Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-12-30
THE RUSSIAN VICTORIES AT sEA-now SHOULD

THE RUSSIAN VICTORIES AT sEA-now SHOULD
ENGLAND ACTt
(from the London Times, Dec lS)
The Intelligence from the of war, which re-
ceved yesterday with hesitation, has been corrobo
rated by several ehannels and by a positive announce
ment in the official Journal OF France. War has begun
in earnest naval action has been fought upon the
coast OF Asia Minor, ending in the total destruction
portion OF the Ottoman eet and for the first time naval
history Russian squadron has returned Sebastopol la
den with the spols of victory The war; hitherto con-
fined to the occupation Of the Danubian Princpaes and
to few partial encounters of the hostile armies appears
to have assumed the Black the character of direct
aggression and the Emperor of Russia has thrown down
the gauntlet the maritime Powers precisely on that cc-
ment ON which they are best prepared to meet him We
have thought our duty to uphold and defend the cause
of peace long peace compatible with the honor
and dignity OF the country, ami feel regret that To
tue very last We have adhered policy which
just concern for the best interests of England and of the
civilized world prescribed But have never
onr opinion that the events occurring in the East might
ere long compel s TO meet by resoutc measures
steamer alternative; aud have repeatedly urged upon
the Governments of England and France necessity of
being prepared with plan operations adapted such
an emergency. Ii the intelligence last received be
confirmed in tho manner in which il is related to Us
he time FOR these rcsolHbHS 10 take affect IS dircdi
IL must however be remarked that great perplexity
tant event All the accounts received of il appcar TO
have been dispatched from odessa on the 9Th inst and TO
have passed through Vienna. They are therefore, al.
together ku'slsn statements On the other hand il is well
ascertse that the 2Sth of November dnys prior
to the action the principal divisions of the Turkish fleet
were at anchor in the Bosphoru'. Admiral Sladc had
brought back his division DAYS before with the
ccpllon OF one tgatc which had taken shelter At Snopc
anu great satisfaction had been expressed that this in
element season OF the year the line of battle ships and
frigites were saiein tarbor. IL would probable
therefore, that the squadron which the Russians have de-
molished was convoy bound with troops and arms for
some point on the coast OF Asia; and the probable
version OF the story bc that the Russian cruiser
pursued the into the roads OF nopc IL has also
been suggested that, Sinopc is naval arsenal IL Is
possible that some OF the vessels DESTROYED by the Rus
SLAMS were hulks in the port Snope the best harbot
on the coast OF Asia Minor situated about miles from
the Bo7phorus and at the part the Black
Sea; being only a. maritime leagues from Sebastopol-
The town OF Snope built the isihmus of peninsula
iutiug out into the EuXne and forming two capacious
harbor That to the southeast ia used 10y the Turks
naval station.
The is a square thanked with towers and covered
by small citadel but; in spite of the importance of the
place, it has long been considered the most vulnerable
point on the whole north of Asia Minor The land
batteries whatever they may be appear To have been
quite incompetent to meet the fire Of the ships and this
engagement furnishes another example OF the
weakness OF ordinary Qualifications when opposed modern
naval cunncry. Among the Turkish forts Their. mr..
scarcely enough to heat OF line Of battle ship How
ever after the destruction OF less than twelve Turkish
vessels without taxing single prize in state to be
Themselves
IN condition tn reach that harbor with difficulty. Tho
havoc which described have taken place shows that
the ships on both sides fought with great gantry
and the Russians hrst surprised every by allowing
themselves TO he beaten on land have surprised H.
again nv an exploit nj sea. They had however nv their
own account superiority Of force and Osnan Rrv the
Turkish commander ONLY surrendered the last extremity
Whatever doubt NAV stu prevail TO the crcumstan-
ccs which preceded his action aud the mode in which il
was fought there he little to lis naval and no.
iti'7l consequences IL tends to give the Russian nav
an azn arrN 81. HFt.aF
hitherto dispute ahi it calls upon the maritime allies OF
the Porte in very positive language to supply that naval
protection o. whicn she than stands in need
II 1t should turn out that the Russian SQUADRON fell in with
convoy bound fog the army in Asia and pursred the,
ships INTO Sinop', this act may in the present state OF
wnriae between the two Powers considered usti Ihle
But It. as is equally probable, these Russian ships of the
line were sent oui from Sebast9po burn sink aud de
sroy the Turkish squadron, the high seas or on
the coast OF Crcass but at anchor in their fortified
haroor this proceeding OF the Emperor Of Russia goes Ia
the last extremity Of aggressive Il dsposcs at once
OF the assurances ill nov pernacously reported Of
h' desire 10 stand the defensive ONLY since the
TURKISH declaration OF war and had it not been for the
presence OF the English and Frerch fleets in Becos By 81
this moment the enterprise which directed this bos
against Suope might have aimed 4 still more formidable.
attack upon the BosphOru7 and the capital more VIC.
lent and offensive measure could have been resortei
70, aHj the importance attached by Russia NAV be
inferred from the fac; that Prince Mcnschkoh the orig
nal author of theS" cnamieS and the Instrument
fresh outrage hurried from Odessa Ia St Petersburg
Law the news OF this victory at the feet of the Car
The effect this will have in Europe hot less &c
ous. disPei7 the hope have been led entertain
of pachcitou for share the opinion that this
will lower any degree the temper or pretcuons
of Russia aud it imposes upon the allied pc.
remptory duties. Indeed this blow the naval
sources Of Turkey Interrupts her communication with
Treblond and Batoum IL is highly injurious to her Army
and all would be lost If the command OF the Black Sea
suffered pass into the hands OF the enemy The
British Government and ts allie will have from the mo-
ment this Intelligence confirmed to deal with state OF
Affairs lr decided and momentous than any which
this question had Vet assumed and We earnestly trust
that the Cabinet will prove itself equal tn the emergency
IL scarcely devove indeed the Ministers Of the Crown
now TO determine what positive steps be taken
under these circumstance for cannot doubt that a
such an act OF aggressive war, committed upon state
under the shelter OF the united Hays Of 9uhce and Eng
land the Ambassadors aud AdGIras at COnsantiGogle
have resolved once upon tie measures required The
-ment at home, yet less thoroughly informed Of
the state oi the case must await the arrival of de-
patches before they adopt steps involving the whole
question Of peace and war; but, probably before
such dispatches be received here or in Paris
tho Euvoys "1 the spot will have acted upon the
powers given them in the Of direct aggrcs ion Ly
Russia the Turkish coasts II will remain with Ter
Majesty Ministers 10 afford eec,ual support 10 that
decision by the usual communications Parliament AMI
by placing present relations with the Russian Empire
in their true shape Having exhausted every means that
lorbeIance and ingenuity could suggest for the g,starl-
ton Of peace, but having she time pledged the
hon aud the naval forces Of England 10 bring his d
putc successful termination by other means If all
negotiations for peace should fail, il wOud be unworthy
OF the pppA We occupy 10 the WOl, ana the peculiar
obligations We have contracted ia this question 10 he.
late when the course IL clear before The r. gh pen
pie resolved that Ru la hall dictate conditions to
Europe convert the Black sea- with al the various
Interests eucOmpa-sing it, shores, into Russian lake
They desire that Of COnsummIte hypocrisy should
boz punished 10y signal defeat and that stop should be
put to these aEgressOns. The Emperor Of Russia who
began th without preteyt j. carrying It on without
Disguise and il therefore tie imperative duty Of
the -Four Powers who have recently recorded their de.
termination 10 out IN end to it. TO take all the
which that object may demand
THE WAR ~ EUROPE
The agent at Liverpool succeeded in obtaining and
placing board the America for Halifax the oll1w NJ
despatch which We now ind in the London papers by
this arrival
"Thc latest from the Danube states that tso com.
panies Of Wpachan militia had succeeded in crosr The