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I r

THE LOSS OF THE ALMA

CHAMBERS or OFFICES to be LET, at 4,
ADELPHI-TERRACE, STRAND, in excellent con-
dition, and beautifully situated. The ground floor and draw-
ing-rooms may be adapted for a public company, or other
purposes. They may be viewed on application to the house-
keeper, resident. For further particulars apply to Mr. Thos.
Jennings Ford,' Esq., 8, Pinner's-hall, Old Broad-street,
City.

stances, was the first consideration, and it was
immediately, decided that something -:should
be done to procure it. It was procurable at Mokha,
but Mokha was 30 miles 'off, and the wind at this
season of the year is generally dead against a retuin
from that place,: and the only means of conveying
the water is by native buggalows, which it was
hoped might also be obtained there. Accordingly
Mr. Baker, the second officer of the Alma, and Mr.
Newall offered to go to Mokha in- one of the ship's
boats." They sailed at 10 o'clock with a small stock
of biscuit, half a bucket of water, and a dozen of
beer, as a viaticum for the 10 persons who left in
the boat. It was also arranged that on their arrival
at Mokha either a foot passenger, or a dromedary
post, or a boat shoul,d be despatched to Aden for
relief, as her Majesty's ships Furious and Cyclops
were both in that harbour when the Alma left.
Previous to leaving Aden Mr. Newall had arranged
with Capt. Pullen that the Cyclops should leave on
Monday, the 13th to' revisit all the stations on the
Red Sea, and take some further soundings on the
line of the cable. The cable is laid along the western
shore, and about 20 miles in that direction from'the
Kharnesh group, where the wreck lay, so that it
was almost hopeless to expect that .the CyClops
would approach near enough to discover the disas-
ter ; besides which, it was quite uncertain When she
would be in the same latitude. Mesirs. Baker and
Newall reached Mokha on Monday morning, and
found the Turkish_ Governor there most ready to
render every assistance in his power, and during
the same day three buggalows left, two laden with.
water, and the third with half-a-dozen soldiers
—a kindly precaution on the .part of the Governor,
but one hardly necessary when there were above 20
English officers present on the reef. These boats
did not arrive before relief was providentially
brought by the Cyclops.
Mokha, once the chief emporium of the coffee trade
in the Red Sea, is now almost deserted by trade and
~.traders, and- the---Itrntl: -communication with-Men,
which used to be effected 'on an emergency in 48
hours, is now nearly abandoned, and the risk of
transit is so great that it is not to be depended upon.
Under these circumstances Messrs. Baker rand
Newall determined to go on to Aden in the ship's
boat, and to try and catch the Cyclops at the nar-
row straits by Perim through which they knew
the ship must pass. In this, however, they were
unsuccessful ; so, after staying a short time at
Perim, the brave fellows started again towards
Aden, and intercepted the Cyclops about 10 miles
south of the straits. Their sad tale was soon told,
and it is needless to say that Capt. Pullen and the
officers of the Cyclops did not spare her gracious
Majesty's coal in steaming towards the wreck, then
distant about 80 miles. Mr. Newall returned in the
Cyclops, but Mr. Baker went on to Aden, and on
his arrival here on Wednesday morning, the 15th,
found no steamer in the harbour, the Furious hav-
ing left for the African coast on the Sunday night
preceding. The people on the reef were relying en-
tirely upon the Furious, not knowing that any other
assistance awaited them, and the provisions were
eked out to last till Thursday afternoon, that being
the earliest day on which aid could be expected to
arrive from Aden. . .

-.7.
(Front the Correspondent of the Times.)
ADEN, JUNE 17.
On the morning of the 15th intelligence reached
Aden of the stranding of the Alma on the Moose•d-
jerah, one of the reefs, or rather islets, which form
the Kharnesh group, about 70 miles to the north of
Perim. The news was brought by Mr. Baker, the
second officer, who in company with Mr. Newall,
the contractor for the Red Sea Telegraph cable,
had volunteered to go to Mokha in one of the
ship's boats to procure a supply of water. To the
prudence and foresight of these two gentlemen is
due the merit of having secured for the unfortu-
nate crew and passengers the readiest relief
available, and thereby of having shortened the
sufferings of all, and, in all probability, of
having saved the lives of many. The following ac-
count of the catastrophe, for which I am mainly in-
debted to one 'whose services on the sad occasion
will long be rememberedwith gratitude by the pas-
senaers generally, bat who does not wish his name
mentioned, will be read with deep interest by the
public at home :
At 6 a.m. of Saturday, the 11th of June, the
Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer Alma,
commanded by Captain Henry, left Aden with
about 400 persons on board, of whom upwards of
150 were passengers, many of them invalids from
India returning. to England on furlough. Of these
there were 30 ladies, and about as many children
and infants. Captain Henry had been ailing at Aden
and had been obliged to make over his charge to
Mr. Davis, the chief officer. On Saturday. night he
bad a severe attack of fever, and only left his cabin
early the following morning to see his fine vessel
hard and fast upon a reef.
The circumstances of such a disaster cannot be
fairly discussed without a formal investigation, so
that, although the facts, as stated in this narrative,
may be.fully relied upeniaa' •such, the responsibility
attached to them must be apportioned by a proper
and competent tribunal. It is but honest, however,
to state that all concerned seem at a loss to account
satisfactorily for the catastrophe. The reef is in part
an island rising about 40 feet out of the sea, and the
night was 'suffieiently clear to show the outline of
the rock at a distance more than ample to have
enabled those in charge, had each man been on the
alert, to steer clear of danger.
Between 1 and 2 o'clock on Sunday morning, the
12th, the Alma was stopped and a sounding taken
to check her position, it being supposed that she was
off Mokha, where it is usual to change the course,
so as to pass to the eastward of the reefs forming part
of the Kharnesh group. The chief officer reported
to Capt. Henry a depth of 23 fathoms, which agrees
with the soundings marked on the chart in the posi-
tion in which the vessel was supposed to be off
Mokha. Capt. Henry thereupon desired the course
to be altered, with the concurrence, I believe, of the
chief officer, and also of old Busheer, known
to be the best pilot on the station, and who had ac-
companied the Cyclops, during her late survey of
the in-shore reefs and soundings for the Red Sea
Telegraph Company. The weather was fine, and
the moon (nearly full), had set about an hour, when
a sudden but gentle shock was felt, succeeded by
two others, and then the vessel suddenly stopped,
and in three minutes lay over on the starboard side,
so as to cover the deck with water half-way up
from the stern to the funnel. It is reported that on
perceiving that something had gone wrong, the en-
gineer was about to back astern, but that Captain
Henry, most providentially divining the true state
of the case, shouted out, " Full speed ; go on 1"
Had the former suggestion been carried out, there
is every reason to fear that the vessel would have
gone down bodily, as, although her bows were high
and dry, there were 24 feet of water under her
stern. On the occurrence of the first shock most of
those on board thought that a buggalow had been
run down ; the truth, however, was soon apparent,
for there was the reef, as plain as the funnel itself,
extending close along from the bowsprit along the
port quarter. Of the 150 passengers, about one-
third were sleeping on deck ; all of those on the
starboard side, both in the cabins and on the deck,
were literally washed about the water amidst
chairs, tables, benches, mattresses, and deck-gear,
before they could get sufficiently on their legs to
reach the saloon, or the port side of the vessel. The
confusion which ensued for a few minutes can only
be described as a Babel, not of tongues, but of
screams. To move about on deck or in the saloon
was impossible, the ship being at an angle of 45
degrees, and everyone believed that in a few mi-
nutes she would founder. The native crew, consist-
ing of some 200 Lascars and Seedees, ran forward,
climbed over the bowsprit, and leaped upon the
reef, and had it not been for the admirable and sys-
tematic manner in which the passengers, stewards,
and four English quartermasters assisted the offi-
cers in getting the people towards he port bul-
warks, and in lowering the boats, there can be no
doubt that most of the Europeans would have found j
a watery grave, or been left to die a lingering
d
and Captains Cooke and Russell,
o
Williams, of the
hour, dragging half-drowned women and children
fea t
Alma herli ~'. , A
were laer Fane,
Majesty's 73d, and Dr.
swimming and diving for the first half
out of their berths, and from among
the debris of
the cabin, where they were jammed by the flow of
water rushing in through the open ports. The stairs
to the cabins were very soon impassable, and a great
proportion of the ladies and children were hoisted
on dock from the arms of these four brave men
through the skylights, and through the ports on the
upper side of the vessel. How every one was ulti-
mately saved cannot be explained by the passen-
gers themselves ; for there were 20 children under
5 years old, and at least 20 ladies so weak and ill
that they could scarcely move alone, even in fine
weather ; and, most wonderful of all, Mr. and Mrs.
Barnes, severally 85 and 79 years of age, who were
returning to England to spend their remaining days
bruised W ithi Within
nh
their
half
iarn
scramble hour
among their great grandchildren, after a residence
of more than half a century in India.
or lashed to the rigging, three boats were afloat and
manned by officers from the ship, stewards, and
cahvatsheo on
deck.d deck, held
heevledr .
passengers, and then the Anglo-Saxon race again
proved that pre-eminence in courage and determi-
nation which have won for them a moral superio-
rity over the whole world. Silence being almost
restored, a roltv of gentlemen lined the port bul-
warks, and every lady and child was carried from
-arm to arm to the gangway, and there lowered into
the boats with tender care and perfect safety. Nine
out of ten of them were in their night dresses,
thoroughly drenched, and many of them sadly
one
' theless, the behaviour of these poor sufferers was
most noble ; they neither screamed nor fainted, but
showed implicit trust and perfect obedience to the
gentlemen, who held: them on the bulwarks until
their turn came to 'be passed clown the gang-
way. There was not a single instance of a
white man attempting to get into a boat until
every women and child was cafe on the reef, and
so far was this chivalrous spirit carried out, that
Mr. Davis, the chief officer, had to order a dozen
of the passengers down to help to manage the
boats. His conduct, indeed, and that of the officers,
without exception, after the ship struck, was all
that the most fastidious or most desponding could
have wished or hoped for. Within one hour after
the catastrope not a woman or child was left on
board, and by six a.m. tents were rigged, and mat-
tresses landed to protect them from the scorching
sun and the sharp coral rocks. Poor Mr. Hatchet,
the purser, appeared overwhelmed with his position
and responsibility almost immediately on landing ;
and Mr. Lionel Gisborne, who was returning to
England after having laid the telegraph from Suez
to Aden, and who was au acquaintance both of Cap-
tain Henry and Mr. Davis, was requested to take
charge of everything on shore ; all the officers of
the ship being fully occupied in the boats saving
provisions and clothing. Not a native lent a band
until they began to feel that, their own lives de-
pended on landing water and biscuits, and, even
then, their first efforts on board the ship were con-
fined to plunder. The Indian officers, however,
who were returning home on furlough, were too
determined and energetic '
t o permit such insubordi-
nation, and therefore, while giving the officers of
the ship every credit for goodwill and the most
active exertions, not one of
them, we are assured,
will deny that if the passengers had not taken upon
themselves nearly the entire management both of
landing the provisions and also of distributing them
on shore, it is more than probable that numbers
would have perished on the reef. Before nine
o'clock, that is within six hours after the vessel
struck, a hot breakfast was served out to the ladies
and children, and beef and biscuit to the men.
But another serious dan • gei now threatened. It
was found that all the tanks, except a very small
one in the forecastle, and the ice-house; were filled
with salt water. Relief could not be expected for
four days, at the very earliest, and even that was a
chance which the most sanguine scarcely dared to
hope for. As it was, there were but 15 gallons of
water to distribute among 400 persons. In addi-
tion to this, however, about 10 bags of biscuits and
as many of rice were saved, besides most of the
live stock, some 50 dozen of beer, and eight or
10 dozen of wine. Water, under these circum-

THE LONDON.—The attention of
off ere Gent d
inlemen
se
is especially drawn to the advantages the
elegant and spacious Saloons, which fulfil all the require-
ments of a West-end club of the most'arbatocratic and exclu-
sive character.
Won trouve dans la Salle de Lecture non seulement les
rneilleurs journeaux Anglais, mais auSsi Allemand, Francais,
et Beige.
F. SAWYER, Proprietor,l9l, Fleet-street.

THE LONDON.—S AWYE R'S famous
LONDON DINNER, consisting of two soups, two
fish, two entrees,joints, two sweets, cheese, and salad, at a
fixed charge of 2s. 6d. (attendance, 3d.), is served from Two
till Eight in the spacious Saloon.
In the Coffee-room, Dinners from the joint, with vegetables,
cheese, and salad, Is. 6d. (attendance 3d.), and soup, fish, en-
trées, &c., a la carte, are served from One till Nine o'clock.
Ladies' Private Rooms and Dining Saloons. Spacious and
well-ventilated Wine, Coffee, and Smoking Saloon.
An extensive and carefully selected stock of Rhenish, 310-•
selle, and other Wines, imported expressly for the London
Dinner. Open on Sundays from Four till Nine.
F. SAWYER, Proprietor, 191, Fleet-street.

THE ANCHOR, 67, Cheapside. The largest,
beat .ventilated, most comfortable, and superior
DINING, Coffee, Wine, and Smoking SALOONS in the city.
Hot joints from 12 till 8, and soup, fish, entrees, &c., a la
carte. •rhe famous luncheon bar and coffee-room furnished
with every delicacy, from 10 till 8. Ladies' private rooms and
dining saloons, spacious and well ventilated. An extensive
and carefully selected stock of foreign wines of every descrip-
tion. Wedding breakfasts and other entertainments con-
tracted for.—FISHER and ROBERTS, the Anchor, nearly
opposite King-street, Cheapside.

On the afternoon of Monday a boat was sent to
Zooghr to look for water. She returned on Tuesday
evening w;th a small supply, which had been ob-
tained by digging to a depth of five feet. It was
very brackish, and probably nothing but seawater
which had been partially filtered through the sand
On the arrival of this boat an attempt was made by
the natives to seize it for themselves, but a dozen
English officers, armed with cutlasses and bayonets,
and backed by the officers of the ship, soon showed
them how fruitless any such attempt would be. One
of the more daring and insolent of the gang was
cut down, whereon the remainder took to their
heels. The wounded culprit, I am happy to hear, is
likely to recover. On Monday evcning..Mr. Hatchet,
the purser of the ship, died of sunstroke. Had the
ice and mustard been at hand which were procured
from the ship the following day the poor fellow's
life might have been saved, inasmuch as during the
four days' exposure on the reef there were eight or
ten other cases of coup de soleil, probably in a
milder form, which were effectually treated by the
application of ice behind the ears, mustard poultices
on the calves of the legs, and douches of salt waters
poured over the body.
To resume the narrative. As soon as the water
was safely deposited in the store tent, where Mr. L.
Gisborne acted as caterer the whole time, and with
such success, that the small stock on hand seemed,
like the widow's cruise, to be unfailing, and. to be
blessed not only to the preservation of life but of
health also, it was found that the imported
supply sufficed to give one pint to each person and
no more. The day previous the natives had been
allowed one bottle of beer between three, and some
cocoanuts which they had looted from the ship.
To the Europeans was given a bottle of beer each,
to the ladies half a bottle of claret, and to the chil-
dren about a pint of arrowroot. None of them had
received any water. Until midnight the chief
steward of the Alma (reported on all hands to be a
most valuable 'man, thoroughly up to his business,
and who executed Mr. Gisborne's orders with the
greatest energy and the most prompt goodwill), in
conjunction with Mr. Gisborne himself, and guarded
by a line of sentries composed of the English officers
and passengers, then served out a pint of water to
every man, woman, and child, and, brackish as it
was, they drank it with eagerness and heartfelt
gratitude. The same night two other boats were
despatched to Zooghr with 30 natives, the chief
engineer, and an English quartermaster, and on
Wdnesday afternoon, when the party sailed away
in the Cyclops, those boats had net returned. The
reason of this is not known as yet, but it is sus-
pected that the natives, who were well supplied
with biscuit, and 10 of whom were to remain on
the island to dig fresh wells, finding themselves
with plenty of food and water and under the shade
of palm trees, refused to work, and are still com-
fortably located there. It is to be hoped that the
Furious will soon give a good account of them.
During the same night, also, one of the ship's five
boats was missed, and at daylight she was not to
be seen. Had she drifted she must have been visi-
ble, as the wind was light, but in calling over the
muster-roll in the morning two of the Seedees, em-
ployed as trimmers, were found missing, and it is
conjectured that, knowing as they did that Mr.
Newall and Mr. Baker had gone to Mokha, they I
stole the boat and tried to get there also—a vain
attempt, in which they will probably perish.
These two circumstances occurring together,
spewed our people the possibility of all the boats being
stolen, and as their last resource was to move in a
body to Jebel Zooghr and dig their own wells for
water, the sentries were doubled, so that there were
always 20 armed men, and of the right sort, avail-
able at a moment's notice. Some few of the foreign
passengers, and especially M. Gautier, a French-
man, and an Austrian gentleman, whose name I do
not remember, heartily co-operated with the Eng-
lishmen in this and other arduous duties.
Tuesday morning found the inhabitants of the
reef with six gallons of water about 15 dozen of
beer ; but, some tins of vegetables and preserved
soups having been saved, a cu pful of each was served
out to all the Europeans, and also a little arrowroot
to the children. The effect of this meal was instan-
taneous; the most desponding cheered up, the sick
gained strength, and the ladies, who, to their hon-
our be it said, are reported to have borne up with
quiet resignation, crowded round the store tent to
thank Mr. Gisborne and the chief steward for the
best basin of soup they.had ever tasted. The natives
got one bottle of beer among three, the Europeans
half a bottle each, and the ladies one bottle of clare
among three. Thus passed Tuesday, leaving on hand
about a glass of liquor each, comprising all sorts, to
sustain the unfortunates on Wednesday and Thurs-
day, the latter being the earliest day whereon they
could anticipate relief. Had, relief, however, not
arrived on Wednesday, the party would have been
obliged to repair to Zooghr; but there were only
four boats available for the purpose, and the pas-
sage in a broiling sun would have been attended
with the greatest danger, especially to the delicate
ladies and children.
Matters therefore began to look very gloomy.
Thus far there had been meat and drink sufficient
to sustain life, though the heat was so excessive
that many, doubtless, suffered not a little from
thirst. Now it became a question how the next
24 hours were to be passed without any drink at
all. On Tuesday night, however, a report got
abroad that two lights were visible, and as they
were observed to move about irregularly, none
could make out what they portended. Capt. Henry,
however, ordered a blue light to be burnt and a
rocket to be fired. A lantern was also hoisted on
the highest tent pole; but no friendly
answered these demonstrations, and the hopes
-which had begun to arise in the breasts of
Several
many were doomed to disappointment.
more such lights appearing daring the night, they
were ultimately discovered to be the momentary
reflection of the moon upon the crests odd distant
waves which bounded the hcrizon.• At ylight,
however, a cry rose from lialf-a-do7,en of the tents
signal
that a steamer was in sight. It turned out to be
for the reef. The reaction from despair to hope
the Cyclops, about eight miles off, steaming direct

_ y_ _
";;-'7

which the sight afforded overpowered several of the
ladies, and Dr. Williams and Mr. Oisborne served
out to each of them half a tumbler:of claret (nearly
all the remaining stock), to prevent hysterics and
fainting fits. A boat was inunediately despatched
to meet the Cyclops, and the officers and men of
that vessel, and Messrs. Newall and Brunton, who
were also on board, will never again hear such a
cheer of 'welcome as they received from the- 400
voices in the reef, all husky as they were with
parched throats, apd otherwise subdued by hard-
ship and suffering. The Cyclops had hardly an-
chored when a water-boat was on shore, and the
brave sailors helped, as British sailors only can
help, every one who crowded round them for a
draught. The second boat was appropriated to the
natives, and the water brought in four succeeding
ones was stored on shore for the use of the crew.
Eleven gallons of soup, three of tea, and as many
of coffee were ready in half an hour, and ten mi-
nutes later all felt restored and happy. By_ eight
o'clock every. lady and child was comfortably
berthed in the Cyclops' cabins, 'every officer 'readily
givingup his accommodation and placing whatever
he had at their absolute disposal. The remaining
passengers gradually collected the few boxes and
parCels which had been saved, and the quarter-deck
of the CyclOps presented the appearance of a large
camp where the sexes were not readily distinguish-.
able by the form of their apparel. --Motley, indeed,
was the sight, when they anchored-in the-harbour
of Aden ; but gratitude, deep fervent'gratitude,.was
in the hearts and on the lips of the rescued towards
their deliverers; and the face of every Briton
,be-
longing to the Cyclops bore a smile of satisfaction
that they had, under God, been instrumental in
affording such providential assistance: to , their
countrymen and countrywomen. The passengers
will doubtless bear their. own testimony to the
attention,, kindness, and sympathy, which they ex;
perienced at the hands of. Captain Pullen and his
'Officeri.• I -understand'that some document of
had been drawn up, and, if possible, I will
send you a copy of it. I feel assured, moreover,
that the admirable behaviour of the men as well as
of the officers of the Cyclops will not be overlooked
by her Majesty's Government. Several anecdotes
illustrative :of the hearty and generous good will of
the sailors during this trying time, will, I hope,
reach you for publication ; and I have heard from
many that none came near them on. board who were
not pressed to, share in what little the brave Jacks
possessed. If they were at meals it was,—" Take
a bit with us, Sir, it will do you good ;" or, " take a
hearty drink, Sir, and cheer up. With. the same
generous feelings they brought out their kit, offer-
ing to share it with those who had lost nearly all
their clothes. On being reminded by some that they
might not .be able to return what was thus given,
the reply was, " Bless you, Sir, there's plenty more
among the slops." God bless the sailors, I say, for
their noble disinterestedness.
The arrangements made at Aden to receive. the
unfortunate passengers iwere not in that state of
preparation which they ought to have been. The
passengers themselves Will, in all probability, make
known to the Peninsular and Oriental Company as.
well as to the public at home where they conceive
the fault to have been. It was certaiilly:not with
the local authorities, for Brigadier Coghlan wrote
to Captain Coldbeck, the acting Peninsular and
Oriental agent here, the day previous, intimating
to him that he anticipated the return of the CyclOps
from the reef, and offering whatever accommoda-
tion the Government premises, or even treasury,
afforded to aid him in receiving the expected
guests, and in providing ' for their wants. The
agent, however, felt convinced that the Cyclops
would merely touch at the reef, there take in a few
passengers and the mails (which latter; by the way,
were all saved), and proceed on to Suez. Under
this conviction the agent proceeded himself, in
the Furious, on the morning of the 16th,
taking with him a number of divers, with
a view of aiding in . floating the • Alma.
Such provision on his part was undoubt-
edly commendable ; still, the general impres-
sion seems to be that, pending the possi-
bility of the return of the passengers, he. was hardly
justified in quitting his post, more especially as
Captain Osborne, of the Furious, with his officers
and crew, and Captain Henry, with the officers and
crew of the Alma, were on the spot to superintend
any operations in connexion with the stranded ship.
On the arrival of the Cyclops, however, it was found
that Captain Coldbeck had. returned in her, she
having communicated with the Furious about ten
miles distant from Aden. Of course, under the
circumstances, there was more hesitation and delay
than there needed to have been had a different
course been pursued ; but before night most of the
passengers were housed, some in what was once the
Aden Hotel, others in the Government Bungalow,
the Sanitarium, with the residents at Steamer Point,
at the telegraph office, and at the Peninsular and
Oriental, Agency. The most sickly were kept on
board during the night, but the following morning
they had also to be provided for on shore. A few,
who were very ill, were landed at once, and these
being placed under the medical care of Dr. Welsh,
the worthy and able surgeon in charge of the
European General Hospital, could not be better
cared for. All are now waiting the arrival of the
steamers from Bombay and Australia, hourly ex-
pected,-and it is to be hoped that accommodation
will be available in the two ships to take the
sufferers on to Suez.
I ought not to omit to mention that during the
first excitement consequent upon the wreck every
box, trunk, and portmanteau come-at-able was
forced open and rifled by the natives belonging to
the ship. This being a well known' fact, Captain
Henry requested Captain Pullen's assistance to in-
stitute a general searchbn shore. All hands were
accordingly mustered, as if to go afloat, and a guard
of twenty sailors and marines kept them together,
while ten others, accompanied by Captain Pullen,
Captain Henry, and Mr. Gisborne ransacked every
bundle in the place. As very little was found under
this ordeal, the natives were next stripped one by
one, and bags of silver and gold, watches, &c., were
then brought to light. The boatswain had not
commenced to distribute the awards for such in-
famous conduct when the passengers quitted the
reef ; but as Mr. Mayes, the master of the Cyclops,
with twenty men was left there, we doubt not that
by this time the natives have been justly dealt
with.
Capt. Henry and his officers remain on the reef
with all the crew, in the hope of saving the hull of
the vessel. The Furious, as above stated, has gone
to their assistance, and Capt. Pullen, on his return
up the Red. Sea, will in all probability co-operate
in the attempt. • The Alma, built by Mr. Laird, of
Birkenhead, is a noble ip, and of immense
strength, and it is confidently believed that, with
proper appliances and ordinary skill, she may be
got off the reef. Brigadier Coghlan has authorised
Capt. Osborne to avail himself of the services of the
Auckland and Lady Canninc, steamers, should he
fall in with them in the Red Sea, and, with the
united energy and perseverance of such officers and
men, no effort will be left untried to rescue the ill-
fated Alina. The Furious, in all probability, reached
the reef during the afternoon of the 17th.
JUNE 18.
P.S.—The Bombay has just arrived from Bom-
bay, and arrangements have been Made to take
most of the passengers from the Alma on to Suez
this evening. Capt. Potts, the commander, has
offered to do all in his power to accommodate them
on board Should any remain behind they will
proceed on in the Columbia, hourly expected from
Australia.
I
.et

T.HE AUSTRIAN ARMY IN ITAL E

---.--
(From the Special Correspondent of the Miles)
VERON A, JUNE 28.
The advisers of his Imperial Majesty Francis
Joseph have at last made up their minds that it. is '
impossible, under present circumstances,
thet head-
quarters ck,e defend
the line of the Mincio. Accordiny,
of the 2d Army, under Count Schlick,
into Verona last night from Villafran ea ; the head-
quarters of the Ist Army, under .w.i
11113ffen, being
transferred to Mantua. The various corps of the
2d Army will be divided
willand be formed.pla Although
placed 'round Verona,
where entrenched camps
the whole of the Mthus incio is open to the allies, it
doos not seem that they have crossed the river at
any point as yet ; and there are many who fancy
that their backwardness in making an advance is
owing to poliCcal causes
Others believe that they
are waiting till
a strong. force can move from the
eastward, so that these positions may be attacked
on the side of Le
guag° and
Mantua.
Whatever plan of
adopt, whether campaign the allies may finally
assaulted, it
will Mantua be first besieged or Verona
capture be found. a hard undertaking to
either of those places. -We hear that the
allies are
armed with artillery which can. send
shells to
a distance of 8,000 metres. This will
makethe
of fortresses particularly uncomfortable in
eventthe bombardment. But bombarding will
not suffice. There must be a good deal of fighting,
at close quarters before anything can be done.
Verona, Mantua, and the other strongholds of this
great military quadrangle are very mucb. stronger