The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-01 00:00:00

opportunities offer, transmit true and faithful acootate
of our proceedings.

Camp Devesna,
17 miles from Varna, July 12.

We have been here some ten days, having moved
forward, as it was believed, to assist at Silistria ; but, as
I anticipated, the Turks, utterly unaided, have succeeded
in compelling the Russians to raise the siege, and have
placed our chiefs in the pleasing position of not knowing
what to do or where to go. It is now believed that we
shall not fire a shot this year. Oh ! that Napier had.
been spared to us. Re would have been the man for us
at this crisis. Firm, vigilant, with an enthusiastic genius
—a mighty compound of Suwarroff and Napoleon..
What confidence he would have inspired I What effi-.
cleat men he would have had around hire. We canno
disguise the fact that Lord R-- is not a soldier for the
field. As a Commander-in-Chief in England, he would.
have done wonders for our efficiency. We should not
have witnessed the indecision and incompetency which
have been so patent ; but he has never commanded a
body of men. The largest force he ever had under his
command were nine orderlies, and that 39 years ago.
The cabinet and the desk are his forte, not the active da-
ties of a commander of an army in the field !
Cardigan has just returned from a little excursion,' the
details of which would make you smile ; but I must re-
serve that for my next. V. N.

THE WAR IN ASIA.
KARS, July 9.—Nine regiments have been de-
spatched to Ardahan, in consequence of the threat-
ening position taken up by the Russians. Cannon
and troops continue to pour in.
We have learnt only a few days ago the defeat
sustained by Selim Pacha and his division before
Urzughetti. You will have been acquainted long
since with the details of this unfortunate event. The
senseless and dangerous line of operations adopted.
by the Turks in Asia, who, instead of concentrating
their strong th on a small line of attack or defence, have
divided their forces over a vast line, and in two,
isolated armies, under independent leaders, has
already been commented upon. The Muchir Zarif
Pacha is partly responsible for the disaster which
has befallen the army of Batonm, for had he but
properly organised the espionage system, as he has
often been advised to do, he would have been ac-
quainted with the movements of the enemy, and a.
feint advance on his part would have frustrated the
intentions of the former, and avoided the cala-
mity. The Russian account of the engagement
naturally teems with exaggerations. One thing„-
however, is certain—Selim. Pacha has sustained a.
defeat ; the Russians again occupy Urzughetti, and;
will probably concentrate their victorious forces,
and, in conjunction with the garrison of Gunn,.
fall upon the army of Kars. The necessity has
been repeatedly shown of having an experienced
European general placed at the head of this army,.
supplied with unlimited powers, so that another
reference to that subject would be de trop, and is,
perhaps too late.
The Russians have concentrated their forces
this side of the Arpatschai, on the Turkish
territory. The last reconnaissance reports them
to be above 20,000 strong, and describes thct
enemy as drawn up in line of battle, fl3l
apparently meditating an attack upon the
Turkish avant-guard stationed at Soubattan. Iu
consequenee of this movement on the part of the
enemy, Khourschid Pacha (Guyon) has quitted
Kars with the entire staff, and is at present re-
connoittring the Russian position. With the re-
inforcements which General Guyon took with him,
the Turkish forces at Soubattan are some 20,900
strong, with thirty-five pieces of cannon. •The re-
mainder of the army, with the Muchir, Zarif
Mustafa Pacha, is still encamped at Kars, but is
prepared to march at a moment's notice. An en
gagement is inevitable.
The details we have received respecting the,
action are very meagre, and they do not speak al
the fate of the artillery.
Gegeral Bebutoff commands the Ru ssian army
The struggle, which will soon begin, will be deft
perate ; but, it is to be feared, that the enemy
flushed with the success of the attack on Selilo
Paella, and reinforced by the division of Kutais,
will prove an overmatch for the badly officered
Turkish army. In case of a defeat the consequences
will be terrible, and the fate of the campaign do
cided. This could have been prevented had Eng-
land understood her interests in the East.
small division of allies would have sufficed to.
encourage the Turkish troops, and have con
I.n
tletely changed the face of matters_ belre.
stead of speculating on the probable resul
of a defeat, and on the certain nfluencez
Russia will reconquer in Persia, and which will
push to the banks of the Indus, I should now have
to record the commencement of the conquest of
Georgia, and the downfall of Russian ascendancy
in the East. Had even British or Anglo-IndiSn
Officers been sent to the Asiatic army, matters
would Ihave improved. Should the Russians
obtain possession of Armenia and the province of
'Anatolia, it will be found a difficult task
to expel them ; and whilst a few thousand
English and French troops would have sufficed to.
chuck the advance of the enemy, and even to carry
the war into his own laud, it will demand &
regular campaign to- draw him from the Turkish
province. Never have military matters been
more disgracefully 'guided than in the present ease,
and that never has an army been so sacrificed by
the imbecility of his officers. The Seraskier at Con-
stantinople is responsible for any mishap that may
arise from his choice of the present Muchir. The
latter is totally ignorant of military matters, having
been all his life a Government writer ; and now,
through his influence with the Seraskier, the des-
tiny of an army of 50,000 men and the fate of
which provinces are in his hands. ..Had the Muchir
followed the advice of General Guyon, and have'
advanced into Georgia whilst the enemy's forces
were weak and divided, the defeat of Selim Pacha
would have been avoided, and the success of the
Turkish arms far more probable. But in refusing
to be guided, and in losing many favourable opi-
portunities, the Muchir has witnessed the destruc -
tion of the Batoum army's prospects ; and b:f
allowing the enemy to concentrate his forces et
will, he has opposed his own army to the cha,nceg4
of a'defeat. We trust sincerely that my dark alio'
givings may prove incorrect. In case cf an action.
the loss of the Turks will be very heavy, from the
defective ambulanCe arrangements. Several
the most efficient medical men have already quitted
Kars, disgusted with the neglect to which the„.
sick and wounded are devoted. The number or
doctors and surgeons is perfectly inadequate to re-
lieve the present state of the hospitals. What vni;l
it be on the field of battle ? Fearful to write
there are no beds, no lint, no medicaments .;;11;„_11
word, not a single preparation has been roue ja.i
the event of a battle. For this transgression :'
the common rules of humanity no excuse can
offered.

THE BALTIC.
REPORTED TAKING OF BOMARSIIND'
COPENHAGEN, Monday, July 31.—Bomarsund
reported to be taken with great loss on both sides-
Another despatch from Copenhagen also of ,Yes-
terday's date, says :—Last evening all the 13665
ships of war and hired transports, with the evert;
tion of the Vulture, left our waters. To-daYI
Bulldog arrived, and also the steam-transport:
Kangaroo from Southampton. The ships Prince,
Fox, Vulture, and Herefordshire, having on board
a part of the 3d and 51st regiments of the
passed Copenhagen at noon on Sunday on tue,_
way to the Baltic. The health and spirits of WI
soldiers are excellent.
A letter from Dantzic, of the 27th July, saYs:,
is reported that eight Russian ships came "'J.-
Helsingfors, and chased the three English frigsf -
that were outside. This, which is a report in tri.;',
fleet, must be received not as authentic intel-i
gence, but as one of the reports that sometimes gi,e
into circulation, and that may be, or may u°t
true. At any rate, Admiral Napier has thought I. -
advisable to send Admiral Martin in that direo
tion. Admirals Plumridge and Chads with sey(r
ral vessels, and all the paddles, and 2,000 FrenelL
troops, are to attack Bomarsund. The fortifie.s:
tions have not been injured at all by the fire (ssacl•
to have been so destructive) of the Hecla ; they
present a very formidable appearance, mounting
150 guns in three forts, and there is promise of a
very sanguinary affair.
Eckness, and has since been u wcoaurendoefdDarf!..
Lieutenant Crewe Read, willidoleerwfttaisfl
oer Ore rund,,,
Minton, at Stockholm, has now .
Pringle, g
the toei
sighs
of company with ourco
quite restored.
of one eye, but he is otherwise
juin the Hecla. Unfortunately,nsMajohre lost

PREPARATIONS FOR ACTION.
H.M.s. Baltic Fleet, Ledsund, July 25.
—The allied squadron left Baro Sound on the 18th
inst. The French division of the fleet proceeded
from the anchorage, foll Owed by the rear division
of the squadron, under Admiral Chads. The yaps
under the orders of Admiral Corry, next swept by,
while the centre division led by the leviathan Duk°,
of Wellington, brought out the remaining force of
this mighty host of naval armies.
The ships present, manned with 'about 24,0°
and some odd hundred men, formed immediately,
as soon as they had gained sea room, and sailed
Jn
the following order :
Van. Rear.
Centre.
Neptune Duke of Wellington Edinburgh
Monarch 11,,gue Cressy
Cu raberbnd Acre Cessar
Prince Regent Blenheim Royal Georga
St. George Princess Royal Nile
James Watt Ajax
and
The steam-frigates Arrogant, Ampliion,
tie
Dauntless were sent forward in advance, on