The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-04 00:00:00

THE WAR IN THE CRIMEA.
(From the Morning Chronicle.)
A treaty of alliance, offensive and defensive, has been
signed between A ustria and the Western Powers ; but,
as the arrangement is understood to be of a hypothetical
nature, dependent on conditions expressed in the instru-
ment itself, we are as yet unable to appreciate its prac-
tical value and importance with reference to the imme-
diate interests of the great struggle ix which England
and France are engaged. The event, which we an-
nounce was expected some months back, and at a time
when the processes of diplomacy had not been eclipsed
in interest by the more stirring incidents of war. Under
present circumstances, less importance attaches to the
conclusion of a treaty, the operations of which is not
immediate and unconditional ; but it at least marks a
further advance on the part of Austria towards the
policy of the Western Powers, whilst it is unquestion-
ably a distinct provocation to Russia, of the most explicit
and unmistakeable kind. Whatever be its terms, we may
be sure that Austria will prove as honourable in fulfil-
ling them as she has shown herself scrupulous in re-
stricting the liability she has thereby assumed. On the
whole, this result of the late negotiations well deserves
to be received with satisfaction ; but it must not, we
heed scarcely say, withdraw our minds for one instant
from- the- battle-field- -upon, -And
have dared to advance unaided.
The daily accounts of the passage of vessels carrying
troops to the Crimea have speedily allayed the fears of
those who professed to apprehend that the Allied army
might ',be overpowered. Our belief that the defeat of
the sth November ,would Suffice to keep the enemy quiet
for some time, has turned out to be well founder}. Ac-
cording to the latest Russian accounts nothing material
had occurred in the progress of the siege up to the 2 3d,
and by that time the opportunity of attacking the be-
, siegers position with any prospect of success had passed
away. The works intended to strengthen the rights of
the English camp must then have been in a forward state,
and a very considerable force had landed to assist in their
defence. Henceforth, the course of events in the Crimea
may be watched with greater equanimity, since it seems
indisputable that the Russians in the field have exertedtheir
utmost skill, rand seriously diminished their numbers,
without any other result than that of learning to regard
the Allies as invincible. So strong is the feeling of
confidence prevalent in our camp, that the English and
French alone, without any reference to the Turks, are
deemed sufficient to defend their lines against any force
which the enemy may collect. The prospect of winter-
ing outside Sebastopol appears to be viewed with a com-
posure highly honourable to the spirit of our army ; and
the formidable visions of intolerable suffering from cold,

of which we have heard so much at home, will perhaps

. .
first present themselves to the minds of our soldiers
through the medium of the London journals. It is in-
deed to be lamented that the precautions taken by the
Government to enable our troops to meet the rigours of
the season have Been temporarily nentralisel by acci-
dents which, in an undertaking so vast and complex,
we cannot hope altogether to escape. Ample sup-
plies of warm winter clothing for the entire army
had been slijpped from this country before the
autharities had had the benefit of the numerous
suggestions which have lately been showered upon
them through the columns of some of our contempora-
ries. But, unhappily, the stores thus provided have
been lost, along with valuable ships and lives, in the
terrible storm of the 14th. Nevertheless, the Govern-
ment had already anticipated this contingency ; and
' even before the.loss was actually known, measures had
been taken for repairing it. As soon as the telegraphic
intelligende of the maritime disasters of the 14th reached
this country; and long before it could be known that the
winter clothing of the troops had been lost, a second
supply, as complete and extensive as the first, was or-
dered from the contractors, and a large portion of it has

already been despatched to the Crimea. The only pos-
sible complaint that can, ii► this instance, be urged
against Ministers, is that they acted so promptly as not
even to take time to consider the conflicting merits of
the various winter garments that have been pressed on
their approval.
The beneficial discussion of questions of this kind
would he much facilitated by extending to the respon-
sible authorities the ordinary courtesy shown to confi-
dential clerks and servants by their employers. The War
Department, the Admiralty, and the military and naval
commanders, may be considered as standing in a simi-
lar relation to the country; and it is somewhat strange
that a disposition should be constantly manifested to
treat them with less forbearance than our own interest'
teaches us to display towards those whose hearty assis-
tance we desire to secure in our private concerns. The
tone adopted by some of those who claim to utter the
national voice usually implies that all civil and military
officials are necessarily ignorant, stupid, and obstinate ;
and if ever any act is admitted to have been rightly
done, the entire credit is unceremoniously appropriated,
by lookers en. Even this, however, is more telerable than
that entire disregard of facts which arises from the habit
of censure for censure's sake. As an example of this, we
may observe that a weekly contemporary hasset himself to
denounce the neglect alleged to have been committed by the'
Government, in sending out our soldiers armed with the
old musket. It is rather-ton bad that all the details of
the battle of Inkerman should be thus ignored. We
thought it was notorious that all the regiments that
landed in the Crimea, except the fourth division, were
armed with the Minis rifle ; and the causes which have
hitherto impeded the issue of weapons of that descrip-
tion to every soldier in our army are well known to
have been beyond the control of Ministers. But the
originators of all these discussions know their business
far to• well to confine themselves within the inconve-
nient limits of ascertained fact and ordinary courtesy.
Even our own attempts to moderate an extravagance
which tends to cast ridicule on a great enterprise, can
only be met by a deliberate misstatement of our argil.

tent.
The particulars which appear elsewhere of the losses
sustained in the gale of the 14th ult. are melancholy'
enough ; but the calamity is not without its consola
tione. We now see what deep grounds we have for
thankfulness in the fact that, throughout the critical
period of the voyage from Varna to Old Fort—and, in!
deed, almost ever since—the weather in the Black Sea
has been beyond expectation favourable. .Had a similar
disaster occurred to the. same vessels when filled with
troops, it would only have
•been one of the ordinary
dangers of the vast enterprise in which we had staked so
much. When we remember the amount of reinforce!.
ments that have recently been despatched to the Crimea,
anti the anxiety of the authorities to forward them to
their destination without ft day's delay, we have reason
to rejoice that the loss has not been more severe. It is
probable that the transports which were driven asho4
near the mouth of the Katcha and Eupatoria contained
no cargoes, but were merely in attendance upon the
army. The vessels were necessarily destroyed after the
gale abated ; but as their size prevented them from drift.
.ting close to the shore, the Cossacks could not approach
near enough to capture the crews, who were taken oft
in boats, and thus e;eaped being carried prisoners tal
Sebastopol. Our • heaviest loss was sustained on
the dangerous rocks adjoining Balaklava. A ship
driven ashore at that point could hardly escape
instantaneous destruction, and, accordingly, the
fine new steamer Prince, and, it is said, seven otheF
transports, have been lost. The troops taken out by
the Prince had been already landed, ; but valuablO
stores, including the supply of winter clothing for the
army, were, unfortunately, still on board. It is fur-
ther stated that 300 lives were sacrificed in thes6
vessels, but the particulars are not yet known, an
we would fain hope that further intelligence may die
t
close some mitigation of this sad disaster. The Frenc
transports that were stranded were of smaller sizti,
and consequently far less costly ; but 'we regret tip
learn that our allies had to destroy the line•of-battle
ship Henri Quatre, and the Pluton steamer, and that
the crews of their small transports were captured 14
the Cossacks. This severe lesson in ;,he dangers of
the Black Sea has warned the Admirals to make their
arrangements for the winter. The sailing vessels have
been mostly sent to Btiyukdere and Sinope, and the
duties of supplying and reinforcing the army Will be
principally discharged by steamers. The damagod
Britannia will be speedily replaced by the Royal Albert,
now on her voyage out, and the return of the" Baltic
steam fleet will furnish additional vessels, if necessarf,
for the Euxine. It is, at all events, satisfactoorfyoutor
know that the presence of the greater number
transports off the Crimean coast is now altogether need-
less, as it is certain that the Allied Armies are able to
maintain their position against any force which tile
enemy can bring against them.
__

_ . ----
a PATRIOTISM OF MESSRS. PETO & CO. ,
(Front the Daily News.)
Wooden houses for the English troops in the Crimea
are in the process of construction at Gallipoli ; and
officers have been despatched to Trebizond and Sinope
, .
to procure and forward supplies of timber from Anatolia.
Add to these the railway that is about to be constructed
from Balaklava to the camp before Sebastopol—and
hero let us pause to do entire justice to the liberal
patriotism of Mr. Peto and his partners. We are in-
formed that the offer to construct this railway originated
completed
with them ; that they, as contractors, are
it with their own men ; and that whenat itthitso
they are to hand it over to the army
single sbillieng
cost, refusing to. accept a e ;Oa; tthileeitr
labour, manageMent, or the use of their capital. When
Government is bestirring itself with the energy we now
witnessf and when the countryh istcoming forward with
such munificent sacrifices as those of
san illustrious
which that;of
Messrs. Peto, Brassoy, Betts, and Co is
example; who can doubt for a moment as to the result
I of the struggle '•,

And here let as advert to the tone of complaint which