The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-08 00:00:00

/

All these preparations seem to point out distinctly that
from the Inkerman side the greatest efforts of the alies will
be directed. It seems perfectly extraordinary that this
was not thought of before, and even now the merit of the
discovery is generally ascribed to the new engineer, Ge-
neral Jones. That this officer has expressed his total
and most decided dissent from the manner in which our
siege works hair() hitherto been conducted is no longer a
secret ; indeed, the very terms and points on which he
condemns the operations are spoken of everywhere.
General Canrobert arrived at headquarters this morn-
ing, and had a long interview with Lord Raglan. A
despatch from Eupatoria also reached the Commander-
in-Chief, stating that the Turks under Omar Paella at
that place had repulsed an attempt of the enemy to
storm the town. The real details of that event you will
hear from your correspondent at Eupatoria, so it is
sufficient to mention that the most extravagant ru-
mours prevail here as to the real nature of the success
gained by our Mahomedan allies. According to the most
modest account, the Russians were 60,000 strong,
and were repulsed with a loss of 5,000 killed, :and with
only 500 killed and wounded to the Turks. This, if
true, would far surpass Inkerman, but I have no great
faith in the first statements of things of this kind, more
especially as the Turks are said to have captured all the
enemy's guns and siege train. If the Russians had
a siege train with them they would hardly attempt a
coup de main, ; and even if they did, And failed in such
an attack, it could nob, by any possibility, involve the
loss of their ordnance, unless the Turks were enabled to
take the field in pursuit of them, which, without an over-
powering force of cavalry, they could never do.
It is said that General England intends resigning and
returning to England.
It is also generally stated and believed that the whole
of the principal staff officers of the quartermaster-gene-
ral's, adjutant-general's, and commissariat departments
have likewise sent in their resignations.
A general order was issuedthis evening, positively for-
bidding
either officers or men from entering Balaklava
by crossing the plain from the rear of our camp lines.
The reason for this order is, that so many of our private
soldiers have taken advantage of their being in the neigh-
bourhood of the- Cossack pickets to desert into their
limy, frequently taking with them their pack horses.
The weather has continued remarkably fine, thy, and
mild ; and the sanitary condition of the troops is im•
proving much. The men are beginning to look more
healthy, and their old spirit of reckless daring and long-.
ing to get at the enemy has returned in its full force.

FIAIRTJARY 19.
All last night it blow a heavy gale from the north-
east, which must have dur.trwed the contour of some of
the vessels crammed into Balaklava6 most considerably.
The wind, while it lasted, was cold and dry ; but to-day
the weather is mild and warm, and the few trees and
vines which remain around us are evidently making in-
creased preparations for budding forth.
The real state of the case with regard to the attack on
Eupatoria appears now to be better known. It was
not the attack of an army 60,000 strong, which was re-
pulsed, but a strong reconnaisance, of some 8,000 or
10,000 men, which was being mad •, preparatory to the
attack of a large force believed to be in the neighbour-
hood. The reconnoitring party were driven back prin-
cipally, it is said, by the fire of some well-directed rocket
batteries, manned by the Turks, French, and English.
The enemy lost a large number in killed and wounded,
. and the Turks 40 killed and about 100 wounded. Salim
Pacha, one of the ablest of the Turkish generals under
Omer Pasha, is said to have received a mortal wound in
this encounter, of which he died shortly afterwards.
A. desperate attempt to carry the town by assault is
expected to take place to-day, and accordingly yesterday
evening some of the available steam-sloops and frigates
were despatched by Admiral Lyons to assist in the de-
fence. It is not at all unlikely that when the Russian
general sees Eupatoria so much further strenthened by
these floating batteries, with which no amount of troops
could ever cope, that the assault will be abandoned alto.-
gether.

It is said that in the course of another month, when I
Omer Pasha has received the whole of his cavalry
and artillery, the Turkish troops will take the field,
and, leaving a garrison hi Eupatoria, proceed by the
Alma and the Katcha to the north of Sebastopol.
General Bosquet is to support this movement by cross-
ing the valley of Inkerman with 15,000 French and the
English light division, so as to threaten and attack the
rear of the enemy in case of their making any attempt to
stand upon the heights over the rivers which the Turks
must pass.

This report may very likely be true in the main, espe
cially as without such assistance the Turks would find
great difficulty in storming the heights of Alma or Bal-
bek—but much will have to be done before the Allies
will be able to carry out such a plan of operations. For
instance, the enemy has been indefatigable in throwing
up their batteries on the summits of the tremendous
cliffs over the ruins of Inkerman en the north of the
valley. A heavy battery has been erected almost in the
face of the cliffs above the caverns, and another com-
manding that at the foot of the upper height. Both
these works mount guns of very heavy calibre and long
range, and all through the 17th the enemy fired from
them incessantly, sometimes on the working parties going
to the advanced batteries, and sometimes over the old
Sand-bag Battei y towards the tents of the second division.
Some of the latter shots fell within 30 or 40 feet of the
line of tents. To-day they are employed in the same
manner, and the result of this will be that beforeanother
week has elapsed the few vulnerable points of their tre-
mendous position will bristle with guns and redoubts.
Take it we must, as while it remains in possession of the
enemy all our attempts to complete the investment of
Sebastopol would be futile. The Russians undoubtedly
deserve credit for their defence up to the present, but
sooner or later the true history of the campaign will be
known to the world, and it will then be seen that
what now appears the result of extraordinary energy and
warlike ability on their side has really consisted of
nothing more than taking timely advantage of those
glaring blunders which have been committed by the
allied generals. All the hopes of the French army are
now centred in General Pelissier and their new chief
engineer. General Bosquet is also much admired, and
spoken of by our allies as a thorough soldier.
Since the visit of the Russian spy to our batteries such
increased vigilance has been exercised that the ether day
a new assistant surgeon, while proceeding into a battery
where his party of sailors were stationed, was arrested
there in spite of his protestations, and brought before the
commanding officer of the naval brigade. The admirable
condition of this brigade is something beyond all praise.
Yesterday, out of 1,100 men, there were only 28 on the
sick list. The tents of the blue jackets aro decidedly the
neatest in the whole camp, well-trenched outside,na d
Many neatly paved with small flat stones within.
our officers might take a lesson in neatness and good
order from the admirable manner in which Jack g mans es
s a
everything about his camp. No wasting is allowed Cl in
their tents, and all coming off duty with dirtybootsleeave
them outside the tents in little boxes constructed for the
purpose. Over one deep little ravine near this camp,
which is very dirty, and which they have to cross
frequently, they have constructed a "suspension bridge,"
wllicn for strength, neatness, and ingenuity far surpasses
any invention I have yet seen at camp. The bridge is
formed by three strong cables stretched across the
ravine, and firmly secured at each side, and to these are
lashed the staves of the beef and pork bserrels which the
sailors have carefully collected for this purpose in Bala-
hlava. With these simple means they have made a light,
strong, and even handsome bridge, which will be opened
tomorrow with great state and ceremony. I am glad
to say that the efforts of the officers connected with this
brigade have at last been acknowledged, and all the
seniors promoted by a special order from the Admiralty.
Their commissions will hear date foal the day of their_ _