The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-16 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY EfENIN G, AUGUST 16, 1854.

THE

;AND.

There is no doubt of Bomarsund being soon taken.
yshhaavl le befal
ednoinneteweiuthv
hands
andde
the
ee
Aland speculation
islands is,—Whatwhn the
' The inhabitants of those islands are people of a very
marked character. • There are usually about 14,000 of
e
them peopling the group. They have not the stupidity
of Russian peasants, but can take care of themselves
under difficulties. In spring, they all till the ground
and fish ; in summer, they fish and carry provisions up
and down the Bothnian Gulf, and act as pilots : as
autumn comes on, they gather their harvests, and,
I later on, fell wood and salt cattle-for use and sale, and
carry fuel and the mail, when to all others the Gulf is
impassable. Every child among them knows every rock,
and creek, and channel of the curious labyrinth amidst
which they • live. Every man can build a hut ; and
every woman can row, and skate, and defend her pro-
perty against the wolves. These people have for so
long shown themselves up to everything, that we can-
not think it by any means a desperate lot for French and
English soldiers and sailors to pass a winter among them
—if it' should be thought necessary to do so. As they
trade in food and fuel all the winter through, even up
to Tomes, they may surely be good 'neighbours to
any power that they consider friendly which may hold
the citadel of Bomarsund this winter. And the Czar is
doing everything he can to make the islanders prefer
us to him. He has taken all their strong men to serve
in the forts ; he has burned their dwellings, and even
their woods and crops ; he has laid bare their soil all
around Bomarsund, so that the old men, women, and
ohildren cannot pass the winter there. But there are
other islands at hand, whence help may be had, or to
which the houseless peasants may go for shelter : and
they are very rich just now. Sir C. Napier has fixed so
liberal a tariff for the supplies drawn from those islands
that the inhabitants will doubtless be very glad to see
us settled among them, instead of the Russians, who
cut off boys' heads for taking our money. Of money they
have plenty just now; and they are only 25 miles from the
Swedish coast, where they can buy timber to make them-
' selves new huts, as soon as the Russians are gone. Their
market boats will be passingall the autumn in our service;
and more than the autumn. It must be remembered
that the climate is far milder in those islands than at
parallel points of the mainland. When the Finnish har-
bours are frozen hard, there are always some among the
islands that are open. There are always channels or bays
where the ice is thin and brittle ; and between the
Swedhih coast and the islands it is a very rare thing in-
deed for the ice to be trustworthy for the whole distance.
The people do not stay at home on that account.
Between boat and sledge—between rowing, hauling, and
marching, they convey themselves and their goods ; and
the accidents are surprisingly few, as the regularity of
the mails may show. Naturally enough, the people are
extremely weather-wise, and here again is our advantage
in being-in their good graces. They can always tell, and
will be glad for their own sakes to do it, this next win-
ter, when a passage over the Gulf is practicable fur boat,
man, or beast. They know when to expect the wolves
from, the Finnish shore to devour the game and farm-
stock of their islands ; and they can therefore guide our
soldiers to an expectation of the arrival of the human
wolves whom the Czar is reported able to produce at
Christmas. They keep themselves so safe and comfortable
the winter through, that it is difficult to conceive why
they should not show our men how to keep themselves
safe and comfortable too.

The citadel once taken (it may probably be ours by
this time), there is a good stout mass of buildings for the
accommodation of several thousand men. The peasants
stuff the chinks of their houses with moss and earth ;
and, when the winter fairly sets in, bank up the snow
against the outer wails, light good fires within, and come
oat so thoroughly warm as to be fit for an expedition
to Sweden. Why should our well-fed men be less
hearty and comfortable—within their stout walls, with
food at command, and fuel, and proper clothing ? It
is nothing to compare with the hardships that our
troops and seamen have undergone in former wars. To
say nothing of Polar expeditions, Cape Breton was a far
worse station ; and so were many others in Canada, and
in Oregon, and on many a desolate shore of the globe.
Inhabited islands can never be so rigid, and desolate as
the frozen wastes of any continent. If the allied troops
and seamen in the Baltic are allowed a good victory be-
fore winter to warm their hearts, they will pass the cold
months cheerily enough—though there is no answering
for the consequen-,es of a chilling of their moral ardour.
Give them a least of sympathy and fame from homy, and
they will do very well. Depress them by a sense of
disappointment, spreading from themselves into their
country and their families, and the frost may benumb
instead of inspiriting them. This ought to be a promi-
nent consideration with commanders who are appointing
troops to winter in the islands of the Baltic.
, As for the notiop of military operations —of an invasion
of Bomarsund from Russia in the winter—it seems to
most people too 'absurd to merit many words. Because
an army has crossed the Sound, with artillery and. stores,
it is hastily concluded that the same thing may happen
again. But this is a case in which such a thing having
happened once is the very reason why it 'should not
happen again. Such an expedition could succeed only
by a surprise—only in a season of prolonged blick-frost
-- only after a well-masked survey—only when th'e party
to be attacked had no advantage from the good will of
the native population,—only when the ice was as reliable
on the further as on the nearer coast,—only when a good
many more things may be depended on which are
not at all likely to concur on more than one occasion.
The Aland people will know the state of the ice quite
as well as any Russian scouts, The Allies will cer-
tainly not be caught by a surprise. There are many
chances to one against the season favouring even
the setting out of such an expedition ; and much
more improbable is it that there will not be open har-
bours, and creeks, and channels which may be improved
into a very effectual trench by the labour at command.
Our' stout fellows would enjoy keeping a trench open,
oy axe, saw, and even powder—whether the foe on the
other side be wolves or cubs of the great Russian Bear.
Tney will invent infernal machines to blow up the iee,
and make shorter work of it than the Czar has yet done
with our ships. An ice rampart or trench might be
be made at much less cost of toil and human life than
the ice palace of a former Czar, or than that edifice,
heated like an oven because Nicholas was impatient,
where the workmen were made to wear caps of ice after
scores of their comrades had fallen from their scaffolds
and died in brain fever. In time of peace, both French
'and Englishmen have done harder things than holding
the Aland Isles through a winter against a discouraged
foe. If it should be necessary to hold them, it can of
course be done. -

If the Russians are to march from St. Petersburg on
the ice, the transit is perilously long. Who can tell
what the wintry winds of the Gulf of Fin-
land are, away from from the shelter of the forests?
The coast road is not like that of the steppes. It is sub-
ject to avalanches and all manner of impractica-
unities. The drollest notion of all is of an army of

skaters—of thousands of men balancing themselves on
an edge like Mabomet's bridge, against the guns of a
fortification. British soldiers and sailors are fond of

quoits and ninepins ; and never did they see such a game
as they would have with an advance corps of Russian
skaters who should venture within range. Surely
it must -be skids—snow-shoes=and not skates, that
the alarmists mean. Either way, men who have
not the free use of their feet have little chance—
whatever be their numbers—on the ice, against blue,
green, or red-coated soldiers, behind a wall, standing
on the soles of their own feet, and with ground under
them which will not bring them down on their 'noses
after every shot which they have balanced themselves to
achieve. Bomarsuud and the Aland Islands can be
held all the winter if it be wise and desirable to hold
them.

(Prom, the Times.)
Although we have not yet received any authentic
account of the operations which doubtless commenced in
the course of last week at the Isles of Aland and against
the 'fortress of Bornarsund, we are already in possessi)n of information which enables us to offer some remarks
on this remarkable enterprise. The group of islands
lying about 25 miles from the coast of Sweden and 15
from that of Finland, in the Gulf of Bothnia, is known
to the Finns by the name of ";Alwennanmaa." It con-
sists of no less than 80 inhabited, and 200 uninhabited
islets, the largest of which is about 18 miles iu length
by 14 in breadth. On this island the fortress of Bomar-
sund has been constructed ,by the Russians within the
last 20 years, and it is here that the French army of the
Baltic, supported by the marines of the British fleet, is
now engaged in the first important operation of the war.
The fortress itself is said to be large enough to shelter
an army of 60,000 men within the range of its guns, and
we are assured that 10,000 labourers were empioyed in
the construction of the works (luring that portion of the
year when it is possible to build in so severe a climate.
We cannot, however, vouch for the accuracy of these
numbers ; but it is certain that the place is one of con•
siderabie extent and strength, capable of containing a
large garrison, and not likely to be taken without the
operations of a regular siege. The principal fortress
consists of a double tier of semicircular casetnated
batteries fronting the sea, mounting at least 80 heavy
guns, but this fort does not appear to be armed on
the side of the land. At a distance pf about 1,000
yards from the principal fortress and from the shore are
three mounds or hillocks, two of which are fortified as
detached works, mounting about 20 guns. That to the
north is called Fort Nottich, and is 130 feet high ; that
to the south is called the Tzee Fort ; the central mound
is used for a telegraph station. These works bear
almost the same relation to the main fort of Bamarsund
as the forts of Arab Tabja and Medjidjie bore to the
town of Silistria. To attack these works it is supposed
that the land forces will advance in two divisions. The
brigade from the north will consist of 2,000 French in-
fantry, 100 sappers and miners, 600 marines, 16 heavy
32-pounders, four field pieces, and one rocket company,
being the force destined to attack Fort Nottich in the
first instance. The brigade from the south will consist
of 3,000 French infantry and 30 heavy siege guns,
under the command of General Baraguay D'Hil-
liers in person, and will attack the Tzee Fort. The
interest of the position of the enemy and of the
siege consists in the reduction of these detached forts,
. and in thia operatj.on the ships can take no fictive part.
Thii fact establishes- two points of considerable in.

, .
terest to our maritime operations in the Baltic. It is
clear, in the first place, that in the shallow waters and
difficult passes of that inland sea our great three-deckers
can hardly ever be brought sufficiently near to the
enemy's works to bear upon them with effect. The
block-ships and heavy frigates are alone able to go into
harbours of this description, and it was not without rea-
son that on the occasion of the Baltic expeditions
of 1800 and 1807 all the ships ' selected for that
service were second or third, rates. The use of
such ships as the, Duke of Wellington, the St. Jean
d'Acre, and the Neptune in the Baltic is to keep the
Russian fleet in check, and the manner in which these
huge vessels have been landled by our masters and
pilots is such as to call forth the warmest eulogiums
from the Russians themselves. But, secondly, Admiral
Napier has very wisely abstained from measuring the
broadsides of any of his ships against the batteries of a
granite fortress, and, in spite of all that has been said on
this subject, the result of the experiments made in this
war is decidedly favourable to land fortifications against
marine artillery. The opinion of the Duke of Welling-
ton is thus confirmed, who said in the House of Lords,
after the successful attack on St. Jean d'Acre in 1840,
that it must not be supposed that ships were a match
for well-defended batteries. The Admirals appear to
have resolved to act upon this principle, and, although
hollow shot and shell will be thrown against Botnarsund
at a long range, it cannot be their intention to attempt
the reduction of the place.bybreaching the sea front.
We have no doubt this resolution is perfectly consistent
with sound judgment and with the rules. of war.
The operations is therefore converted into a siege by
land, and that this was the intention of the Allied Go-
vernments is shown by the fact that feoin 10,000 to 12,000
infantry and artillerymen were oinbaried, that a batter-
ing train was sent, and that two of the ablest engineer
officers of the French and English armies were reserved for
this service. The troops were all landed on the Bth inst. on
a part of the island distant about 3 miles from the fortress.
The Russian garrison, which is supposed to consist of
3,500 men, made no attempt to defend the adjacent
coasts, but retires within the walls, having *rst set fire
to the woods, which might otherwise have supplied the
enemy with timber, and to' the villages, which might
have furnished provisions. The islands, however, are
said to contain about 14,000 head of cattle, and
fish is
most abundant in the' creeks or bays. The French
train of siege artillery arrived at Led Sund some days
after the troops, .and, in addition to these pieces of
ordnance, some of the lower deck guns of the ships
have been furnished with platforms, and prepared for
use on land, as was done with effect at the siege of St.
Sebastian. We expect, however, to learn both from
Bornarsund and from Sebastopol (when the attack on
that place has commenced) that the nature of the soil
will in both instances be found extremely unfavourable
to ordinary siege operations. The Aland Islands are
nodules of granite, barely covered with a scanty layer of
earth, and it is probable that Bomarsund itself is built
on a foundation of rock, and the detached forts on rocky
mounds. At any rate, the ground is supposed to be too
hard for the place to be easily approached by open
trenches or covered mines ; and, if that be the case, the
besiegers must have recourse to the imperfect shelter of
sandbags and abattis, and the place will not be taken
without serious loss. If we are correct in these data,
it may be a question for the engineers directing the
siege, and for General Baraguay d'Hilliers, the Com-
mander-in-Chief, whether an attack on one of the forts
by escalade is not more likely to prove successful than
a protracted siege.
The peculiarity of places in so northern a latitude
and so cold a region is, that they cannot be perma-
nently
hold
ntlyinovnetstfeodra e
invested, anedrtathine
number
rn
okfnmowontthhs that
theif they
ap-
proach of winter must compel the assailants to raise the
siege. But, supposing the place to be taken by the
allied forces, can it be held during the ensuing winter ?
That is a question to which we can give no positive
answer. It sometimes happens, though not every year,
that the Sound of Wattuskiftet, which divides the Aland
Isles from Finland, is completely frozen over, as it was
in 1809, when Buxhovden's army crossed and lit their
bivouac fires on the solid ice. The Russians, moreover,
are better prepared than we can be for a winter cam-
paign, because they are used to the climate, and would
be within a few miles' of their base of operations. To
hold the Aland Isles with security during the winter, we
ought to be assured of the co-operation of Sweden, at
least in as far as that possession is concerned, which so
nearly affects the safety and independence of her own
capital ; for, whatever be the ultimate effect of this
expedition on the policy of Russia, it is certain that the
capture and possible destruction of an important fortress
erected at a vast expense for the purpose of securing the'
domain of Russia, not only over Finland and the Gulf
of Bothnia, but in a manner over Stockholm itself, is
an event of the deepest interest to the Swedish nation.
We are unwilling to say anything having a tendency to
urge that brave and patriotic peollir to take an active
part in the war, until it is distinctly seen what assistance
and securities the Western -States may have it in their
power to afford to their northern ally ; and, on the
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satisfied of its object and probable results.
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14111MMINMIIM
T E WAR

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIGENCE.
The Royal Albert, 121, screw, Commodore Martin, is
still lying in the basin at Sheerness. Her machinery
is daily progressing, together with her rigging.
The defects of the Maidstone transport were com-
pleted on Saturday evening, at Devonport. She was
towed by the Avon steamer out of harbour, and then
proceeded direct to sea.

Ward's steamer put into Plymouth on Monday
morning, to fill up with coals, and to receive despatches
for Gibraltar.

The Nautilus, 6, Lieutenant Commander Doling,
returned to Davonport on Sunday.
The Fire Queen, Master Commander F. W. Paul,
went from Pertsmouth down to Cowes on Monday
evening with Some packages belonging 'to, Sir James
Graham, who, we believe, is shortly expected on his
usual visit to the Isle of Wight during the regatta.
Yesterdaythe French frigate Persev4rante sailed from
the Downs with stores and reinforcements for the
Baltic fleet.
The 'Russian ship Catharine Charlotte, of Riga,
Daniel Balling, late master, and the Carl Magnus, of
Pernau, Frederick, E. Rassmus, late master, taken in
the port of Hull by the Customs' officers, sailing under
simulated papers, have both been condemned by the
Court of Admiralty;and ordered to be sold for the bene-
fit of the, Crown. ,

THE SCREW `STEAM-SHIP COLOSSUS.
The Colossus,_ 81, 'screw-
.Captain -Spencer Robinson,
Portitnoaih',—,—Tho - -late I:our Colossus
returned into harbour on Monday evening prevented our
noticing any more than the result of the trial at the
measured mile. ,The. Coloisus is all that we have
before stated—namely, an extremely handsome ship.
Her main and lower decks'preseht most powerful and
well-arranged batteries, with more than usual room to
work the guns ; everylmprovement of the .present day
with regard to armament is being introduced into this
noble two-decker. The engines, by Penn, are most
simple and perfect. The arrangement, however, of the
orlop deck for the officers generally, is exceedingly bad
and uncomfortable. We cannot call them cabins or
even bunks; they are long narrow cells, with the sleep
ing fittings athwart ship, instead of fore and aft, as here-
tofore. This arrangemebt is not only bad, but abso
lutely dangerous. In a heavy swell aLd a rolling sea
every officer will he flung violently out of his cot or
sofa, and break his head or limbs against the sides of
the ship. There are wing galleries throughout—this is
very good. We presume the cabins or cells were
planned this way to 'give more room for stores; but
this is done at a sad inconvenience to officers ; more
particularly the dismal cell appropriated to the lieutenant
of Marines, who really has only half a cell, for the rake
of the ship prevents his' making any use of the other
half. Again, the, chief engineer's cabin ia placed the
farthest away from the engines'; and the second engi-
neer has no cabin at all, and yet this gentleman, well
connected,,left4 dtief engineer's position in a mercan-
tile firm to enter as second in. her Majesty's service,
believing that some little attention would be paid to his
necessarya comforts.
In the ward-room some windows are on' hinges, so
that the captain's steward can see and-hear every word
that may be uttered. The window ought to have been
at the side, where there was plenty of light and air, in-
stead of !poking into the ward-room, and destroying the
privacy of officers at all times. This great inconvenience
can, however, be altered at a trifling expense, and we
sincerely trust that it will be done before the ship goes
to sea. With regard to the rigging, the Marines have
even lent a hand aloft, and, apparently, as handy as a
blue jacket. What should we do without our- "jollies ?"
They are at all becks and calls—sweepers, riggers,
waisters, soldiers ,• and sailors; and yet are they the
worst-paid and the most ill-treated corps in the king'
dom. , They do plenty of work without grumbling. II
is time the Admiralty did something bettor for so useful
and loyal a body of men.—Morning Ilerald.

ADMIRALTY INSPECTION'.
• The Right Hon. Sir James Graham, who has now re-
covered from his severe attack of illness,. and who was
at the French Ambassador's grand entertainment last
night, in honour of the fete day of the Emperor, proceeds
on Thursday, with: a full board of Admiralty, and at-
tended by the Surveyor of the Navy, Captain Sir B.
Walker, K.C.8., and the principal officers, to Ports-
mouth, on the annual visit of inspection to the Admi-
ralty establishment. The tour of inspection this year
will be the most important since the old war.

OUR SCREW CRUISERS AND SCREW
GUN-BOATS.

Whilst public attention is fixed on the building and
equipment of the screw despatch boats, and the screw
gun-boats, the additions to the fleet of a class of vessels
that are most valuable at this moment are comparatively
unnoticed. .The useful and handsome screw-ships
Hornet, Harrier, and Falconlhave been recently launched ;
the former has been already despatched to the Baltic,
and the Harrier is being equipped at Portsmouth.
Three more of this class are in course of construction
—viz., the Fawn, Mutine, and Alert—old names of ce-
lebrated cruisers. The machinery for these three smart
and useful sloops of war, as well as the machinery for
the Falcon, has been manufactured by the eminent firm
of Miller, Ravenhill, and Salkeld, of Blackwall.
Another and smaller class of screw cruisers, which
may be termed screw gun-boats, are being completed—
viz., Swallow, Ariel, Lyra, and Cameleon. They are
vessels of about 450 tons. The machinery for these
screw gun-boats is also being constructed by Miller,
Ravenhill, and Salkeld.
The great want of small cruisers of the above descrip-
tion has been severely felt this year. In 1855, however,
they will supersede, in a great measure, the old worn-
out paddle•sloops, or will relieve them from fleet duties.
The whole of the machinery of these vessels will be
placed under the water line.

TESTIMONIAL TO REAR-ADMIRAL BRUCE.
The officers in command of cruisers during the period
Rear-Admiral Bruce being in chief command on the
African station have presented that gallant officer with
a handsome piece of plate, as a testimony of their re-
spect for his character. It is in the form of an epergne,
supported by a palm tree, under which is a representa-
tion of Rear-Admiral Bruce liberating a male and female
slave. • This very tasteful and befitting present may be
seen for some days at Messrs. Garrad's, in the Hay-
market.

DEATH OF CAPTAIN WEST.
Another Trafalgar officer has died, Captain Christo-
pher West (1851), on the retired list. He entered the
navy in 1800, was in the expedition to Egypt, the battle
of Trafalgar, as signal midshipman in the Minotaur at
Copenhagen, at the capture of La Franchise, and at
many other gallant affairs. He was flag-lieutenant to
Rear-Admiral Surridge, the Commander-in-Chief at the
Nore, and had his "haul-down" nomination in June,
1814, since which period he has not served.

The European and Submarine Electric Telegraph
completed laying down their wires to the Admiralty
offices at noon yesterday. The office working apparatus
arrived at Sheerness from London yesterday afternoon,
and immediate preparations are being made for setting
it to work.

COURT-MARTIAL.
A court-martial assembled yesterday, at 9 a.m., on
board the Waterloo, at Sheerness, to try Daniel Fisher,
gunner of the third class, serving on board the Janus,
for having deserted from on board that ship at Calais,
on or about the 15th of July last. After the witnesses
were heard the court was cleared, previous to which the
prisoner in his defence briefly stated that he was left on
shore for the night at Calais, and he immediately sought
a passage to join his ship, and he had no intention of
deserting. The decision of the Court was, that the
charge of desertion was not proved, and that they
acquitted the prisoner.