The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-30 00:00:00

THE MISMANAGEMENT OF THE WAR.

(From, the Times of yesterday.)
We are aware that we are thought ridiculously obstinate
for always hammering at the same old story about Crimean
mismanagement. If it were only a question of taste—if the
conduct of the expedition could bd treated like a quarrel be-
tween two rival theatres, or an arterial system of drainage, or
a controversy on the best mode of cleaning pictures, we
should perhaps consult the pleasure of thdpublic by dropping
the subject for a time. Unfortunatdy thereprevails a temper
in the regions of office that does not allow us to drop the sub-
ject. There is a spirit of contradiction which is bad enough and
provoking enough in its way, but which we shouldnot care so
much about if the contradiction had no other effect than to stag-
ger the House of Commons, bewilderne public, and procure a
momentary triumph. But unfortunately the men who launch
out a contradiction in this off-hand way, and who proclaim
that every specific statement has been contradicted, deceive
not only some of their hearers, but also themselves. The spirit
of self-complacency which can bring a body of statesmen to
go about saying that there is nothing the matter, that there
has been much ado about nothing, that there has been no
disaster, and no loss to speak of ; that all is right, and that
the public may safely leave Government alone, is dangerous.
It is a mistake, for things are not yet all right ; and, even if
it were not so great a mistake as it is, we should think little
of a sensitiveness which resented all inquiries and suggestions
as an insult to the Government. But we don't know how it
is ; whether it is that it is thought safe to make any assertion
when the subject matter is three thousand miles off, and it
must be many weeks before the arrival of proof or disproof,
or whether it is thought that in the general confusion of war
a contradiction may always be hazarded,—so it is, denials
and excuses are taking the place of improvement, and we
really cannot say that, on the whole, our prospects ate decidedly
better than they were two months ago.
Let our readers just notice how matters now stand. It is
evident that at this season of tho year the Russians can bring
up reinforcements by land quite as fait as we can by sea ; or
rather it is a race ; the facilities aro about equal, and the
more zealous of the two sides will win. The Russians are
bringing up reinforcements by Perekop, and also by Anapa.
The result is, that " every day," says our correspondent,
" the Russian camps on the north of Sebastopol increase
and spread out. Each night new watchfircs strike the eye.
We hear that a formidable army has assembled round
Eupatoria, and it is certain that the country between that
town and Sebastopol is constantly traversed by parties of
horse and foot, who are sometimes seen from the sea in very
great numbers. The actual works of the siege make no pro-
gress to justify one in prophesying." Our correspondent
then goes on to state an increasing impression that Sebastopol
is not to be taken by assault ; that wo must first disperse the
army, in t,:e field, and so cpparnanfl the country, or iur,:st tie
puce nll,l t:tlt:,,, 1,,'1-;ockadfi. It is criclent that in I:R., blot-
ter f earthworks we are continually out generalled, and, iu
fact, the enemy is gaining on us, and not we on them. As
for Eupatoria, Omer Pasha, the other day paid si visit to the