The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-27 00:00:00

munication with the main land, except through the nar-
row isthmus which itself might be easily occupied. That
the prestige of Russia, and even her material power,
would be weakened more by the permanent occupation
of a province than by the most bloody defeat, there can
•ire little doubt. A well-written bulletin may convert a
flight into a masterly retreat, and a drawn battle into a
glorious triumph ; but when an important termitory is
occupied for months, it would be difficult to explain away
the disaster, even to such a public as the Emperor's bul-
letins address. As it is, Anapa might be attacked And
taken with some trouble, though with no-great loss. It
-would require the whole force of the fleet, for the forti-
fications are strong, and high above the level of the sea.
But unless some military operations are contetnplated in
Circassia, such an attack would be only a display of
Quixotic bravery. War, as understood by its modern
professors, is a game in which every move has an object,
and to waste strength or time in desultory operations
which can lead to nothing is a military mistake.
" The fleets were to have gone to sea three days since,
but from inteiligence which arrived yesterday it appears
that they are still in harbour in Baltschik-bay. The
state of inaction in which the men are at present is
more fatal to discipline than the most fatiguing work.
The men as well as the officers are weary with long
months of lying in a dreary harbour, or cruising t and
fro within the limits of a narrow sea. They have no
hope of excitement or prize-money, and the prospect of
being actively employed in' conjunction with the land
forces in an attack on the Russian arsenal is now fa,:ing
away. Much judgment is required to manage the ships'
crews, and strong measures are necessary to prevent in-
toxication when the men have leave. A short time
since a tim.nber from each ship was permitted to land
after strict injunctions had been given at the raki-
shops to supply no liquor. The command was dis-
obeyed by the traders, and nine-tenths of the men
returned to their vessels in a state not approved by naval
discipline. The Pasha was informed of the event, and
immediately sent a company of soldiers to stave every
cask they could find in the wine-shops of the town. The
scurvy, which made its appearance during the winter
and spring, has now disappeared with the more genial
weather and a larger supply of vegetables. The disease
appears to have been generated as much' by the cold and
damp as any other cause, for on board the French
vessels, where it principally prevailed, there was a good
supply of vegetables, and of the usual antidote of lemon
j nice._

" Accounts from Schumla state, that the force
which lett that place in the direction of Silis-
tria consisted of 25,000 men, under the temporary
command of Hassan Pasha. They encamped the
first day at three hours' distance from Schumla, near
the village Kaldere, in the neighbourhood of which the
Russian Cossacks had appeared some days before. The
Turkish reconnoitring corps were continually hearing
the roar of cannon from Silistria, where the Russians
have met with two severe repulses, besides having
suffered much in the minor engagements. It is reported
at Shumla that the Russians have already lost 4,000
men, while the Turks have suffered to• the extent of
1,500. The troops who had arrived at Kaldere were in
good health and spirits. They looked very well after
their fatiguing march over bad roads with shoes which
were little better than ragged pieces of leather tied to
their feet."