The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-26 00:00:00

NATURE OF SIEGE OPERATIONS.

To many of our nen-professional readers, who are not
versed in the various technical military terms now se
generally used in the letters and despatches which are
daily arriving from the seat of war (the more especially
as relate to the preparations for the siege of Sebastopol),
the following explanations may be of use at the present
moment. To our military readers the terms fascines,
gabions, saucissons, &c., may be as "familiar as house-
hold words." They may not be so, however, with the
great mass of the public, who take so deep an interest in
all matters having reference in any way to the war in
the East.
The batteries constructed for the Fiege of any pleas (as

in the cale-hf Sebastopol) are made-of fascia-ea sands-
sons, and not unfrequently, in the absence of laid-er
rocky ground. with earth. They are also made with
gabion', or sand bngs.
Fascines are composed of branches of trees, or brush
wood (where they are to be obtained), made up in the
form of faggots, about six feet long, and eight or ten in.
in diameter, tied together in two or three places. San-
cissons, which are used for keeping up the earth work
of the battery, are also made of the same materials ; bet
they are from-eighteen to twenty feet in length, and are
tied Up'in bundles of some fourteen or sixteen inches in
diameter. Gabiens are cylindrical baskets, without a
"bottom, from three, to four feet high, and the sane in
diameter, to be filled with earth. Sand bags, which are
from ten to fifteen it chesin diameter, and about two feet
in length, are also to contain earth. Nut lee than about
1,600 of these are required for the parapet, iu the con-
struction of a battery of only two pieces.
The batteries which are used in sieges, to destroy the
defences of. a place, are called battering batteries ; the
guns being placed behind a mass of earth (or works corn-
posed of gabions and sand bags), about 7 feet high and
20 feet in thickness. Ricochet batteries are of the same
construction as battering batteries ; their uses being to
enfilade, with guns or howitzers, the faces of the works
of a fortification. What is termed ricochet firing is when
the guns, howitzers, or mortars are loaded with small
charges, and elevated at an angle of from 3 to 13 de-
grees, so as to throw the shot er shell with several grazes
or bounds, either on land or water.
The weight of cannon (when we hear of such heavy
metal being moved, in the Crimea, up precipices, and
over rugged groued, rendered almost impassable even to
the best appointed arabas,) may surprise many of our
readers. A 42-pounder brass gun weighs 61 cwt ;.A light
brass 24-pounder, 24 cwt.; and a 32-pounder iron gun,
55 cwt.
Many persons, when they read of cannon being spiked
to prevent them (when a place is compelled to be eva-
' cuated in too great haste to carry off the guns) from be-
ing of any service to an enemy, imagine that it is the
piece which is operated upon ; but this is
not so.
o f the
The method most commonly adopted to render
effective ordnance totally unfit for sere ce is to drive a
nail firmly into the vent (or touch-hole) and then knock
off the head, so that by no means could it be pulled out.
This, even in a battery of 100 guns, is but the work of a
few seconds, the artillery being always provided with
the necessary means to effect this purpose.
Some idea may be formed of the immense weight of
powder required to be carried into the field to serve a
battery, independently of the ball, when it, is stated that
for field artillery, in general actions, in the attack and
defence of entrenchments, &c., the charges vary from
one-third to three-eighths of the weight of the shot, ac-
cording to the calibre and weight of the gun. The
larger charge, however, is generally used in the attack
and defence of fortified places. It may be observed
. that
the quantity of powder used for proving gunsoisioaesqual
fol-
lows : From the 3 to the 12-pounder thoe the g_
th 2. ounder
to the shot's weight ; and from the 1s
ehtot. For pproving
to three-quarters the weight of
and for heavy and medium g
light brass guns the charge ropetihteiserivaltotheshott,s

full weight. -
We may add, as regaids the weight of mortars (of
which several will be emproyed in the attack ou Sebas.
tope)), al3 inch land servic the s rass mortar weighs 25
cwt., and an iron mortar, ame calibre, 38 cwt.
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ZAST INDIA HOUSE, 25TX OCT, 1854.
TUE COURT of DIRECTORS of the EAST
INDIA COMPANY do hereby give Notice, that a QUAR-
TERLY GENERAL COURT of the said Company will be held at
their Souse in Leadenhall-street, on WEDNESDAY, the 20th De-
cember next, at Eleven o'clock in the Forenoon.
JAMES C. DiELVILL, Secretary.

EAST INDIA ROUSE, 25Tu OcT., 1854.
THE COURT of DIRECTORS of the EAST
INDIA COMPANY do hereby give Notice, that the Transfer
Books of the said Company's Stock will be shut on THI7RSDAY,
the 7th of December next, at Three o'clock, and opened again on
TUESDAY, the 16th of January, 1855.
That the Warrants for the Dividends on the said Stock, payable on
SATURDAY, the 6th January, 1855, under the llth section of the
Act 3d and 4th, William 4th, cap. 85, will be ready to be delivered on
that day.

JAMES C. MELVILLE, Secretary.

THEATRE ROYAL HAYMABKET•
Under the management ot Mr. Raeketone.

THIS EVEITDIG, Oct. 2',
WM be performed THE IRISH AMBASSADOR. Characters
by Messrs. Mason, Chippendale, Howe. Rogers, and Cnlien:ord ;
Miss Reynolds and Mrs. Buckingham.
Te be followed by TAE SPIT ALFIELDS WEAVER. panel•
pal character by Mr. Wright.
Atter which, the First Part of the Ballet of THE STAR OF
ANDALUSIA.
To which will be added DELI' AS A POST.
To conclude with the FLOWER OF THE PORT.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET,
Under the Management of Mr. CHARLIS KEAN.
THIS EVENING, Ocr. 26,
will be perforated the highly popular comedietta, entitled LIVING
TOO FAST.
After which (for the first time this season), THE CORSICAN
DROTHERs. Principal eharacter by Mr. C. Kean.
To conclude with THE HALT OF THE BALLET.

THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHL
Proprietor. Mr. B. Webster.—Direetrees, Madame Celeste.
THIS EVEMDTG, OcT. 26,

Will be performed an original Drama in Four Acta, called THE
SUMMER STORM, with new scenery, dresses, appointments, &Q.
After which, A NOTING TALE.
To conclude with the screaming Burlesque of NORMA.

ROYAL OLYMPIC THE TRE.
Lessee and Meaner, Mr. A. Wigan.

THIS EVENING, Ocr. 26,
Wlll be performel THE TRITATEE. Charactors by Messrs. A.
Wigan, F. Vining, Emery, and Leslie ; Miss bLiskeli, and Miss
Stephens.
To be followed by a Farce, called A. BLIGIITED BEMG, in
which Mr. Robson will appear.
To concicde with TO OBLIGE BENSON.

STRAND THEATRE.
Sole Lessee Mr. F. W. Allcroft.

THIS EVENING, OCT. 26,
WM be performed SUNSET AT SEA.
After which, 'viz NEW WAGS Of WINDS=
To condole with DON GIOVANNI.
stall& 45.; Boxes, 2s. 6d. ; Pit, Is.; Gallery, 6d.; Private Boxes
LI Is., to be had of Mr. Alicreft. 15, New Bond•street.

AsmErs ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. WiMom Cooke.

Tremendous success of the new WAR SPECTACLE! which has
been received with the most enthusiastic expression of admiration,
and accompanied by tumultuous applause.

THIS EVENING,
4th Time, a GRAND MILITARY SPECTACLE, called THE
BATTLE OF THE ALMA, in which both the Stage and the Ring
will be simultaneously employed.
After which, the SCENES in the CIRCLE.
To conclude with a SUPERB NATIONAL ENTREE and a Tariety
of Grand Tableaux.
Box-Vacs open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W.
West. Acting Manager, Mr. W. H. Cooke. Equestrian Director,
Mr. Win. Cooke, jun.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
IiES DAT •••-if=III; 20 aii.n.after 4 f Evenink4o inin.aft. 4
To MOAFtovf Morning 4 min.after 5/ Evening 27 mlitaft. 5

THE WEATHER.—Su Oman, Oa. 26.

THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
50—highest since noon yesterday.
40--lowest this morning and during the night.
51 —this day at noon.
BAROMETER, 29.72—an extraordinary rise of nearly of
au inch since last night.
Wpm, light and variable, S.W. to W.N.W., with
clouds and sunshine.

THE "COMING" CAPTURE