The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-27

bVo'os AhC sssoiC uoucii0S WCSc boeoxy AbciuSiOus
for protection. The remaining Russian ships were
badly disabled that they could take noprzes and
could with difficulty make their way back to Sebas-
tcpol.
While this calamity is befallen tho Turkish fleet,
the English and French fleets are lying idle in the
Bosphorus. And more yet extraordinary, the main
evies Of the Turkish feet is lying there idle too. Ad
miral Siade. the En- slshman Who commanded it,
hes just returned from D pleasant cruise in
The Black Sea, having been unable to find
an enemy although merchantmen report hay
ing seen several Russian ships OF war
prowling about. So Admiral Slsds aud the British
and French admirals sOlace themselves by giving
each other dancing parties Perhaps the follow.
ing remarks from the liverpool Tines, which in
this instance speaks the Nxltments Of the best
thinking of tho nation, may not be unworthy Of
the gallant Aoniral's attention.
"Wbat, may be asked, has become o! Admiral
Slade, the Englirhman said to be ia ,mmand Of
tie rnrktsh fee' in the Black Sea /? He lefs Con-
siaBtinople with the whole Turkish force uader his
ccmUat d, and on November 26 he Is said to have
returned to the Bosphorus with the squadron under
his comm and"
If Admiral Slade had detached himself from
so large q portion of his force as that said to
have been destroyed at Sinope, he must be
called upon by the Parliament Of Britain to &C.
count for such an act. In taking the command
OF he Turkish feet he did not shake of his British
allegiance and II be cannot give satisfactory ac
count Of an act which may entail years OF boodsaed,
he should be dealt with accordingly. The day, we
trust is far spent when the righu of nations can be
barteIed away for mess Of oOttage If the destruc
tion Of the Ottoman feet has taken place, general
actors In the prelude to unto ward aud ameatable
an c,urrence responsible, not to E0glaad onlS,
but to Europe. Again we cay, the North ought to
speak out before 1t is too late.
From ths London Times, Dec l3.
The intelligence from the seat OF war; which we
received yes erday with hesitation, has now been
corroborated by several channels, aud by positive
announcement in the official journal of France. War
has begun in earnest A naval action has been
fought upon the coast Of Asia Minor, ending in the
total destruction Of portion Of the Ottoman fleet;
and, for the first time in naval history, Russian
squadron has returned to SebastOpcl laden with the
slois Of victory The war, hitherto conh0ed to the
occupation Of the Danubian Prncipalties and to o
few partial encounters OF the hostile armies, appears
to have assumed on the Black Sea the charAsse Of
direct aggression, and the Emperor Of Russia has
thrown down tie gauntlet to the maritime Pc yors
precisely on that element on which they best pre-
pared TO meet him. We have thought il our duty to
uphold ard defend toe cause Of peace as long as
peace was compatible with the honor and dignity of
the country; and we feel no regret that, to the very
last, we have adhered to course of policJ which
just for the best interests Of England aud Of
tae civilized world prescribed. But we have never
Col ceaied opinion that the events Occurring in
the East might, ere long, compel to meet by
resolste measures sterner alternative; and we have
repeatedly urged upon the governments OF England
aud France the necessity OF being prepared with a
plAu Of operations adated to such an emergency IL
the Intelligence last received be confirmed in the
rner IN which 1t Is related to the time iOr these
resolutions TO take effect is already come.
1t must, hoTeyer, be remarked that great per-
plexy ard uncertainty still hang over the DETAILS Of
ippDIfaIs All the "a o..aipn Cf
Il app. al to have been despatched tf0 o iessa ON
the 9Th instant, ard TO have passed through Vienna.
They are Therefore, altogether Russian sta'ements
On the Other hand, IL Ia well ascertiGed that on The
2S h of NOyember-two days prior to the actionA-
the principal divisions Of the Turkish feet were at
anchor il the Bosphe Admiral Slade had brought
back his division some days before with the excep
ton Of one trigate, which had taken shelter at ST.
nope, AID great satisfaction had bean expressed
that at this inCiement OF the year, zhe lna
-batte ships ara trjgates were safe IN harbor. 1t
woulc seem probable, therefore, that ths squadron
Viii IN the Russians have demolished was convoy
lound with tioops and arms for some poiat on toe
coast OF Asa and the most probable version Of the
story seems TO be that the Russian cruisers pursued
this convoy into the roads Of Sinupe. 1t has also
been suggested that, Sinope is a naval arsenal it
is Iosb that some Of the vessels destroyed by the
Russians were hulks in the port Sinope Is the best
haTbor the coast Of Asia Maor situated about 800
miles from the Bosphorus, and st the pat
Of the Black Sea, being only AZ maritime leagues
from Sebastopol. The toHn of Slnope is built on
the istbmus OF peninsula jutting out into the Enx
Inc, and forming two capacious harborS. That to
the southeast is USED by the Turks naval station.
The town is square, fanksd with towers,
and covered by q small citadel; but, in
spite of the importance Of the place, IL has
long been considered the most vulnerable point
on the whole north coast Of Asia Minor. The
land batteries, whatever shey may be- appear to have
be 70 qne incon pstent to mcei the 6re OF he ships,
and this engagement furnishes another example OF
the comparative weakness Of ordr ary forsfcations
when opposed - modern naval guonery. Among
the Turkish forts there are scarcely any strong
enough to bsat Off line of battle shio. However,
afler the obstruction of no less than twelve Turksh
vessels without taking single prize in state to be
removed to Sebastopol the Russian ships were them
selves in condition to reach that harbor with diff
Guilty. Tbs havoc which Is described 70 have taken
place shows that the ships both sides we're fought
with great gallantry and the Russians, who first
surprised every one oy allowing themselves to be
beaten On land, have now surprised us again by an
exploit at sea- They had, however, by their own
account, vast superiority Of force, and Osman Bey,
the Turkish commander, only surrendered at the
last extremity.
Whatever doubt may still prevail ss to The circum-
stances which preceded this action and the
mode in which it was fought, there can be very
little ~ to its naval and political consequences.
IL tends to give the Russian navy an ascen5en,y
on the Black Ssa which the Turks have hitherto
disputed and 1t calls upon the maritime allies Of
the Porte, in very positive language, 10 supply
that naval protection 0f which she more than ever
sthuus III Decu IL IL SnOulu TURN OUT tnat tne RuS-
sian Squadron fell ia with convoy bound for the
army Of Asia and pursued these ships into Sinope,
this oct may in the present state of warfare bet
the two Powers, be considered usiifsble. But If. as
s equally probable these Russian ships Of the line
were sent out from Sebastopol TO burn, sink aud de-
s'Ioy the Turkish squadron not the high seas or
on the coast OF CrcassiA but at anchor 10 their own
fortified baybcr this proceeding Of the Emperor Of
Russia gees to the last extremity OF aggressive war.
IL 6isposes a. once Of the assurances, till now so
pertnscousy repealed, Of his desire to stand on the
defensive only, even since the Turkish declaration
OF war; and had IL not been for the presence of the
Engrb and French fleets in Beicos Bay at this mo-
ment, the enterprise which directed this blow
against Siuope might have aimed . still more for
midabs attack upon tho Bosphorus and the capital.
more violent and offensive measure could not have
been rcsored to; and the importance attached to it.
by Russia may be Inferred from the fact that Prince
Menschikon the original author Of these calamties
and the instrument Of this fresh outrage, hurried
from Odessa TO st. Petersburg to lay tho news Of
tbs victory at the feet Of the Gear.
The effect this event will have In Europe Is not
leea aeYiOus IL djape1a tho honpu ve hava led