The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-04 00:00:00

ARMED BOATS IN THE BALTIC.

The following is from the Debuts, on the forma-
tion of the flotilla of armed boats in the Baltic, by
order of the Emperor of Russia

" We give some details on the important part per-
formed by flotillas in the time of the maritime war in
the Baltic, as is shown by the history of the different
wars of the 18t.li century, between Sweden and Russia,
and of the last war in 1808. The coasts of Finland on
the two gulfs are almost all bordered by a belt of islands,
without speaking of the sands and a number of rocks of
sharp granite, some above and others just below water.
Amidst this labyrinth are narrow-winding and not very
deep passages. Some of them, which are the widest
and the deepest, lead vessels into the ports and harbours.
I❑ order to attack as well a to protect the coast it is
necessary to have a numerous armament of row-boats,
specially constructed for navigating and fighting in those
waters. The smallest sailing-vessels cannot everywhere
pass. The Swedes, and the Russians, who have imitated
them, therefore, make use of flat-bottomed boats, armed
with two 36-pounders, the one in the bow and the other
in the stern, which are loaded at the breech with much
promptitude ; these boats are rowed, and their crew is
composed of 30 men, 20 rowers and 10 gunners ; each
man is provided with a carbine. The belligerent party
who has not a flotilla can do nothing except in the open
sea and in the navigable channels ; but in the midst of
these very channels large vessels may be assailed by a host
of gun-boats coining unawares through a number of
channels at the same time, which can discharge their
guns and then disappear amidst the • iflerent islands
where they cannot be pursued. It will be seen that
these armed boats are real maritime guerilleros and
serve as the advanced guard of a fleet. By means of
them a war of surprise and ambuscade is carried on ;
they approach an enemy's squadron to observe its move-
ments and give notice of them ; they suddenly attack
large, vessels by hoarding when their enemy is not
prepared ; they keep up a rigorous blockade of a coast
or of a port ; and they are used for the landing of
troops and artillery on coasts bordered by reefs. Rus-
sia, besides her Baltic fleet, composed of 30 sail of
the line, divided between three ports, has 800 vessels of
war formed into squadrons, stationed at St. Petersburg,
Rotschemsalm, Sveaborg, Abu, and Vasa. The Emperer
Nicholas has just published a decree in which he holds out
great advantages to discharged sailors who will again en-
ter the service in the flotilla of row boats until the month
of Nov. next, that is to say, until all naval operations are
put an end to by the ice. The Grand Duke Admiral re-
cently returned to Sveaborg to organize the flotilla arid
put re into a state to act with thegreatest possible success.
The Anglo-French fleet being in absolute want of a good
flotilla of very small vessels drawing little water, Admiral
Napier has just demanded them from the English Govern-
ment. Duri, g his recent visit to Stockholm, where he was
on the 24th ult., he was enabled to examine the Swedish
fLtilla at Sinn= and at Vaxharn, and to notice the
form, the armament, and the manner of manoeuvring
the boats. The English flotilla will he composed
of small steamers of all dimensions, and drawing very
little water, which would he far preferable to the
row-boats of the Russians. -The Russian people have
no taste for the naval service, and their instincts are
opposed to it, but the Government has at its disposal all
the sailors of the Ger nan provinces, and the excellent
Finnish seamen. It might be, therefore, attended with
serious danger to look with too much contempt on the
officers and crews of the Russian vessels. These vessels,
it is true, scarcely ever quit the Baltic, but in that sea
they have the advantage over us as being thoroughly
acquainted with it."

CONDITION OF THE TURKISH ARMY IN
ASIA.
The following is from the special correspondent
of the Morning Chronicle :
" KARS, April 2.—At this moment the position here
is so critical, arid matters so perfectly hopeless, that to
be silent would be criminal. Will it be believed that
for three weeks the staff have been without intelligence
from Constantinople, and that since the opening of the
war no communications have been opened between the
army here and the army at Batoum, separated only by a
journey of four days from each other. The most ear nest
supplications have been repeatedly addressed to Con
stantitrople for money, clothing, and for troops by the
Muchir of this army and the head of the staff, but
all in vain. With the present abominable system
nothing can prosper. The civil authorities refuse
to obey the military ones, and although common sense
dictates that in time of war every authority should be
concentrated into one powerful hand, here it is not so.
Now let me describe the eondition of the troops, No-
minally there are 46 battalions here, but by deaths and
desertions these battalions are reduced to skeletons of
400 men, and who are without proper clothing, and
many have only stepped from a bed of sickness, and al e
consequently unfit for service. The majority of these
men are Redifs or militiamen, who are thinking of
their wives and children at home, and are worthless
in action. The cannon are without sufficient horses,
anti these are weak from short rations and neglect,
A.mmunition and cannon have been sent from Constan
tinople some three months since, and have not yet ar-
rived. The greatest want of energy and turpitude reigns
amongst the civil pashas, who thwart the little activity
of the military ones. In the military chest there is not
one piastre, and it seems useless to expect aid from Con-
stantinople. The troops are long unpaid, and a few days'
provisions only are at hand, and I see 110 probability Of
relief. The soldiers are at length infuriated at the man-
ner in which they have been deserted, and a few days'
will see some very grave events. It is a spectacle of
patience and sympathy dispayed by the Muchir arid
the European Generals that alone restrains then,
from open revolt. Everything that lies in human
power has been done by the M. chir and his European
advisers. No stone but has been unturned that could,
wou the- 6erisl4.o, taasliaitl. rsßity,

of reinforcing the army here to sixty thousand men, and
thus enabling the campaign to be opened with a certainty
of success. Alas ! as I have before written, the arms of
Asia have been sacrificed. The most brilliant prospects
are dimmed, and my heart bleeds with indignation as I
write of this sad state of things, In the present state of
affairs all idea of an advance on the enemy.'s ten itory must
be abandoned and every precaution Wien to prevent these
provinces being overrun befere assistance has arrived. We
are still protected by the snow from a visit from the Rus-
sians, and the inclemency of the weather continues most
providentially. The poor Muchir, who is the most
amiable of men, although no soldier, is laid up with in•
disposition caused by over-anxiety. General Guyon and
the Polish Generals Brainski and Betcheffnowski are
indefatigable in their exertions to keep up the spirit of
the army, and their Militory habits lead than to
indulge in hopes'of assistance from Constantinople,
in which Ido not indulge. As for Guyon, I feel
assured that, were be ordered to take Ehrenbreitstein
with a corporal and six men, he would not despair Of
success. The long and the short of my remarks can
thus be condensed. The army of Anatolia has
been sacrificed. That army at, present cannot out-
number 10,000 reliable men. These liken are without
proper clothing, know themselves to have been sacri-
ficed, and, from their number, render any contest hope-
less. It is, therefore, iinnerative that part of the 811ied
forces be immediately despatched, to Asia. Twenty
thousand men will suffice, an I within six weeks Russia
will have lost a rich and noble province. I will not
cavil about the strategic advantages of B,itonin or Kars,
but their immediate presence is necessary. Were Ito
fill twenty folios, I could not sufficiently impress on
England the great importance of relief being sent, and
that without delay."