The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-23 00:00:00

THE CRIMEA.

What number of troops can the Russian commanders
in the Crimea bring into the field against the invading
forces g Nothing is so difficult as to count a Russian
army. The great secret of Russian tactics is to throw a
mist around its legions, through which they may appear
of more colossal bulk. When closed and grappled with,
the supposed innumerable hordes uniformly shrivel up
into totals of comparatively insignificant amount. Be-
fore the army on the Danube prepared to evacuate the
Principalities it was estimated on all hands at hundreds

of thousands. The census of these soldiers taken at the
crossing of the Pruth brings their numbers down to
something between 60,000 and 80,000 men of all arms.
A similar abatement will require to be made in certain
exaggerated estimates of the Russian strength in the
Crimea.

To all that is said about recent introductions of Rus-
sian troops into the Crimea an incredulous ear may
safely be turned. When the trumpeters of Russia.
might speak of great secrecy having been preserved
respecting the march of troops thitherwards, there is an
obvious answer. It is only small bodies of troops that
can be moved with secresy. The regiments expelled
from Moldavia and Wallachia are still lingering on the
frontier of Bessarabia, which cannot be left unguarded ;
and the army which so abruptly and unexpectedly
decamped from Kars about a month ago cannot pos-
sibly have reached the Crimea yet. As for the
troops said to be marching from the north to take part
in the southern campaign, the second division of the

Guards, the second brigade of Artillery, and the Hussar
regiment of the same corps, were inspected at St. Peters-
burg by the Emperor, previous to their departure, on
the 14th of this month—on the very day that the allies
landed, without opposition, at Eupatoria. All will be
over before this detachment can cross the whole breadth
of the Russian empire in Europe. The Crimea must be
defended by the reinforcements which are known to have
been thrown into it last spring, and by the regiments
which were previously stationed there. The reinforce-
ments seat to the Crimea in the spring amounted in all
—foot, horse, and artillery—to about 30,000 men. After
a careful comparison of various statements from diffe-
rent sources, it is impossible to estimate the stand-
ing force previously maintained there—the garrison of
Sebastopol and the crews of the fleet included—at more
than 20,000 men. It does not, therefore, appear pos-
sible that the Russians can have at this moment in the
Crimea more than 50,000 fighting men. And these are
scattered over a wide tract of country. To say nothing
of the detachments which keep guard over Bench and.
Theodosia, and man the old Turkish lines at the Isth-
_ _

mus of Perekop, it is known that a body of troops were
stationed in the vicinity of Eupatoria ; that Simpheropol
and Batchi Serai were both garrisoned ; and that to the
south of Sebastopol the mountain passes between that

fortress and the south-eastern coast, 'as well as the coast
itself, were occupied by bodies of soldiery. From Eupa-
toria to Sebastopol, by the only road practicable for
artillery, is a distance of about 100 miles, and from
Sebastopol to the outposts on the southern coast must
be at least 50 more. The main body of the Crimean
army is, therefore, dispersed along a line of at least 150
miles in length, to say nothing of the out-garrisons at
Perekop on the north, and Kertch and Theodosia OR
the south east. The uncertainty, moreover, in which
the Russian generals have been kept as to the point at
whiclAhe landing was to be made, will have compelled them
to keep outlooks of considerable strength at various
places along the coast. There is, therefore, every reason
to believe not only that the Russian force that can be
mustered to repel the invasion is numerically weaker
than that of the invaders, but that a good many days
must elapse before the bulk of it can be drawn together
in any one centrical position. The allied troops, there-
fore, if their movements are sufficiently prompt and
rapid, have a chance of cutting off in detail an enemy at
the best inferior to them in number. As for the spirit
which animates the two armies, the experience of all
warfare gives proof that an assailing force is more hopeful
and alert than one that is kept up on the defensive. It
is reported, too, and there is much of plausibility in the
rumour, that the Russian troops in the Crimea are dis-
heartened by the news of the reverses which their coun-
trymen have sustained on the Danube and at Bomarsund.
As for the invading army, notwithstanding the malignant
attempt of a journal of notoriously Austrian and Russian
leanings, to attribute to the officers of the English army
a malingering temper little short of cowardly mutiny,
all reliable accounts lead to the belief that they embarked
in high and hopeful spirits. Men often judge others by
themselves. It may surprise few, therefore, to find the
Russian organ thinking English officers traitorous like
itself ; but all the rest of the world knows that both offl-
cers and men are sure to be—as English soldiers ever
have been—faithful to their flag, and brave to their last
breath.

The very elements seem to conspire with the Allies
for the discomfiture •of the Russians. The equinoctial
gales appear to have set in before their time, in order
that they might have their annual revel over before the
combined fleet sailed from Varna. We cannot reseal to
memory any earlier armament destined to disembark on
a hostile coast that has been so eminently favoured in
regard to weather as that against the Crimea. There
was scarcely enough of commotion in the winds and
waves to make the veriest landsman on board sick during
its speedy passage. And this, in a sea proverbial for
the variableness of the weather. The fair and favouring
auspices under which the expedition has commenced its
operations are almost sufficient to awaken---in those
gloomy, superstitious minds, who fancy they see in every
good beginning evidence of the agency of some malign
spirit tempting men onwards, by illusive shows, to dan-
ger and destruction—unfavourable prognostics as to its
ultimate success. No such misgivings haunt us. The
cause in which the expedition is embarked is the cause
of liberty and justice ; the soldiers and sailors are of ap-
proved and unrivalled valour; and every precaution that
prudence could dictate appears to have beenbetafkreanugthot
insure success. There is no apparent reason to doubt
that the fast-following posts which are to come upon the
heels of the first telegraphic despatch will
all
with intelligence as cheering as the first.
The earliest news may be of the Light Division push-
ing forward rapidly towards Simpheropol ; of Russian
outposts driven back ; of hasty musters of the enemy
to meet the allies ; of preparations for a general engage'
ment. The probabilities of the case include this—that
all the troops from Batchi Serai, and a portion of those
in and near Sebastopol itself, may be pushed out towards
ds
et
feat the French
be v
er
Simpheropol, to make the best front in their power
athe ga inyand English. Once defeated—unleu
complete—the Czar's troops will
doubtless fall back from Simpheropol upon Batehi Serai,
and when beaten there may retire upon the heights near
Sebastopol itself, where in all probability we may hear
of a smart contest before the fortress can be formally
invested. Short of Sebastopol there does not appear to
be any military work strong enough to need formal siege
operations, and that stronghold itself will have but a
poor chance and short reprieve_whe9
Turkish troops,
on land by French, English, and
._. _ whilst
the noble fleets now in the Euxine
. assail it from the sea.
The allies have but to act with. vigour, and the doom of
Russian power in the Crimea is sealed.—Daily News.

silt:war,
Australia, Moses,
Wheeler,Amerie Irene,slaipe
and many o •-. ,
0- ors motkly with timber and deals, which
d in the river several days ago, are unable to get
adrrocikveed, in consequence of the crowded state of the
East and West India Docks. The state of the latter
docks is most inconvenient, the import basin being filled
Golf: piollrGti, ot
to excess with shipping, while the quays are crowded
with stacks of deals. The whole of the North Wall of
the West India Docks, contiguous with the Blackwell
Railway, is. assuming the aspect of a timber yard ; its
like has not been witnessed since the docks were opened.
The East India Docks have refused to dock any more
deal ships, there not being space in the docks to admit
them being discharged. Many of the ships (timber laden)
would discharge in the river, but the dearth of lighters
and other craft suitable to receive timber prevent them.
LIVERPOOL, Friday.—Messrs. James Baines and Co.'s
Black Ball clipper While, Captain Ponsonby, sailed
this afternoon for Melbourne with 370 passengers, and
a full cargo. She will -be followed to-morrow by the
Lincluden Castle and the Spray of the Ocean for the
same port—the former with 260 and the latter •
songers, and full cargoes in each case.

TO SUBDUE SMOKE : being Popular
11 Information on various Practicable Means; with Compara-
tive Results, and a Few Words about Fuel.
Inclading an examination of the respective systems adopted by
JLTKES, HAZELDINE, PRIDEAUX, 13RISTOW and Arrwooo, CualvrE,B,
LEE STEVENS, ROBERTSON, and JABRAB.D.
London: Effingham Wilson, 11. Royal Exchange ; Edward Stan-
ford, 6, Charing-Cross. Price Sixpence ; and remitted by post on
receipt of eight postage-stamps.

THEATRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.-
Mr. E. T. SMITH respectfully informs his friends and the
Public admirers of Mr. G. V. BROOKE that he has engaged that
eminent artiste to perform for Seven Nights only, prior to ills depar-
ture for Australia.
Mr. G. V. BROOKE will appear on Monday, October 2d, in
VIRGINIUS.

Tuesday, 3d, in THE STRANGER.
Wednesday, 4th, in RICHARD THE THIRD.
Thursday, sth, in THE LADY OF LYONS.
Friday, 6th, in OTHELLO.
Saturday, 7th, in HAMLET.
And Monday, 9th, in MACBETH; being positively his last
appearance.
Mr. smiril has also engaged Mr. E. WRIGHT. the public
favourite and celebrated Comedian, to appear in his original Farces
every Evening after Mr. G. V. Brooke's performance.
The Box-office is open for booking places daily, from Ten to Five.
In consequence of numerous inquiries, early application is solicited.