The Liverpool Standard, and General Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-11-21 00:00:00

ternit
(1

and fatherless in their affliction which the

the national honour has rendered necessary, and

the Scriptures tell us is above all virt

s call to bi

volence comes peculiarly com-

mended to us by the circumstances of the case,

dwell upon with so much pride for the credit of

our common country

is, fortanatelN

occasion to enter into the question as to the ne-

cessity of t

een se

ed by

common consent. But, in whatever light that part

Lave only to do

h the necessities of t

hose who are the immediate

sufferers by it. Our soldiers, our sailors, and our
marines have left their country, their homes, and

their families in the performance of their duty.
They have hazarded their lives, and nobly and
manfully executed all that

as required of them

s to vindicate

the justice of their country's cause, and maintain
the invincibility of the meteor flag of England, the
beacon of protection to the oppressed against all
the tyrants of the earth. In this enterprise of
danger many of them have fallen, and many may
yet fall before the task be fully performed. The
least, then, that we can do—we who sit at home

of the clan

igers—is to contri-

ne ot ou

which the assertion of our common cause has ren-
dered desolate. It is a duty in which all should

a duty to which we should be

doubly stimulated, as an appreciation not only of
the gallant deeds at Alma, at Balaklava, and at
Sebastopol, but in heartfelt sympathy for those
who have suffered so bitterly from the inevitable
casualties.

But why need we enlarge upon this theme ; it
meets an echo wherever the note is sounded, and
town after town, from John o' Groat's to Land's
End, have striven to emulate each other which
should be foremost in the cause. In our own
town the same spirit has been evinced—Ward-
meetings vieing with each other in the extent of
their liberality to the distressed—and the same
feeling pervading all classes, from the princely
merchant to the humblest individual.

THE LOSS OF THE FORERUNNER

THE improvements which have taken place in,
navigation, in the construction of vessels, in the
skill of navigators, and in the knowledge of
tides, currents, shoals, rocks, and other points of

nautical experience, should have tended in a very
material degree to diminish the number of ship-
wrecks—disasters which are so often attended with
the sacrifice of human life. There appears, how-
ever, to have been recently a series of casualties,
not so much to the old-fashioned tubs which
modern science may look on with something like
contempt, but to the triumphs of ship-building
skill, to those vessels whose performances have
testified to their superiority. It is not many
months since the mysterious disappearance of the
City of Glasgow steam-ship, belonging to the
Liverpool and Philadelphia line, excited the deepest
commiseration for the four hundred human beings
on board of her, who were thus prematurely con-
signed to dusky death. Their fate was attributed
to the icebergs, which were known to be floating in
the Atlantic ; and, having heard nothing more of
her, no means were afforded for judging of the
conduct of those to whom she was entrusted. Not
long afterwards came accounts of the wreck of the
City of Philadelphia, a steam-ship, nearly new,
belonging to the same line. The consequences of
the disaster were much less, for the crew and pas-
sengers were saved ; but the wreck of the ship was
attributed to the reprehensible practice of pro-
ceeding at speed too near the dangerous coast of
Newfoundland. But, hardly had the excitement
occasioned by this calamity subsided, when the
intelligence was received that the steam-ship Arctic,
the crack boat of the Collins' line—the vessel whose
performances had only been surpassed by the
Arabia, with a few minutes to spare—had met with
a shock, far more disastrous in its consec

uences,

not far from the scene of the former wreck. Here
was another instance of recklessness, for it was
shown that gin was going at frightful speed not
far from the coast, in a dark night, and in a locality
where fogs are of frequent occurrence,until, meeting
another vessel, the dangers of a collision were past
all remedy.

But the catalogue of wrecked steam-ships is not
closed, for, a fortnight since, we had to record the
loss of the Forerunner, a fine steam-ship built by
Mr. JOHN LAIRD, of Birkenhead, for the African
Steam Navigation Company, and on her voyage
home, having just left Madeira for England. Last
week we published some further particulars relating
to the disaster, and also an extract from Mr.
DRIVER'S book on Madeira, descriptive of the place
where the accident occurred. Since then, Captain

which w

dock_

Ind li

remaining two, lowered without order or--discipline, were
instantly overcrowded. At this juncture, two of the boats
having pushed off to reach a Portuguese fishing-boat,
which providentially passed near to us, .a heavy roller
struck the ship ; she slid forward 'about half her length.
and -went down, headforemost, hi 120 feet water, her pro-

peller standing perpendicular to the water as she descended
with the rapidity of a stone dropped from a height.

some huge monster struggling for life. Four or fiveonl
of these unfortunates were subsequently saved. The tim.

which elapsed between the vessel's striking and
disappearing occupied little more than ten minutes

He then describes the saving of some of the pas-
sengers by the Portuguese fishing-boat, and thus

I will do thecrew of the Forerunner the justice to state

have never had themisfortune to meet with. - I saw three
of them in the cabin passage vainly struggling to save the
captain's box of money, while they left the only woman
and child on board to perish unheeded. Money or men,
however, never reached the deck. To another the captain
gave a bag of gold ; he was true to his trust, and went
down with it.

At the proper time I will not shrink from stating details
which may tend to guard the public from like disasters.
The loss of the Forerunner at Point St. Lorenzo is about
as excusable and accountable as a vessel running against
the Breakwater on her departure from Plymouth. She

an open and safe passage 15 miles in width.
We have also been favoured with the perusal of
a private letter from a resident at Madeira, dated
sth of November, from which we give the follow-
ing extract relating to this melancholy disaster ;

he says,

that some of the passengers attribute the wreck to

something more than an accident :

Lorenzo the

The Forerunner was lost off Point St
end of last week, and the passengers and all us

ing, the captain was much to blame. * * It Was
daylight and smooth water, and he ran her on a rock close
to the Point, after it being remarked to him that he was
too close. Fourteen lives were lost; one, a lady, would

not be saved—her husband, an officer in the army, was
buried in the morning ; a child was saved, and Gibbs is
taking care of it. The Governor of Sierra-Leone was on
board. He went down with the vessel but came up again;
he had a life-belt on. When the captain would not alter
urse, he said, " it is time for me, then, to put on my
le did, and lent one to another

passenger

We may remark, as rather a singular coinci-
dence, that the wreck took place on the same day
as the battle of Balaklava, and the letter from Ma-
deira we have quoted above is dated the same day
as the battle of Sebastopol.

THE WAR IN THE CRIMEA

the many conflicting reports received
from the Seat of War in the East, the official
details furnished by the respective commanders,
the accounts sent almost in anticipation by electric
telegraph, and the confusion of dates, it is not very
easy for the general reader to clearly comprehend
the position of affairs ; and the hopes and fears
which are excited, according as the news may
appear favourable or unfavourable, are consequently
often misplaced. We therefore propose to give as
succinct a narrative as possible of the proceedings
of the allied forces, and the progress of the siege
of Sebastopol, since the time when, after the glo-
rious victory on the heights of Alma and the
daring passage through the wood, the allies took

AMIDS

possession of BalaMaya and made it the basis of

their operations

In order to form as clear an idea as possible of
the state of affairs, it should be premised that the
town and fortress of Sebastopol stand on the south-
west of the Crimea, and that the attack

is con-

is about five miles distant, the intermediate space
being separated from the northern part of the
country by a deep ravine, while the other side is
bounded by the sea-coast. This line of five miles
consists of a range of heights with a long narrow
valley leading into Balaklava, while on the northern
side is a lower range of heights, facing the country
in possession of the Russian troops under General
LIPRANDI.

After taking possession of the heights near
Balaklava, which was performed with comparative
ease, preparations were immediately commenced for
carrying on the siege according to the most ap-
proved rules of warfare, all idea of capturing
Sebastopol by a coup-de-main having been aban-
doned. Accordingly, the English troops erected
redoubts on the lower as well as the higher
ground, that force occupying the most northern-
most position, while the French forces took posses-
sion of the southern side, both parties being fur-
nished with reinforcements, ammnunition, siege
guns, and other supplies from the fleet, the vessels
being enabled to enter the creek by which Balak-
lava communicates with the sea. The English
had thus the post of defending the line of commu-
nication against the Russian forces outside the
walls, while the French troops more immediately
faced the southern side of the town of Sebastopol,
which was defended by huge mounds, earth-works
and batteries, supplied with very heavy guns from
the Russian fleet in the bay, and the arsenal,
which the Emperor NICHOLAS had had constructed
and stored as his stronghold for the subjugation
of the Black Sea.

It should be borne in mind, that the operations
of a siege are conducted by making lines of
trenches parallel with the fortification, which form
a defence for the besiegers, who proceed with

similar parallel trenches successively nearer, until
a breach renders an assault practicable. Both the
English and French forces, assisted by sailors from
the fleet, who volunteered for this arduous duty,
and did good service, were diligently employed in
the erection of batteries until the 17th of October,
when firing commenced from the English and
French batteries ; but, after about three hours'
cannonade, the explosion of a magazine in the
midst of one of the French batteries partially dis-
abled the French artillery until the 19th, when
both sides were vigorously engaged, the Russian
artillery being well served. Great assistance to
the allies was at the same time afforded by several
ships of the fleet, which approached close to the
Russian forts, and, by distracting their fire,
afforded important aid to the land forces. This
was not, however, effected without considerable
loss, and damage to the vessels engaged.

But while the greater part of the allied troops
were thus occupied within range of the guns of
Sebastopol, the line of nearly five miles, which
separated them from their head-quarters, near
BalaMaya, was but thinly defended. The four
small redoubts which had been erected on the
lower line of heights, facing the northern country,
were given in charge to some Turkish troops, the
only other soldiers on the plain which it intersects
being the 93rd Highlanders, with a battery of
artillery and party of marines. This was a tempt-
ing opportunity for the Russians to attempt an
attack on the rear of the besiegers, and accordingly,
on the 25th of October, a numerous body of the
enemy, consisting of infantry, cavalry, and artillery,
attacked the redoubts, from which the Turks were
compelled to retire, having first spiked the guns
in three of the redoubts, so as to render them
useless to the enemy. The Highlanders, however,

a RAGLA

,f cavalry to TX

lossibl

Milt dar

been able to re-f

front and in flanl

;ned order

s unfortunate'

like Prin

dashed at once into the thick

o had, in the meantime

Reckless of dancer, the brave

Light Dragoons rushed into the melee, until, sur-
rounded by artillery, cavalry, and infantry, their

only. resource was to cut their way out again,
which was not effected without severe loss, though
not so great as, under the circumstances, might

however, that the resources at his command were
inadequate for the defence of the lower range,
withdrew his forces, and concentrated them on the

precipitous heights, thus making a narrower but
more defensible line of communication between the

besieging operations and the head-quarters, near

On the following day (the 26th), the garrison
attempted a sortie, and a large Russian force,
including cavalry, infantry, and artillery, amount-
ing, it is said, to about 7,000 men, moved out of
Sebastopol and attacked the second division of the
English besiegers, under Gen. Sir D. EVANS.
The latter was speedily assisted by the batteries of
the first division, some regiments of the fourth
division, and also a party of French ; and after a

smart engagement the Russians were completely
defeated, and pursued in their flight towards the
head of the bay, leaving 80 prisoners in the hands

of the E

•lish, and it

supposed that about 600

were killed

From the 26th of October until the sth of
November we have no certain intelligence, except
such as is afforded by telegraphic messages, until
the despatch of Lord RAGLAN, which has also
come by telegraph, relates briefly the events of
that day. It would appear, however, that the
f the besiegers continued until, according
to some account

firing

Sebastopol was reduced to a
heap of ruins, the defence being conducted with an
obstinacy of determination not to surrender, and a
vigour of resistance for which we were not inclined
to give the Russians credit. It is stated that
Captain FELLOWES, with a flag of truce, had an
interview with General GORTSCHAKOFF, in the
valley of Balaklava, on the 2Sth of October. The
object was to ascertain particulars of the loss, and
if the Russians would allow him to communicate
with the English prisoners. He was also in-
structed to obtain permission to bury the dead who
might have I

een left in front of the Russian lines.
The Russian officer only acknowledged to having
two British officers captive—Lieut. CLOWES, of the
Bth Hussars, and Cornet CHADWICK, of the 17th
Lancers, both of whom were wounded, though not
seriously. To the latter part of the missive the
Russian replied that they were Christians, and
had buried the dead. We are also informed by

other despatch, received through Paris, that it
had been decided that the assault on Sebastopol
id be made on Sunday, the sth of November,
the day on which the engagement took place with
an enormous body of Russians, who were com-
pletely defeated with the loss of many thousands
of men, as mentioned in the telegraphic despatch
from Lord RA.GLIN. This engagement took place
with Russian troops which had been brought up
with the Archdukes MICHAEL and NICHOLAS,
with the view of compelling the Allies to raise the
siege ; but, notwithstanding the disparity of num-
bers, civilisation won the day against semi-bar-

pent reports confirm the impres-
sion that the discomfiture of the enemy had been
so complete as to paralyse their exertions for seve-
ral days, during which the French were actively
engaged in fortifying their position and erecting
fresh batteries.

barism

It would appear, from all the accounts we have
received, that the Russians have displayed a brute
energy of action, coupled with a certain amount of
military skill, which have rendered the capture of
Sebastopol by no means an easy task. There is also
this consideration, that the EMPEROR OF RUSSIA
has, in all his warlike operations, displayed a reck-
lessness of human life which, combined with his
immense resources as far as numbers are con-
cerned, will, as reinforcements can be made avail-
able, render the losses they experience in battle a
minor calamity to that felt by the Allied Forces,
whose men are more valuable. We are not in-
clined, however, to endorse the desponding tone
assumed by The Times, which enters into a laboured
hypothesis in order to show that a series of vic-
tories, in which the numbers of killed and wounded
should be at the rate of two Russians to one of the
Allies, would, by the end of the year, annihilate the

latter. We are not content even to estimate pro-
babilities after this fashion, though we would not
wish to underrate the importance, and, indeed, the
necessity of despatching powerful reinforcements
to the Crimea, a course which the Government
seem to be adopting with all convenient speed, as
the best of our merchant steam-ships are being
taken up for the transport of troops, and, for the
first time, the regularity of the Cunard line of
steamers from this port to New York will be inter-
fered with. It should not be forgotten that,
however numerous may be the .hordes of human
machines which make up the Russian army,
the means of conveying them in any con-
dition to the extreme of the Crimea is far more
difficult, and requires much longer time than the
means possessed by the Allies, who have the com-
mand of the ocean, and the best of steam-ships in
almost unlimited number. Long before the Rus-
aux EMPEROR could move a body of troops, with
the requisite materiel, across his unwieldy empire,
we could people the Crimea with soldiers ; and the
great secret of success is, to do this so effectually
in the first instance that the issue of the contest is
placed at once beyond a doubt. The greatest
difficulty with which we have to contend is the
magnitude of the pecuniary burden, which is felt
by all ; but so thoroughly are the people of this
country embued with the conviction of the impor-
tance of humbling the ambitious pretensions of
Russia, that an appeal to the vox populi by uni-
versal suffrage would result in an overwhelming
majority, for prosecuting the war at any cost, and
at any hazard, until complete victory be achieved.
We must not, however, lose sight of the fact
that, while the pecuniary resources of Great Britain
may be considered almost inexhaustible, both
and credit being ample, despite all the
complaints of tightness in the money market,
France has considerably greater resources in men
well practised in military exercises. In this, how-
ever, we are not deficient ; for if the call were
made to raise an army of gentlemen volunteers,
the ranks would speedily be filled up ; but France
can raise thousands to our hundreds. It is,
therefore, a question worthy of consideration,
whether arrangements might not be made by which
England should furnish transports, ammunition,
and other necessaries for contingents of French
troops, and thus unite in supplying the resources
of war, according as each nation possesses the
abundance.
The contest has now been brought to such a

money r