The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-21 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1854.

The same uncertainty still prevails with respect
to the proceedings of the Anglo-French Expedi-
tion ; and, as we intimated on Tuesday, every
description of " Canard" is anxiously circulated
and greedily swallowed. It is positively asserted
that Odessa has again been bombarded, and that
all the strand batteries recently erected have been
destroyed. It is also stated that the town was on
fire in three places, and that most of the inhabi-
tants had retreated to Tirasopol, the city of refuge
indicated by the atrocious proclamation of General
KRUSENSTERN, to which we have already directed
public attention. It is also said that the squadron
under Admiral LYONS had bombarded Anapa, on
the Asiatic coast, while the rumoured explosion
of a powder magazine at Perekop, with great loss
of life to the Russians, and some damage to two
vessels of the allied fleet, would seem to indicate
that a demonstration had been made in that direo-
tion also.

From these varied statements it is attempted
to argue that there is no real intention of attempt-
ing the capture of Sebastopol during the present
season. We cannot, however, in any degree con-
cur with this opinion. Even if all the accounts
were correct, a matter by no means certain, we
can easily discern the propriety of these simulta-
neous attacks, which would greatly favour the
landing of the troops, by directing the attention
of the enemy to so many different points at the
same time. The point of disembarkation has
hitherto been kept a strict secret—almost the
only one, by the way, that has not been corn-
munica,ted as well to foes as friends. It
might be possible that the destination of the
allied troops was the Asiatic coast, to co-ope-
rate with the Turkish army, and expel the
Russians from that quarter and restore freedom
to the Caucasian districts. The attack on Anapa,
which is about the same distance to the east of
Sebastopol that Odessa is on the north-west,
would seem to favour this notion, and prevent any
reinforcement to the division in the Crimea.
The bombardment of Odessa would have the same
effect in another direction, if, as is more than
hinted, a large body of men had not already been
detached to Sebastopol ; while the assault on
Perekep would appear intended at the same time
to prevent the entrance of new troops into the
Crimea, and cut off the retreat of those already
there. Besides, it must be remembered, that a
sufficient portion of the allied fleets has been re-
tained to prevent the exit of any Russian vessels
from Sebastopol ; and that, in the event of a grand
naval attack, where the force would be re-
quired, the outlying squadrons Could
be reealled
within 24 hours at the outside, so far, then,
from conceiving that these various demonstrations
are conclusive against the regular onslaught against
Sebastopol, we think that they argue strongly
in favour of the only step that would be
'worthy
of the Western Powers, or which would repay the
magnitude of the preparations entered into.
Tho capture of Sebastopol, and the destruction
of the Russian fleet, would be an event that
would completely annihilate the pretensions of
Russia in the East for at least a century to come.
With the fall of that stronghold, from whence it
is enabled to threaten the whole of the Turkish
dominions, both in Europe and Asia, and even
the capital itself, a high authority (Marshal
INIAnmoNr) considered that within five days " the
Russian fleet, from Sebastopol, with 12,000
troops on board, might pass the Bosphorus, and
take up such a position as circumstances might die,
tate, whilst another army could cross the Danube,
pass the Balkan, and place itself at Adrianople—
these movements being effected with so much
promptitude and facility that in Paris and Lon-
don the intimation of the departure of the arma-
ment, and of its arrival on the scene of action,