The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-23 00:00:00

THE BLACK SEA FLEET.

OFF SERASTOPOL, BLACK SEA, Oct. B.—We have
lately been told again and again that the increased
civilisation and humanity of modern times will
greatly mitigate the horrors of war. To a certain
extent this is undoubtedly true. Our list of
Russian prisoners proves it. On the Danube the
Turks made no prisoners, and Russians equally
got rid of such encumbrances by the summary
method of the bayonet. I felt proud of my
country when • I saw little groups of English
soldiers tenderly nursing wounded and dying Rus-
sians on the field of Alma the day after the battle,
particularly when my indignation was hardly
calmed at the well-proved stories of ferocious
feeling manifested by these same wounded. In
several instances they treacherously fired at or
stabbed the doctor who had just dressed their
wounds or the kind Samaritan who had slaked
their parched throats with a draught of water,
thus showing all the inextinguishable hatred of a
dying wild beast and none of the noble chivalry of
a civilised soldier. Notwithstanding the ingrati-
tude of these poor Russian slaves, an English doc-
tor, to his eternal honour, volunteered to remain
behind and endeavour to alleviate the suffering 4 of
the 700 wounded Russians who had been removed
from the field of battle on the south bank of the
Alma to the deserted village on its north bank.
Dr. James Thomson, Assistant Surgeon of the
44th Regiment, and his soldier servant, deserve to
be held up as heroes. For four or five days they
and they alone, had to wait upon and support this
enormous mass of severely wounded men. The
task was in many respects a most dangerous
one. As we have seen, the patients them-
selves were not to be trusted. The Cossacks
might also at any time make prisoners of them on
the retreat of the Allied armies. The dead were
festering in heaps around the sick and dying. These
two men frequently had to bury a horrible
mass of carcases and fragments positively before
they could get at some poor wounded wretches.
' In this way they must have with their own hands
have dragged out and buried some 200. There was
no food of any kind for the sick, so the soldiers
managed to drive in a stray bullock, and with the
aid of some Russian convalesc2nts (their misfor-
tunes seem to have humoured them) he killed it
and made some soup for them. At length
her Majesty's ships Albion, Vesuvius, and
the screw transport Avon arrived. The e hole
crew of the first landed and removed the
wounded on board the Avon, while the Vesuvius
guarded the shore. In the midst of this humane
occupation a Russian force of some 4,000 or 5,000
men approached the village, and the sailors were
obliged to hasten on board, as it was beyond the
range of the ships' guns. However 340 wounded
were put on board the Avon under the charge of
their heroic preservers, Dr. Thomson and his ser-
vant. About 40 were left behind, and many of
these poor fellows who had previously seemed
unable to walk, endeavoured, with all their might,
to hobble after their more fortunate comrades. The
next day the Avon proceeded with them to Odessa.
Now, surely, when the Humane Society rewards a
man who saves one ,ingle individual, society will not
fail to do something for two men who, under such
dreadful trials, saved the lives of 340.

THE WAR ON THE DANUBE.

A letter from Galatz, of the 7th, states that the
allies have established au important fortified poii-
tiou at the mouth of the Sulina. In a few days
some French troops coming directly from Faille()
will land near that place, in order to support
on the flank the offensive operations of Omer
Paella. The fortifications raised at the mouth
of the Sulina are very extensive and well sup-
plied with cannon. Three small steamers are
constantly moving on the river to reconnoitre
the positions of the enemy. The obstacles which
the Russians had placed in the river to impede the

navigation have been long since removed, and a
dredging machine is constantly at work deepeuini
the Channel.

A letter from Bucharest states that all the bridge
equipage which was in that place had been sent to
Matchin. All the troops of the Danube, with the
exception of the garrisons of the fortresses, are
marching towards the Dobrudscha. Omer Paella
is to commence on the 23,1 a tour of inspection as
far as Ibrail • he will afterwards return to Schumla,
where he will establish his head-quarters. The
best understanding prevails between Omer Paella
and the Austrian generals who are at Bucharest.
They communicate all important news to each other
by despatches. .

According to a commercial letter from Belzi, in
Bessarabia, not far from the Bukowine, the officers
of the garrison have recently received orders not to
quit their post, oven for an hour ; one-third of the
garrison is kept constantly ready to march at a
moment's notice. Fortified winter quarters are
being established on the Pruth. Prince Gortscha-
koff is at Odessa. Fortifications continue to be
raised on the Danube, particularly at Ismail.