse rations, many tons of coal,
some tents, saddles, clothing, and military stores
were burnt, the fire spreading to the houses of the
Tartars. 1,460 sheep, 100 oxen, 25 camels, and
six horses were driven in to Eupatoria, although
followed by Tartars who claimed them as their pro-
perty—a claim that is under consideration, but not
likely to be allowed. These men speak extremely
well of the Russians, saying that they take nothing
without proper payment, and that on the occasion
of each expedition they gave the villagers free
choice whether to stay or to accompany the retreat.
But this account may perhapsbe intended to produce
its effect upon the cattle-spoilers, for the Bashi-
Bazouks heard a different tale in the villages, where
there were bitter complaints of ill-treatment re-
I ceived from the Russians. It is fair to say
that the only specific allegation had reference to
enforced labour, which, however, in the judgment
of a Tartar, would be the last refinement of in-
genious cruelty. The expeditionary force returned
to camp the same evening, having reached a point
distant about seven leagues from Eupatoria with-
, out sustaining the smallest damage either to horse
or man, and without reaching the boundary of the