The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-31 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1854.

Everything now betokens au advance towards
the actual seat of war, on the part of the Anglo-
French maritime and military armaments. April
must have been tolerably well passed through
before the allied soldiers can have crossed bayo-
nets with their Russian antagonists. Imperative
instructions have no doubt been despatched by
this time in one direction to Admirals HAMELIN
and DLTSDAS, and in another to Admirals NAPIER
and DESCLIENESi enjoining them to conduct their
fleets forthwith _against the most vulnerable
point along the borders of the Muscovite
territory. Nevertheless, it cannot be over-
looked that to a considerable extent the strug-
gle must be a land struggle, that the battle
must be fought for the most part somewhere
on the soil of the Danubian Principalities—
the dread and decisive conflict between Barbar-
ism and Civilisation. Therefore, important though
the strength of our naval forces may be, vitally im-
portant though the efficiency and magnitude of our
marine armaments undoubtedly are—the extent
and situation of the armies of France and England
are of all, at the present moment, the principal
objects of consideration.

It is important, therefore, to observe that by
this time it is calculated that 4,000 French
troops must have arrived at Gallipoli—that 15,000
have already left the shores of Algeria to join their
compatriots—that it is confidently anticipated be-
fore May that some 50,000 will have assembled
at that rendezvous. These, with the 25,000
English troops hastening thither, either through
the Gut of Gibraltar, or across France
through Marseilles, will swell the allied ranks to
75,000 men altogether. These, united with the
Turkish forces already in the field, whether to the
right before Ibraila, or to the left before Kalafat,
or at the centre of the base of operations near
Turtukai, will enable the antagonists of the CZAR
to bring upwards of 100,000 efficient soldiers
against the 100,000 Russians already in the pro-
vinces under the orders of Prince GORTZCLIAKOFF.

Observe the necessity just now fur promptitude
in the operations of the Anglo-French Expedition.
The AUTOCRAT has refused to answer the ulti-
matum of the Four Powers, requiring him to
remove his army forth with out of the Principa-
lities. But while refusing any reply to this sum-
mons, he has marched his troops out of Moldo-
Wallachia. In which direction, however ? Why,
in the direction exactly opposite to that insisted
upon by the champions of Turkish independence.
Across the Danube—instead of across the Pruth.
Into Turkey Proper—instead of back again into
a!ssarabia. So that the Emperor NICHOLAS stands
no longer as he has preteud.ed to stand—simply
on the defensive. He claims somewhat more
than the temporary possession of a material
guarantee like Moldo- Wallachia. Ho pushes
boldly onwards in the direction of Constantinople.
He penetrates daringly into the province of
Dobrudzia. And, while thus assuming a power-
ful position on the right side of the Danube,
on the side of Turkey Proper, on the side of
Bulgaria, blocks up the e ,trance to the channel of
the main stream, by sinking vessels at the mouth
of the Salina. Under these circumstances, it
becomes absolutely essential that the Russian
forces should be opposed promptly and vigor-
ously by the Anglo-French expedition. Why
not, in sending a frigate and corvette to break
up the stockade at the Sulina, thoroughly clear
away the obstructions infamously placed there by
the Muscovites in their barbarous system of warfare?
Why not, by sending down divers, and blowing
up the sunken wrecks with gunpowder, and wholly
cleansing the bed of the river at that point from
all the natural and artificial impediments which
have there accumulated—why not at once, in this
manner, we ask, prepare the way for the real and
permanent opening of the Danube, whereby the
navigation of that great river shall henceforth be
freely allowed to the commercial enterprise and
competition of all the nations of the earth in both
hemispheres ?

Wherefore further delays of any kind what-
soever ? War has been declared by England and
France. It has been intimated, first of all,
through the Royal and Imperial Messages
sent to the Legislative Chambers and the Houses
of Parliament by their respective Sovereigns.
It has since then been formally proclaimed
through the official columns of the Gazette and
the Monittur. Already the allies of Turkey have
a powerful fleet at Kiel, ready for instant action
in the Baltic, and another powerful fleet at Bey-
cos, ready for instant action in the Euxine.
Why any further procrastination ? Directly the
final orders, which we may presume have before
this been sent eastwards to Admirals HAMELIN
and DU As, and northwards to Admirals
NAPIER and DESCHENES, have reached their
destination, we shall begin to look out for news of
battle and of victory. For the time has passed for
hesitation. The hour of action, of immediate
and vigorous action, has arrived. Insomuch is
this apparent that we cannot but await with im-
patience the announcement that Marshal ST. AR-
NAUD and Lord RAGLAN have proceeded from
France and England to take up their position
at the head of the troops in their responsible
capacity as the allied Commanders-in-Chief. A
little while longer then, and side by side the tri-
color and the union jack may have passed through
the storm of some great triumph, common for
the first time to France and England. Side by
side the representatives of the two dynasties, the
Prince NAPOLEON and the Duke of CAMBRIDGE
may have fleshed their swords and won their
spurs, and grasped at last, what doubtless each
must covet—a Marshal's baton. Side by side
on sea and on land, the sons of France and Eng-
land may have beaten back the assailants of Tur-
key beyond the frontiers of their own dominions,
in the name of justice, in the cause of civilisa-
tion, in the interests of the peace of Christendom.
GOD grant it. At least let us try. Having drawn
the sword, let us strike the blow, and in the name
of GOD win the victory.