The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-07 00:00:00

THE HANG 0 AFFAIR.

The following is a translation from the French in the
Journal de St. Petersbourg of the letter addressed by
Admiral Dundas to the Commander-in-Chief of the Rus-
sian troops at Helsingfors :-
- "On board her Majesty's ship Duke of Wellington,
off Seskar, June 15.

" Sir,—l take advantage of the first opportunity to coin
municate with you respecting what I have just learnt from
the commander of her Majesty's ship Cossack. Ile complains
to me that the officers and crew of one of the Cossack's boats,
while landing with a flag of truce with the intention of put-
ting on shore some Russian subjects, whom we did not wish
to retain prisoners, having captured them on board some
coasting vessels which the cruisers under my orders had
taken and destroyed, were cruelly put to death on the,4sth
inst. at Hango-Udde by the troops stationed there.
" The Cossack arrived there with the said intention on the
morning of the sth, and kept at a distance of from two to
three miles from the landing-place. The boat was sent from
the vessel at that distance, and pulled for the shore with three
officers and 13 other persons, besides the prisoners they wished
to liberate. The flag of true was not hoisted on the prow of
the boat until she was within a mile of the coast. From the
investigations I have made, I have every reason to believe
that care was taken that the flag should be distinctly visible.
In such manner the officer in charge of the boat approached
the shore. The troops on shore made no signal nor any ob-
jection until he neared the landing place. Finding no one
there authorised to communicate with him, he thought he
might land, never ceasibg to display the flag of true, of which
he himself was the bearer. The prisoners, who were to be
set at liberty commenced removing their things on shore ; in
this they were assisted by some of the sailors, who landed for
the purpose, but without arms.
" I may add that all the arms of the crew were placed at
the bottom of the boat. Thus situated they were suddenly
surprised by a superior armed force, which rushed upon
them from the houses in the neighbourhood, and attacked
them indiscriminately. Our men did what they could to
explain the object of their mission, and offered no resistance,
for resistance under such circumstances was out of the
question. I know myself positively that one of the Ras-
sham prisoners understood the English language, and the
Russian officer seems to have been able to reply in the same
tongue when addressed in the two languages, calling his
attention to tho flag of truce, which he refused to recog-
nise. A fire of musketry was opened upon the inofferif ye
crew of the boat, and upon the prisoners we had come to
set at liberty. Wound after wound was inflicted upon them
in the most cruel and savage manner. The firing continued
until all were killed, or supposed to be so. One man only,
severely wounded, and who was thought dead, succeeded in
making his escape on board the boat, when a few hours after-
wards he was picked up by the vessel. Four of the crew
were found dead iu the bottom of the boat.
" Their wounds prove that they must have been fired at
more than once, which fact is confirmed by the testimony of
the survivor.'
" I have only to add that the entire crew of the boat might
have been made prisoners without difficulty, and that the
murderous attack of which I complain was in no wise pro-
voked, and not at all necessary.
" In calling your attention to these facts I hope I shall
not be making a vain appeal to your honour as an officer to
give me such explanations as you may deem suitable under
the actual circumstances, and I am happy to take advantage
of this circumstance to afford you the means of defending the
character of your flag.
" It is to the parents only of the unhappy victims of this
affair that any reparation can now be made, and it would be
a certain consolation for them to know with certainty either
that all are dead, or that, if there are survivors, there is hope
that they will recover from their wounds.
" I send you, therefore, annexed, a list of officers and
sailors supposed to have been killed, and I shall feel grateful
to you for any information you can give me respecting this
unhappy affair.
" I have the honour to remain, &c.,
R. DUNDAS,
" Rear-Admiral, Commander-in-Chief of her Britannic
Majesty's Squadron in the Baltic."

NEW REGULATIONS FOR CLOT RING AND
ACCOUTRING Tifg ARMY.

VICTORIA R.—Whereas it bag been found expedient to alter
and revise the warrant and regulations regarding the supply
of clothing, accoutrements, and appointments to our army :
We are pleased to direct, that in future the following allow-
ance shall be made to the colonels of the respective corps in
lieu of off-reckonings, viz.:—
Grenadier Guards l,OOOl. per annum.
Coldstream Guards
Scots Fusilier Guards 1,0001.
Ist Dragoon Guards BOOl.
Other Regiments of
Dragoon Guards and 4501.
Dragoons, each

{To be reduced to
1,0001. in the
" event of a va-
cancy occurring.

Ist Regiment of Foot ... 1,2001.

Ist Batt. 6001.
60th do. 2(1 do. 6001.
lstßitt. 6001.
Rifle Brigade 2d do. 6001.
Other Regiments of In-
fantry of the Lino 6001.
and West India Regi-
ments, 'each

PP
r If appointed before
„ the lstJune,lBs4;
but if appointed
subsequently,
" I only 5101. per
annum.

The clothing, accoutrements, and appointments to our
army will in future be provided in such manner and under
such regulations as shall from time to time be determined
upon by us, under our authority, signified by one of our
principal secretaries of state.
The engagements already entered into by the colonels of
the respective corps will be taken over by the public in such
manner as may hereafter be determined upon.
Given at our Court at St. James's, this 21st day of June,
1855, in the 18th year of our reign.
By her Majesty's command.
PANMURE.