The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-13 00:00:00

THE BALTIC FLEET.

There is A long article in the Constitutionnel
on the return of the Baltic fleets. The writer
enumerates the difficulties with which they had to
contend, and which sufficiently account for the re-
stricted nature of the operations against the enemy,
but which, having been surmounted, there is no
longer anything to prevent, in the next spring,
the complete realisation of all that can be desired
by the most sanguine and the most bold. We
extract the following :
" The Baltic squadron will probably soon return to
France. In concluding its first campaign, it is entitled
to a tribute of eulogium and gratitude for the services it
has rendered, and for the manner in which it has carried
our flag. Improvised as it were—thanks to the great
intelligence of the Minister of Marine, and the marked
activity of the administration—it appeared from the
first worthy to figure in the same ranks as the magnfi-
cent fleet of our ally. Its chief, M. Parseval Deschenes,
immediately acquired the high esteem of our neigh-
bours, and the respect and affection of the sailors of
his squadron, by the elevation of his character, the
firmness of his mind, and the calm courage, which
is the first military quality of a sailor. The crews,
partly formed of young sailors, who had seen no service,
rapidly profited by the instructions and experience of
the staff. From the beginning they tried to rival the
English sailors. The task of the two fleets was not an
easy one. They had to navigate in a narrow sea, full
of dangers, which had been generally kept close by
Muscovite ambition, and which consequently was very
little known. How many accidents we should have
had to enregister with less excellent vessels, a chief less
able, and crews less instructed, or less docile ! But
we have not been pained by any wreck ; some ves-
sels which ran aground were immediately got off.
None of our vessels has suffered serious injury.
The accidents which occurred were easily re-
paired, and served to cement the union of the
two fleets—which hastened, when necessary, to each
other's assistance. During the siege of Bornarsund a
French boat employed in getting afloat the English
frigate the Penelope had one of its men carried away
by a cannon ball. On the whole our vessels were taken
along coasts studded with concealed rocks, and through
labyrinths of dangers, with sang froid, skill, and suc-
cess which cannot be too much admired. By the fireside
a great many persons express surprise at the delay of
the fleets in attacking Cronstadt and Sweaborg. It is
true they have not accompl!shed that exploit, and excel-
lent reasons for not doing it will occur to any one who
will take the trouble to reflect on the force of citadels,
patiently raised during many years with the view of re-
sisting an attack by sea. Vessels are very powerful ma-
chines of war ; but to act r lone against land works they
require certain conditions—a suficient depth of water, and
a sufficient space in which to act together. Before
opposing our wooden walls to the granite works of
Sweaborg and Cronstadt, it was necessary to approach
these fortresses, to reconnoitre them, and to appreciate
what instruments of war, what sort of naval or land
forces were required to reduce them. This reconnais-
sance has been made, because the allied fleets have
driven the Russian fleets before them—which fleets,
though even in number and in guns, have disgracefully
retired behind the fortifications, whilst our flags ap-
peared before them, and defied them even in their
refuge. At present the reconnaissances have been made,
the plans drawn up, and if the Czar persists in his
foolish resistance, the next campaign, without any
doubt, will be marked by the fall of these proud
citadels."