The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-08 00:00:00

CONSTANTINOPLE.

A despatch dated Constantinople, May 29, re-
ceived via Vienna, says no troops have yet been
sent to Varna.

The bombardment and occupation of Redout
Kaleh are confirmed. Anapa was evacuated, and,
as is said, 4utais also.

REVIEW OF BRITISH TROOPS AT CON-

STANTINOPLE.

We read in a letter from Constantinople of May
25, that the Anglo-French expeditionary army to
the East now numbers 70,000 ; 45,000 French
and 5,000 English are at Gallipoli, and 17,000
British are encamped at Scutari. Yesterday
being the anniversary of her Majesty's birth-
day, the whole British force at Scutari was
passed in review. A field-day, sham battle, &c.,
was expected. Lord Raglan, however, had resolved
not to fatigue the troops unnecessarily, and it did
not take place, to the disappointment of many
persons who hurried across the Bosphorus at six
o'clock yesterday morning, and took up their sta-
tion on the heights surrounding the plain. They
were, however, well rewarded for their patience in
waiting until eleven o'clock, when they were pre-
sented with the magnificent sight of 17,000 British
troops in review. A more splendid body of men
was never assembled. The ground upon which
the British army at Scutari is encamped (three
regiments occupy the barracks) is au undulating
green tract of land, some six milesin circumference.
It can scarcely be called a plain. Towards the
middle there is a dip, leaving a flat meadow about
half a mile in breadth between the two heights on
which the troops have pitched their tents. The line,
Highlanders, and Rifles occupy the rising ground
on this side of the little valley ; whilst the three
regiments of Scots Fusilier and Coldstream Guards
were encamped on the gently rising hill opposite.
The Guards were the first to be seen moving. In
less than five minutes they had descended the hill,
and were drawn out in a line at its foot. In the
meanwhile the bulk of the army had gathered toge-
ther, and were forming column at the summit of
the opposite height. The Guards spread round to
the right and left, crossing the little stream that
runs through the centre of the green field, and is
furnished with a bridge at each extremity. They
met this side of the stream, and drew up in a line
to the right ; the rest of the army marched down
the hill, and the whole force spread across the
ground in one compact body, regiments side by
side, the Rifles occupying the extreme left. This
body of troops filled the whole space across, and
were obliged to bend upwards in a curve to the
left, where the Rifles were stationed. A de-
tachment of field artillery filled the centre. The
bands of each regiment struck up " God save the
Queen,"'and three thrilling cheers were given,
which filled the air, and sank deep into the hearts
of the bystanders. His Royal Highness the Duke
of Cambridge, Lord Raglan, a considerable num-
ber of French staff officers, Lord Cardigan, who
has just arrived, and a number of British
ttrhooonps
off
smenat;chaendduppasthseedvatlhleey,
rgoevnieerwa.ls wTehreey present,
to left and right, returned quietly to their several
encampments, and might five minutes afterwards
be seen lounging in undress, and reposing from an
hour's exposure to the broiling eastern sun. The
troops are in splendid condition, and look hale and
hearty—in fact, as if they could do anything.
There was no firing.

REFORMS IN THE EXPEDITIONARY'

ARMY.

The following is extracted from a letter dated
Scutari, May 25 :—On Tuesday last Lord Raglan
returned to Varna, but nothing was allowed to
transpire respecting his visit to Schumla, or as to
the plans which had been concerted by the Council
of War. They sat two days with closed doors, and
it will be seen that there was some show of reason
on my aide, when I ventured to argue that
Omer Pasha would insist on his favourite sugges-
tion for the occupation of Varna by our armies.
As the letter, in which I briefly pointed out the
importance of that port as a central position for the
concentration of the French and English forces, was
sent some days ago, I need not now repeat what I then
said, but, no doubt, events will prove that Varna is
highly suitable for such an object, and for a point
from which active operations can be at once com-
menced. Rumour has it that Lord Raglan, and the
Generals (Tylden, Cator, Lord Lucan, kc.),, and
others who accompanied them, had rather a rough
but eminently practical experience of what is to be
expected in the district, unless the Commissariat be
well attended to ; and I have been informed (and
give it just as it was stated to me) that on
their way to Varna Lord Raglan and his staff
had to travel for more than 12 hours (how many
more than 12 I am afraid to state) without a morsel
of food. Whet the Commissariat are doing now I
cannot say, btt it is evident that they will have a
very hard task to perform at Varna in provisioning
so large an aril), in a country which is cut off from
the feeding ground of the Dobrudscha by the
Russians on the one hand, and which is drained by
the exigencies of the masses of Turks concentrated
near Schumla, on the other. It is to be hoped they
have made good and effectual preparation for the
force, and that they will not be taken quite by Sur-
prise. Therein no beef to be had even at Scutari
just now, but the supply of mutton and lamb is
sufficient, an about 800 head of sheep and lambs
are slaughtered every day at the shambles of Scu-
tari for the army. It is said they eat as much meat
as ten times their number of Turks, but it must
not be forgotten that the latter have very liberal
rations, in the way of butter and rice for pilaff.
The consumption of lamb is so great that fears are
expressed lest the very breed of sheep be eaten up •