The Sun.
London, England, 1855-10-25 00:00:00

OPERATIONS IN THE BLACK SEA.

The Moniteur de la Flotte publishes the follow-
ing article speculating on the operations which it is
considered probable the allied fleets will undertake
in the Black Sea:— _ _

The allied fleets at present occupy the Liman of the
Dnieper, after having captured the three forts of Kin-
bourn, together with their garrison. This brilliant feat
reflects the greatest honour on Admirals Bruat and
Lyons, on the Allied fleets, and the division of General
Bazaine. The most remarkable feature in the natal
operations in the East, is the rapidity and daring with
which they have been accomplished. In this manner
the most signal success bas always crowned them, and
we have now to inscribe ihe name of Kinbourn by the
side of those of Kertcb, Yenikale, Taganrog, Taman,
and Sweaborg.
Our soldiers now occupy Kinburn, and a part of our
squadron, anchored in the Liman of the Dnieper, cuts
off all communication by sea between Odessa, Nico-
laieff, and Cherson. The Russians are thus reduced to a
cruel extremity, for the ships now lying• in the docks of
Nicolaieff, and intended to replace the fleet of Nachimoff,
ingloriously sunk in the harbour of Sebastopol, can be of
no possible advantage to them. We are now in a po-
sition to menace Cherson and Nicolaieff ; the latter
being the great naval and military arsenal of Russia,
from which might, at any moment, be launched a
new fleet, fully equipped tor another Sinope ; Cher-
son, since the beginning of the war in the Crimea,
is the central depot of provisions for the Russian
army. Although it has lost much of its importance since
the foundation of Odessa, it has, nevertheless, from its
strategic position, and from its being the principal maga-
zine of the army, been of the greatest utility during the
present war. Its docks are sufficiently spacious to ad-
mit of seven ships of the line being built at the same time.
The town is of great extent, being divided into 4 quarters
—the fortress, the naval department, the Greek suburb,
and that of the sailors. At Cherson the Dnieper is a
league and a half in width, and 50 feet in depth. Ac-
cording to a recent telegraphic dispatch, the allied fleets
are lying at the extremity of the Liman, exactly opposite
the mouth of the Dnieper. Soundings, no doubt, have
been taken in the Bog and the Dnieper, and we shall
soon be in a position to form an opinion as to
the alleged impossibility of navigating those rivers, which
may have been intentionally circulated by the ussians
themselves for a very obvious reason. We are already
aware that, as far as regards Nicolaieff, the river is na-
vigable for men-of-war everywhere, except at a point
about 10 miles from the mouth of the Bug. As to Oczakoff
the attack, according to the official documents,
presents no serious obstacle. Once masters of it,
the allies may proceed overland to Nicolaieff. The
events mow impending preclude all useless conjec-
tures, we, therefore, confine ourselves to a simple
statement of the numerous advantages which ac-
crue to us from the seizure of the forts of Kinburn and
of the Liman of the Dnieper. Let us hope that before
long the Russian army in the Crimea, completely iso-
lated is the peninsula, cut off from its supplisp, dis-
heartened by the successive disasters that have defeated
their plans and frustrated their exertice-s and their
courage, shall be reduced toerekseofa
wlahsiethhaerreoiebyannd
on o
desperate effort, the csequ
means doubtful to us, or lay down their arms without
trying the chanced of a battle,
•

TERRIFIC EXPLOSION AT THE CITY
OF LONDON GAS WORKS.

An explosion of a very alarming character took place
last evening in the CiV of London Gas Works, Dorset-
street, Whitefriarg, which caused the greatest consterna-
tion, not only in the immediate neighbourhood, but also
on the Surrey side of the river Thames. Many persons,
owing to the violence of the report and the loud rum-
bling noise which succeeded it, came to the conclusion
that a number of men employed on the premises had
been either killed or seriously injured; but it is gratify..
ing to state that no one received the least personal in-
jury.

From the inquiries made at the factory, it appears
that during the last month or two a number of men have
been employed in erecting a large iron main round the
top of the outer wall, but for what purpose the parties
in charge of the factory refused to tell ; whilst some of
the men employed there stated that it was to convey
fresh air into the various buildings. One thing, however,
is certain, that a fearful explosion happened, which
made a noise equal to the discharge of several pieces of
artillery, shaking the houses near to their foundations,
frightening the horses drawing vehicles on the bridge or
in Fleet street, and making the inhabitants rush into the
streets in a state of excitement. A large piece of the
iron main in the yard near the dock was thrown down,
and another piece at the corner of Dorset-street was
also dislodged, and fell into the street. The brichwork
at the gable end of the meter-house was thrust out, and
for some time the district became obscured with dust.
The eindows of several houses near have been shat•
tered, as well as those in the yard of the factory.

adson'a

ciosa.