The Sun.
London, England, 1855-09-06 00:00:00

OUR WINTER PROSPECTS IN THE

CRIMEA.

BALABLAVA, Aug. 27.—As the balance of proba-
bilities inclines to another winter in the Crimea, it
is worth while inquiring what will be the position
of our army after the rain sets in, and the country
between Balaklava and the camp is rendered unfit
for the passage of waggons and beasts of burden.
The railway corps is gone, and out of that stout
body of navvies who were ready, while in England,
to smash Russians with their picks, but who seem.
to have become most peaceably inclined as soon as
they saw the enemy's works, there now remains
but Mr. Beatty, who retains the charge of the rail-
way at the express request of General Simpson, and
two or three of the principal superintendents and
overseers of works. The horses which were sent
out from England, diminished in numbers and
overworked, are not equal to the development of
the capabilities of the line, but there is some satis-
factory proof of the earnestness and prevoyance of
the aalies respecting the winter's campaign of 1855.
Mr. Beatty has received instructions to form two
new lines of railway—one from the Col de Bala-
klava to Kamiesh, to be worked by horse-power ;
the other from Kadikoi to the Woronzoff-road,
near the Sardinian position over Tchorgoun.
Mr. Campbell is already engaged in laying out
the former line •, Mr. Beatty is now laying
out the latter. The labour will be supplied by the
French and Sardinians. The line from Kadikoi
to the Woronzoff-road will pass over the plain of
Balaklava, which is very soft and muddy in winter,
and the rail will be worked, it is hoped, by loco-
motive power. The French, Sardinians, and Turks
will derive equal advantage from it, and indeed their
position would be utterly untenable after the rain
and snow began without some such aid, as they
would be starved out if they had to depend upon
horse transport for supplies. Liprandi, with the
whole country open behind him, and the com-
mand of the Woronzoff-road, found that he could
not hold the Tchernaya last winter, and burnt his
cantonment as soon as the river began to rise. The
allies will be able to maintain their advanced posi-
tion so far as the means of communication are con-
cerned. They will not be condensed on the plateau,
which is now as full of tents as it can hold. But
the great and all-important question now arises—
Ho w will Balaklava, itself the terminus of two lines
of railway, meet the requirements of nearly 100,000
men and of an incalculable number of mules and
horses ? Of course no sane person contemplates that
our Government or military authorities intend to
expose our cavalry to another winter in the basin of
Kadikoi or on the hill tops of Karanyi, and so far, at
least, the requirements for food and fodder will be
diminished ; but an enormous increase in °amp
followers, sutlers, muleteers, land transport corps,
beasts of burden, and troops has taken place since
last year, and all must be fed. The Sardinians and
Turks will require portions of our wharfage, of our
storeroom, and of our narrow waterway in Bala-
klava, which is already as full as it can hold of
shipping, although no great accumulation of stores
has been effected. Many vessels now lie outside.
The recollectiong of the 14th of November, 1854,
forbid us to indulge in the hope that they can do
so in safety after winter approaches. There is only
left us, to avoid the dangers which threaten us,
to accumulate while the fine weather lasts ample
stores of all kinds of food as far up to the front as
possible, to fill our recently established divisional
depots, to keep the central depot crammed, and
to concentrate all our energy on roadmaking and
depot-building wherever they may be required.
Mr. Beatty is sanguine that the original line of
railway will last during the winter, with neces-
sary repairs, and 200 men of the Army Works
Corps have been detached to assist him in re-
pairing and restabilitating it. Some large iron
sheds have been erected at Balaklava as
stores for rice and sugar, and steps are being taken
to send up similar structures to each division of
our army. The French are building most spacious
stores all over their camp. With all these prepa-
rations it will be found that our army will undergo
much suffering unlesss roads are made, ten times
more storehouses erected, and Balaklava regulated
with with the most scrupulous care. Admiral -14:r
mantle deserves credit for his naval administration,
and he has been most ably assisted by Captain
Heath, who now retires, at his request,ownceo t which he
the harassing and responsibclehir
n
db
c, auaptsnpht oeci nont
deathefde at
df
was appointed after Captain
artthaeirtodesp.
loseat:his
us demurrage
g
for months in harbour, with .enormous
there is no
Ships are now cleared out rap hsiotnisete'sa.ddiosmf
dAudems.iralAFrneamvaanlaeopsc:urggheasstion,. to examine all
tiotso
after discharge of cargo ;d
ships as they arrivLey)oannsd
taagsbe
Palley, to make
tuhnenmeeasessauzul as
ross
y
sir Edmuud
Hauultni seon of Sir J. Pasley, as thrust
his Flag-
the promotion
Capt.
pop
Flag-
Lieutenant, ' and h
ularitYowtilotntdiltetlorahneyenLdnoeijanerbvuelyedtt:ehnevaanveta::
him over the heads of the lieutenants, many of them
expedite
trying ye see that
hha
his seniors, who have been serving in the trenches
for months of fire, while he has been comfortably
doing nothing," as
Flag Lieutenant of the Ad-
miral's ship. A reference to the Navy List will
show the hardship of this case towards many hard-
working officers. No one blames Commander
Pasley, who is an active and intelligent officer ; but
it is most unjust to those who have borne the toil.
and heat of the day to see him, for no special merit
of his own, but because be happened to be a friend
of the Admiral, promoted over their heads. Com-
' wander Pasley is now serving for his further pro-
motion in the trenches. Lieutenant Graham has,
I believe, returned home to England after a brief
sojourn in the rear of the batteries. He volunteered
for that service, as it is supposed he was not quite
convinced of his fitness for the duties of lieutenant
on board ship, but the anxiety of his family in-
duced them to remove him from the post of danger
and of honour. This is the on dit in the Naval
Brigade.
The sGth Regiment, which has just arrived off
Balaklava, and was under orders to proceed to
Kertoli; to 'relieve the 71st. Regiment, is to land at
once; with blankets, &c., as the enemy seem
preparing for another attack, either-on Balalcis.vos,
by the way of. Baidar, or on the position of Me
Tolgruaya. •
•