The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-13 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON„ WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 13. 1 854,

because I do feel that if it were true there was any-
thing like cold, systematic, heartless indifference mani-
fested by any department of the army, above all by the
medical department, to whose care the wounded are
especially entrusted, it would produce a bad feeling in
the minds of the people of this country, and destroy that
confidence in the administration of the army, which has
of late years been engendered. Let me say one word- with
regard to the general hospital of Scutari. I will frankly
admit I know no subject which has caused me so much
anxiety as this, the distance from the scene of action being
such that although you may send out medical stores you
cannot insure their immediate application. I will now
state what .I believe to be the truth. We have been told
that at one time there was not such a thing as a pound of
lint for an hospital containing two thousand men. That
statement created the greatest horror in this country, and
the greatest indignation was expressed against those who
had had charge of this hospital. I have accounts from
medical men, which I will not read, to the effect that never
for one moment was there any deficiency of lint or of any-
thing else. At the time when the army left Yarna the
general hospital was there. An order was given that the
stores there should be sent down to Scutari. That order,
amid the hurry and bustle of departure, was never exe-
cuted. The principal stores remained at Varna. But it
so happened that there were sufficient to meet the diffi-
culty of the moment. There never was positively a defi-
ciency of these things ; but one was apprehended. Un-
der these circumstances the medical officers accepted a
loan from the Turkish government of linen, lint, and
other materials. -A large proportion of the stores which
were sent from home was not unloaded, because when the
ship arrived there was such a pressing for reinforce-
ments as would admit of no delay. There was no positive
deficiency, I say, though one was apprehended. I will
tell you one evil which did arise. There had been engen-
dered during peace a cumbrous system of check and
counter-check. The purveyor required all manner of
forms to be observed before he would issue stores on the
requisition of the medical officers. There was likewise at
the head of the whole establishment an officer, not a
medical man, who, though ho devoted himself indefati-
gably to the performance of his duties, vas not of a rank
to ensure co-operation from those placed under his autho-
rity, or from the Turkish officials. I was not, therefore,
by any means satisfied with this establishment. With
plenty of stores, no one seems to have known where to lay
his hand upon them, and the stores could never be ob-
tained with that rapidity which is necessary in hospitals.
The moment we heard complaints we sent out a commis-
sion of inquiry, and in a private letter, received from one
whose name if it were mentioned would show the. house
that he was indisposed to criticise, it was observed that
sufficient allowance had not been made for the difficulties
of the case, and that it was impossible to prevent con-
fusion from attending-the sudden influx of a thousand
wounded- men. As to the 'lady who -went out from this
country to superintend the nurses, I receive, not only
from medical men, but from others who have observed her
conduct, testimony which,is, is fact, the highest praise
that can be bestowed on any human being. I now return
to the charge made by the right hon. gentleman against
the Government. Let me first say, with regard to the
reinforcements, that I have here a letter from Sir Henry
Ward stating that, in a letter which he had received
from Admiral Boxer, dated the 4th of last month, it was
declared that 20,000 English and French had passed through
the Bosphorus to reinforce the Allies. I have shown that
the total number of men sent out from the first is 54,000
odd; and I ask, in what first year of any-previous war in
which England has been engaged Las she ever sent out such
an army as this? (Hear, har.) It may be said, and with
truth, that we have no reserve. The right hon. gentleman
said he would some day ask the question why we ever went
to Sebastopol at all. I will tell him why. We knew that
that fortress was the stronghold of Russia in the Black
Sea. (Hear, hear.) I admit that the enterprise was one
of great hazard ; but next year it would have been impos
Bible. Round about that mighty fortress was rising, almost
day by day, further chains of forts ; and if it be not de-
stroyed or taken in this campaign it can never be destroyed
or taken. I remember hearing, last session,*of as gentleman
in the City saying, "The war ought to be carried on with the
utmost vigour and determination; but at the same timeno risk
must be run." (Laughter.) If that view could be re-
alised, we should have a golden age of war as well as of
peace. I admit that there is hazard, but I say we ought
to strike with vigour while the place is valuable, and if we
succeed we shalt have destroyed the power of Russia in
the south. I hope the right hon. gentleman (Sir J. Pak
ington) is satisfied with that answer, which is the only one
I can give him. Last session many, hon. gentlemen in this
house spoke of the war in language which almost filled me
with superstitious fears, en account of its arrogance and
presumption. We did not enter 'upon this expedition in
that spirit—(hear, hear)—and we have felt that our
greatest difficulty is that -of haviiag to create an army
and maintain it simultaneously. See the difficulties we
have had to encounter. We have no compulsory service
whatever in England except compulsory service for home
defence. We have to trust, therefore, entirely to vo-
lunteers. You cannot create an army as other govern-
ments can by the stroke of a pen. You must get the
men who are willing to come, bat on the other hand
when those men do come you have got a material
which no conscription in the world ever produced.
(Cheers.) You have men, not dragged from their reluctant
homes against their wills, and from peaceful pursuits, to be
forced into scenes of blood and horror to which they were
averse. You have got men animated with the highest
s,
api rbiit ti
omne, na rduyng ouarnd ran
dk vs eanrteu
fir ol
luesd, abcyt unix te end
whoby t
can h
neverightes
say that any one of the hardships to which they were ex-
posed has been forced upon them by a tyrannical Govern-
ment. Well, you have had this difficulty, but you have
had another: you have had for some time a large emigra-
tion from this country. You have had an emigration go-
ing on from Ireland especially, which has dried up the
sources of population ; you have had at the same time

great activity in commerce and manufacture. The recruit-
ing sergeant has had to compete against that; and when I
look back to war times, and see what were the means
taken to get men, and that with all their efforts they could
only raise twenty-four thousand men in one year ; and
when I look at what has been done this year, a year not
expired, and see that, including what has been raised for
the East India Company, we have, by free enlistment, had
come to our standard something like 40,000 men, I say
that I do look with confidence to the augmentation of
' our army. We are getting men, not faster than they are
wanted, but we are getting men very fast, and drilling them
ready for service. Lord Hardinge has made this regulation,
that he will not allow a man to go out till he is thoroughly
ardiie. nnigi
ea
.s
Ie ohna
vt
eh
se e fra sv
ehdi
rt
do
depreciapractisedteiants hteeho
ns ee uturvisiencoodfse theio.
nL-Mco
hri dni
and I have served others as
commanders-in-chief, and I have been able to see what are
Lord Hardinge's talents and powers under circumstances of
very great difficulty. If you look at the nature of the suc-
. _

ces;e; which our army has achieVed in the Crimea, I think
this will strike every man, that, next after the indomitable
courage of the men, comes the skill with which they use their
weapons, and the superiority of the weapons placed in their
hands. If it had not been for Lord Hardinge, I do not
.be-
lieve that you would have had a division armed with the Mime
rifle. I do not mean that it was Lord Hardinge-that sent
them out, but I' mean that 'Lord Harding°, when he was at
the Ordnance, infused new 'life into that department, and
threw aside old prejudices entertained even by such a
_man
Sir Charles Napier to the latest day. of his life. Well, 1e
Hardinge forced the Minie rifle into the service, while his re- 1
ime.
gulation was, that no soldier should be sent out who was i
practised in the M ' What is the opinion of the army no
to the use of that weapon ? Why, Sir George Catheart's divi-
sion in action at Inkerman, when they saw other men Mu
seized their Minis rifles and threw away their muskets.
It is
not so much the use of the weapon but the confidence . ,
of the
men that is gained, and the result is, that instead of firingic a
random as in old battles (and I think I have seen can lat.
tions that only one shot in 600 took effect) yousee
the soldier use his weapon with the same facility as a
game-
keeper
handles his fowling-piece-and with the distinct.
ave
in-
tention of making every shot tell. Well, I say, we have had this army to drill to arms and to send out. Men are
coming in rapidly. We shall be able to establish a large re-
serve at the Crimea, and I hope it will not be said, as T,
said last year, that we put out our whole force and left
nothing behind ; and that we have men at home whom We
ought to have sent out. I have heard gentlemen say they
have actually sent out a reinforcement of four, five, or six
regiments. What they have done now they could have
done
five or six months ago. Could they ? In the first place, how
long does it take to make a soldier ? But the regiments have
been sent out. Some of these regiments came from
foreign
service, but were skeleton regiments, more fitted for Prri"
But
son duty than anything else. They had to be reformed.
some of these regiments were positively not in England'
The Duke of Newcastle sent for them'from Canada and from
India. And when you say this force could have been sent
out three months ago, it did not exist three months age-
And when you say you should have sent out battalions, you
men,
could not create men out • of nothing, You must first get
you must then drill the men and form them into
soldiers, or else the reputation of our arms would be
lessened by sending men
w are insufficient for their
duty. (Hear, hear.) ho
sir, I hope the house will
I think that the Government has not been neglectful in
the matter of reinforcement% and that, at any rate,
if it has not done that which no Government could do,
everything which they wished, yet that without the material
in their hands they have done their utmost. And again I
repeat, look back to the expeditions in which the Govern-
ment has been engaged,
look.at the expedition of 1793, at
the Duke of York's, and at Sir Ralph Abercrombie's, look at
the numbers then sent and compare- them with the army sent
out now. But, then, it is said that the army has been ex-
posed to privations, that they have been made to fight battleh
of the most sanguinary description, which could have been
avoided by foresight at home. No foresight at home could
have strengthened the army more than it has been strength-
ened. It is true that sanguinary battles Shave been fought,
but in former times England never went into a war but she
came out of her first campaign with liar reputation none of
the best ; but I want to know whether at any period of our
history our military character stood so high as it does now ?
(Cheers.) I want to know what the efact of pulic opinion
in Europe has been on the manner in which our battalions
have conducted themselves in this war. I want to know what
has been the effect of public opinion in Russia—what has been
the effect' on their own army? The critics, who say hat our men are exposed unnecessarily to sanguinary battltes, that
Alma ought to have been turned instead of being taken, are
persons who, I think, can never have studied the map of'
the country on which they have expended their criticism,
or they would have seen that the ground to the right
of the Russians in that action was so steep and inac-
cessible that it was not worth the attention of the
Russian commander ; and . if the military critics who
have attacked the reputation of Lord Raglan for not turning
the position had reflected for one moment, they would have
seen that probably the commander of the Russians could have
desired nothing better than to find the fleet, and the English
and the French army, separated, and his own army posted
between the ships and those armies. So likewise it has been
alleged against Lord Raglan that he eight to have assaulted
Sebastopol after the battle of Alma. Sir, I do not know that
we who sit here are very good judges of that. (Hear.) I
know that very eminent military meu view such
an under-
taking as a hazard that could not be justified. Talk of lead-
ing flesh and blood against batteries, but would you have
taken these men against a town in which it was impossible to
say at that moment how many of Prince Menschikoff's army
was still in it, of which the strength was not then known.
Such a proceeding might have exposed them to be massacred
in detail. I believe that eminent non who had command of
that army knew better than those who say they are com-
petent, and give an opinion in their own chambers
of military • affairs. Now, sir, is it true as asserted
by the right honourable baronet that we took no
precaution with regard to warm clothing ? why,
the warm clothing of which unfortunately a large portion was
lost in the Prince, and let me say, when I speak of that ship,
the loss has been greatly exaggerated as to the value. The
cargo has been said to have been worth half a million. I
unders.aad it did not cost more than 180,0001, No doubt
it was a heavy loss, but another ship immediately sneceeded
it, a}ul I hail a letter, two or three days ago, from an onlocr
ou the spot, who informed me that Captain Wetherell, who
had been deputed by Lard Raglan to go to Constantinople to
procure articles of clothing, had executed his commission
with such success that it had more than compensated for the
lees Of the FrinCel(Cheers.) But, mormero am 11APPY to

say, that when General Estcourt wrdte to inform me of the
loss of the Prince, he said, " We have lost at one swoop all
that your foresight, or the foresight of your office had pro-
vided;" but it so happened that Lord Raglan k.nd the Quar-
ter-master had applied for clothing, and the answer was, All
has been ordered, a great
part is finished, a great pain is at
sea ; and the letter of Lord Raglan asking for supplies was
forestalled by the supplies sent. I believe there is a great
misapprehension with regard to the manner in which the
troops should be clothed. I have a letter from a gentleman:t
who knows well the climate of the Crimea, who says °' Don't
believe the,statements as to average temperature ; follow the
custom of the country—clothe them in skins, not woollens:
Then an officer who has had great experience in Arctic
searches came to me and said, " Have nothing to do with
skins—stick to woollens." (Laughter.) I thought it safest
to take the advice of both, and I hope that before long every
man may have his change, not only of skins, but of woollens.
I am not speaking of changes of the uniforms ; that is a
matter of course. But besides that we have got for every
man a sealskin cap coming well round the face and ears.
We have for every man leggings which he can draw over the
trousers, and a loose coat, and under that he can ,wear along
with it a waistcoat of tweed lined with hareskin, and rabbit-
skin, and catskin. (Laughter.) A great coat, not of the
usual pattern, but of the Canada pattern. We have got
some boots called the Canada boots, and we have, besides
that, a coat made from sheepskin. Government felt with
regard to these, that time was everything. To build huts
to send out was a process far from meeting the emergency.
In the meanwhile we telegraphed to Lord Westmoreland and
to Lord Stratford. Lord Stratford sent a gentleman to pro-
cure Austrian huts, constructed in that country; he also took
measures to procure others from Malta and Constantinople.
I trust, therefore, that they got an immediate supply, and if
we send huts, I hope that our huts will be as luxuries, as ad-
ditions to what are already there. (Cheers.) I have given
this point in detail, which is rather wearisome to the house,
but it must be recollected what is the charge against us. The
charge is a heartless neglect of on: duty, and indifference to
the comforts of what I believe to be the bravest army that
ever existed. Ido not believe that any action was ever more
brilliant in point of attack than that of Alma. I do not be-
lieve that you ever had an instance of such signal self-reliance
and confidence as the resistance to the charge of cavalry by
the 93d Highlenders. The reginiant disdained to alter its for-
mation, but every man remained as he stood two deep, and
when the Russian cavalry approached, the Russian horsemen
would not face the encounter but fled. Then, at Inkerman,
at the commencement of the battle the troops were surprised
as, they were at the battle of Talavera—a battle which had
been prepared for weeks. I believe that so far back as the
24th of October, it had been arranged at a council of war,
immense efforts had been made to bring men and cannon to
the Crimea for 100 miles and more. Not only every cart and
bullock, but, they tell me, that every carriageland horse was
employed to bring up the army post ; and even at the last day
the army was moved at the rate of 42 miles a day, a feat which
I believe is unparalleled in history. Everything was made to
depend on that stroke. The Emperor was assured that the
thing was certain, and after the battle came back the men
who had been keeping their lonely watch, who had heard the
bells tolling in the town, and the murmur of men at mass.
That sight, no doubt, the religious ceremonies of the church
had been used to invest the attack with a more sacred
character, and appeals were made to the patriotism of
these men. In the morning, favoured by the mist, these
columns broke in on our men, some of whom were
actually returning from the trenches, where they had
spent the night, and who were compelled to go back
without food, and I know not how many hours. 8,000
men withstood the attack. The right hon. baronet brings it
as an accusation that' there were only 8,000 men, as if the
whole army consisted of 8,000 men, and as if a commander's
whole business was not to ooncentrate his force in' masses

where the enemy was weak. Well, eight thousand English
soldiers stood there for hours, beating back column after
column brought up one after another, and hurling them into
the ravines up which- they had ascended. Ido not believe
that in the history of any battle, however illustrious, you
will find an instance of au assault being successfully resisted
under circumstances so adverse, for so long a periol, and of
such immense loss. That was a soldier's battle. There you
saw the character of the English soldier. The men stood by
their regimental officers, but it was a battle of the soldiers
standing in ranks. (Cheers.) I rejoice in the numbers of
letters from soldiers that have appeared in the papers. I re-

joice that the people of England should know of what mate-
rials their armies are composed. I ask you to look at the
army in which the office of Judge-Advocate is a sinecure.
(Cheers.) I ask you to read the letters of these men marked
by a simple piety—men writing to their wives, saying that
they have been preserved in answer to the prayers of their
children. I saw a letter from a soldier at Inkermann, in
which be says, as marking the quality of the officers, that
eight officers were laid in one grave, and that there was not
a dry eye. See these men showing all these gentle qualifica-
tions, men who have shown mercy to the vanquished, under
circumstances of horrid provOcation ; and yet, as Sir William
Napier says, speaking of one of the Peninsular battles when
the British infantry is attacked by overpowering numbers
then it is that yoU see with what strength and majesty they
fight. There is one side of that picture which has been alluded
to by the right hon. baronet, and I admit the full justice of
the melancholylloss we have sustained in the death of General
Cathcart. No man was more valued than he : he had qualifi-
cations of the highest order' and his death is a public loss which
cannot-easily be replaced. But it is indeed to the credit of Eng-
land to see not only the devotion and the courage with which
these generals exposed themselves, but also it is impossible not
lio struck, in reading the names of those who have fallen
with the number who have gone from a sense of duty, and
who have shownln this campaign how little even the posses-
sion of wealth and luxurycan impair the spirit of English gen-
tlemen and of the English people from the lowest to the highest
rank. I lament as much as the right hon. gentleman the losses
which we have sustained. I cannot look round without

knowing that there are here the parents of some of those

lant men who have so cheerfully laid down their lives in the

service of their country. But England has suffered greater
losses in former battles, like 'Talavera and Albnera, where

4,800 men fell ; while in these engagements, from beginnini,
to end, less than 1,500 men have perished by the sword. The*

•
largest loss has been by disease—a loss more disheartening to
the army than loss in battle, and carrying with it less of
glory. There have died in hospital from disease and from
wounds in tiv whole campaign 2,782, of whom about 150
have died from wounds ; killed in battle, 1,330 ; total loss,
4,l32—which is much less than the exaggerated statements
that I have seen. And let me speak of the assistance which
has been given by our allies. It is delightful to see men,
placed in such a position, entertaining for each other such
respect The English army cheered with a hearty cheer the
advance of General Bosquet's division when it came to the
relief of our shattered columns, and I believe the charge in
which the French awl our men got mixed together was a
good type of the union which binds the two nations together.
(Cheers.) They say that each army is gaining qualifications
from the ocher, that wo are acquiring the dash of the French,

and that the French are acquiring the firmness of the English.
I believe that the effect on the people of both countries is
far greater than could have been produced by any diplomacy
however skilfull, or by any treaty. I ask those who are
desponding, and who are the persons perhaps who were so
valiant two months ago, to reflect what was the condition of
England at the commencement of this war, and what
it was in previous wars. In previous wars we had alli-

antes who took our money, and were not always true
to their engagements, but now we have an alliance with the
most military nation on the face of the earth, formerly our
rivals and once our enemies, and which is now bound to us, I
believe, by firm friendship. We have placed public opinion
in Europe on our side, we have placed Russia in a state of
complete isolation, her ports completely sealed, her flag not
daring to show itself in any part of the Black See formerly
her own. This is the effect of the first campaign, and I ask

you to point out in the history of England any campaign in
which you can point out such a result. (Cheers.) I ask
those who assert that Government have omitted to do all that
it was their business to do, and committed everything they
ought not to do, and I ask them how this army was organise.'
and sent out, this army which has never met the enemy ex-
cept for victory? I say the military power of England stands
higher than it ever did, and if you think that you ought to
trust us with these powers do so. .But the country is deter-
mined, at all hazards and at all costs that the army of Lord
Raglan shall be supported. (Cheers.) If the House of Com-
mons does not answer to that feeling of the country, the
House of Commons must take the consequences. We are

engaged hi a war we have entered reluctantly ; we must carry
it on vigorously. To obtain that which is the object of all

war—peace—you must conquer it ; and I say no exertions
should be spared to enable us by the vigour of pur operations

to attain th.ose ends. I say, further, as far as the Govern-
ment is concerned, if you think that Government is to be en-

. .
trusted with these powers, you must enable them to carry out
honestly the will of the nation, that the noblest army that
ever left our shores shall have the means of a perfect
triumph. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. LAYARD said they had before them the alternative of
avoiding all reference to what had taken place with reference
to the war, Of to see what could be done for the future, and
support the Government in carrying it out with the greatest
vigour. With regard to the conduct of the Government, his
feelings, as he believed was the case with almost every
other member in the house, were conflicting. Either he
must forget all that had occurred in the management of the
present war, and place confidence in the Government for the
future, without any reference to, their policy-past, present,
or future—or, on the other hand, he ought to warn the coun-
try against those calamities which might be in store for it, and
point out those neglects which had occurred, and thereby ob-
tain, if possible, from her Majesty's ministers such an expres-
RIM of opinion as might warrant him in placing confidence in
them for the future. There could be no 'doubt that at the
present moment her Majesty's Government were making
every effort to take the groat fortress of Sebastopol, and he
gave the Government great credit for desiring to do all in '
their power to effect that object. But he believed the capture
of Sebastopol, however gigantic that undertaking might be,
was but the first link in the chain—the first step in the great
war in which we were now engaged. He believed that very
shortly we should have to choose between a peace which might
be disgraceful and utterly inconsistent with the sacrifices of
blood and treasure which we had made, and a struggle which,
withrespect to its magnitude and results, had perhaps never
been equalled in the history of the world. (Cheers.) Such
being his convictions, he could not help saying that after what
had passed he did not feel that confidence in her Majesty's
Government which be wished he could feel. If he couid be-
lieve that the mismanagement that had occurred was merely
the result of inexperience, and that for the future we might
hope for better things, he would still place confidence in the
4 Government ; but he believed that that mismanagement was
to be attributed to the want of a definite policy. (Hear.)
He believed, moreover, that it was impossible for a Govern-
ment composed as the present was to have a definite policy.
(Hear.) How could a definite policy be expected from a
cabinet which included representatives of all the political par-
ties in this country—from a representative of the Holy
Alliance down to a representative of the extreme of Liberal-
ism. (Cheers,) It was impossible to expect anything but a
half-and-half policy from a cabinet so composed.; but a half-
and-half policy and half-and-half Measures would not do.
What had taken place during the last two years in reference to
this question ? During that period he had repeatedly endea-
voured to warn the Government and the country upon the
subject ; but the same appeal was made to him over and over
again as was made by the -tight hon. gentleman (Mr. S. Her-
bert) that night —namely, that the' appearance of dissension
on this question should be avoided —. that they should
show themselves to be a united nation. "We admit our
errors," said the. Government. " Have confidence in us, and
we will endeavour to bring the question to a satisfactory set-
tlement." (Hear, and laughter.) That confidence had been
given by the House of Commons almost without debate. At
the close of the last session he (Mr. Layard) ventured to warn
the Government 'of the dangerous calamities which were
likely to befal our army in the East. Again a similar appeal
was u m
only policy pursued by the Government
was to yield to a pressure from without, then any men whom
would be equally capable with the present Ministers to admin-
ister the afftirs of the country. He believed that our allies,
the French, had almost taken the initiative in every move-
ment appertaining to the present war. • The Emperor of the
yomai
gd het t o
meet him b ;
te butyro o
u h
Westminster
asked whether
H Hall
atu that a t
Charing-crosss ta t e s-
manship 1 If the
French, las Foreign "Minister, awl our representative at Paris,
were entitled to great praise in reference to this war ; but our
Government had only mismanaged it. Before the com-
mencement of the war her Majesty's Ministers did not believe
that there would be a war. It was almost impossible to
, i bring themselves to the conviction that a great potion had
- - _