The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-02 00:00:00

TURKEY.

CONSTANTINOPLE, Dec. 20.—The extraordinary
activity which now prevails in every department
of the military service gives great plausibility to
the widely circulated report that Russia is secretly
and quietly concentrating her forces and deter-
mined to bring affairs in the Crimea to an imme-
diate issue. It is said that the Czar has sent the
most pressing and imperative orders to Prince
Menschikoff to again attempt to force the British
lines, whilst Admiral Nachimoff with the newly
re-armed line of battle ships, is at the same time
to quit the port, sail to the northward, and bom-
bard Eupatoria, in which ha will be supported on
th e land side by the troops under Prince Gortschakoff,
who has lately received considerable reinforcemen ts,
and whose orders are to make himself master of the
place a tout prix. When this movement has been
successfully effected, the whole of the Russian forces
will move to the south, concentrate themselves under
Fort Constantine, and attack the Allies. To neu-
tralise this dangerous plan by taking the initiative
is now the great problem to be solved by the Allies,
and the extraordinarily active service of mounted
couriers seen galloping every day between this city
and Varna gives certainly credence to the supposi-
tion that some step of very great importance is being
prepared and on the eve of being taken. Amongst
other things, it is determined to retain, under all
circumstances, the important but hitherto rather
neglected position of Eupatoria. It is alleged that
the possibility of continuing to hold that place de-
pends in a great measure on the success of a scheme
emanating from no less a personage than the Empe-
ror Napoleon himself. The particulars of this new
plan of operation are, of course, kept secret by
those military men acquainted with it, but from
what has leaked out in conversation, I believe that
your readers will find the following a pretty correct
general outline :
Immediately after the receipt of the reinforce-
ments now on their way to the Crimea from Eng-
land and France, the bombardment of Sebastopol
will be recommenced with greater energy than even
at first. On the day after the French will storm
the place, whilst the British and Ottoman forces
will attack Mensehikoff's troops. The Turks un-
der Omer Paella, who will by that time have
landed at Eupatoria, will simultaneously attack
the Russian positions at Simpheropol, whilst
another division of the Turkish expedition, land-
ing at Kopary, will at once march to the north-
ward, and make itself master of the Isthmus of
Perekop. After the storming of Sebastopol, Gene-
ral Canrobert and Lord Raglan will march towards
Baksehi-Serai, to obtain possession of that im-
portant position, leaving sufficient troops to invest
the northern forts, aid cut off all communication
with the Russian army in the field, and then join
Omer Pacha in the neighbourhood of Simpheropol,
where the decisive struggle will take place. The
latest despatches from both Paris and London are
said to finish with the words " Sebastopol shall and
must be taken."
Hassan Pacha and several Polish officers of the
army of Anatolia have arrived here from Trebizond
in the steamer London. General Guyon (Khurchid
Pacha) is expected to arrive here shortly, in order
to answer to the complaints brought against him.
Other ships lately arrived from Trebizond have
brought several European officers and Surg,evum ow
the sick list, as well as a number of deserters, who
are to be incorporated in the ranks of the Turkish
army of the Crimea, to learn discipline andbravery.