The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-30 00:00:00

PREPARATIONS AT CRONSTADT,

The extracts from St. Petersburg letters of the
14th, say the Russians appear to he firmly con-
vinced that, even if things go well with the allies,
only a part of the fleet will be fit for service
by the time it gets up to Cronstadt. The sand-
banks are numberless, and, in addition to these,
the ships will have to contend with the Schee-
ren flotilla, which is likely to be very destruc-
tive to single vessels. This flotilla is stationed
behind the Scheeren (thc archipelago of islets and
reefs or ridges of rocks which line the coast on both
sides of the Baltic is so called), where there is not
sufficient depth of water for larger vessels. It is
supposed that in the operations against Sweaborg,
Oesel, and Revel, the allies will suffer severely.
The greater part of the Russian fleet is at Cron-
stadt, " which is being fortified so as to bid defiance
to all attacks." The island is connected with the
continent by means of an artificial data, which is
covered with batteries. The strand batteries which
command the channel leading up to the harbour
have been doubled, and before Cronstadt can be
attacked these batteries, which contain 800 guns of
the largest calibre, must be destroyed. There are
three artillery parks in reserve. • A private letter
of the 15th, from Stockholm, also speaks of the
fearful preparations of the Russians for defence.
The Grand Duke Constantine had been a whole
fortnight at Helsingfors superintending the
works. It is generally believed the first hostile col-
lision will take place at the island of Oesel, which
may be considered as the advanced post to Revel.
Sweaborg is so protected by sand-banks, reefs,
and strand-batteries, that an attack is almost im-
possible. " The Russian fleet is perfectly secure
at Sweaborg, and it may render good service against
the allies when they return." All the lamps have
been removed from the lighthouses, and the buoys
taken up, so that the most experienced Russian
pilots would be at a loss to find their way up to
Cronstadt.

KALAFAT.

A letter of the 16th, from Kalafat, mentions
hat for several days previous sorties of a more se-
rious kind than before, took place between the
Turks and Russians. The former mustered on
these occasions about 10,000 infantry, and 22
squadrons of cavalry. The Russians were ge-
nerally in inferior force, and, after some
skirmishing, retired, cannonading, however,
during the retreat. Kalafat, my informant
adds, had received powerful reinforcements
of late, and at the date of his letter the
army amounted to 50,000 effective men present
under arms, and 150 pieces of cannon of all kinds
—a force by no means to be despised. It was
evident from the manoeuvring of the Russians that
they had abanloned all idea of attack in that
quarter. A formal order had been received from
Omar Pasha to attack the head-quarters of the
Russians at Pojana, which is about four miles from
I Kalafat. A council of war was held on the 15th at
the quarters of the General commanding, and with
the map of Kalafat and Pojana before them, the
plan of attack was discussed, explained in all its
details, resolved, and organised. That plan is de-
scribed as excellent, and the greatest confidence ex-
pressed of its being successful. In conformity with
it the Russians were to be attacked with 18 batta-
lions of infantry, 36 pieces of cannon, 28 squadrons
of regular cavalry, and 5,000 irregulars, cavalry as
well as infantry. The day was not fixed at the
Council, but it was considered probable that it would
take place on the 21st or 22d. The persons present
at the Council were full of hope that it would be
an important affair, and that it would have the
serious result of driving the Russians out of Little
Wallachia, and of enabling the Turkish army to
abandon their comparatively defensive attitude on
that part of the Danube, and assume an active and
offensive one, which is generally advantageous to
the morale of au army, and particularly to the
Turkish army.
Colonel Dieu arrived at Kalafat in the night of
the 15-16. He was sent thither by Omer Pasha, in
order to decide the question of Kalafat. The Council
of War assembled immediately after his arrival.
The orders of Omer Pacha were to the effect that the
General Commanding should conform himself to the
wislies of Col. Dieu in every respect. His plan of
the battle was discussed and accepted on the morn-
ing of the 16th, and the attack decided for the 22d,
with 25 battalions of infantry, 40 pieces of cannon,
28 squadrons of cavalry, and 5,000 irregulars. The
affair was to come off before Pojana ; so that if the
resolution of the Council be carried out by this
time an important action will have been fought.
The general conviction prevailed that the Turkish
troops would be successful, and the presence of
Colonel Dieu filled all with ardour and confidence
in the result. The intimacy of the alliance and the
friendly feeling existing between France and Tur-
key were considered very great when the Turkish
Generals are ordered to obey a French officer who
has only the rank of Colonel.

THE GREEK INSURRECTION.
According to advices from Epirus, of the 24th,
the insurrection was spreading, but the Turks stilt
held the fortresses.

Letters from Athens of the 24th say that Turkish
troops had reached Arta rid Salaora, on the Gulf.
They had as yet only had one or two unimportant
rencontres with the enemy in Epirus and Thessaly.
The Turkish Minister had demanded his pass-
ports, and left Athens for Constantinople.
We have received from Athens, under date of
16th, some satisfactory accounts as to the state of
public feeling with regard to the insurrection of
Epirus. The people begin_ to comprehend clearly
the consequences of the demonstrations into which
the Napist party endeavour to lead them. They
now see that they were deceived when they were
told that they might rely on the sympathy of Eu-
rope, and the language which the French and Eng-
lish Governments have held towards that of Greece
has already produced a salutary effect. The pre-
sence of the two Western flags, and the announce-
ment of the approaching arrival of the French
troops on the (Atom= tmitory_haYe caused the