Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-03-25
ARMAMENT OF ENGLAND AND FRANCE.

The principal news by late steamers from Europe
is that in reference to the stupendous military and
naval preparations for prosecuting the war against
Russia making by the British and French Govern
ments. Rear Admiral Corry's squadron arrived at
Spithead on the 9th ultimo, and would be re-
inforced by the other ships fitting out, making an
effective fleet of forty sail The Emperor of France hav
ing ordered the formation Of third French squadron the
Aoner of Paris contains report from the Minister of
Marine stating that the orders had been executed and
that the consists of ten sail of the line fourteen
frgaes and fifteen corvettes. Vice Admiral Parseval
Duchines had been appointed to the command of it.
1t is positively stated that the French expedition
ary army the East will amount to 900 men, to be
hereafter increased may be rendered necessary by cir
cumstances telegraphic despatch from Touon dated
Oath February states that the embarkaton of troops
had commenced. The division to go from Algeria had
also begun embark and from Marseies several regi
ments had been Throughout the entire Of France
the military movements and preparations were going
with the greatest activity and immense scale.
Thousands of wagon loads of provisions stores, and
munition, for the of the fleets and the army,
being transported by railway to the several ports of ship
ment Immense purchases Of cavalry horses were also
being made.
Lord RAGLAN, the Commander -inchef Of the British
auxiliary army in the East left London for Paris the
with reference to the approaching military
tions in Turkey.
There that the British fleet of forty SAIL
der Vice Admiral Sir CHARLES NAPIER on its assembling
Spithead would be joined by the French feet above
mentioned, and that the allied feets thus numbering
eighty sail of the most magnificent ships in the world
will be reviewed prior to their departure for the Baltic
by the QUEEN and Prince ALBERT, and that the Empe-
ror NAPOLEON would from Cherbourg in the Inn
peral yacht Refine Hortense to be present at the
| spectacle. ="
The appointment of Sir CHARLES NAPIER had been
ceived with the greatest satisfaction earnest that
the English Ministry determined nfct terrible
blow upon Russia The entire determination Of the Rus
sian aeet in the Baltic the destruction and ravaging the
Russian ports, the bombardmen of Cronstadt, and the
burning Of ST. Peersburgh together with the seizure Of
Finland and its restoration to the Swedes measures
said to be positively determined upon by the reeating
old Admiral Sir Charles Napier is commonly called
The London Times states that the feet will proceed
early in March to the kattcgat, where it viii await the
opening of the Baltic, which is seldom accessible for mari
time operations before the latter part of the month of
March that the presence of the feet off the shores of
the Baltic will coincide in point of time with the period at
which the definite of the Emperor Of Russia the
| ultimatum of Europe can be received.
The Russian Baltic fleet consists Of three divisions of
about nine line-of- battle ships each which lying
in the three naval ports of Reve in Esthona Helsing
fore in Finland and Cronsadt all within the Gulf of Fin
land Of these three stations Revel is commonly free
from ice ten days fortnight before the upper part of
the gulf and is of course important that the divisions
of the Russian feet which thus separated should
be enabled re-unite under the guns of Cronstad Hell
sngfore is protected by the Notifications of Sweaborg
built three islands, opposite the mouth of the harbor
and mounting 800 guns with barracks and easements for
H. 900 The Isles of Aland, which seized by
Russia when she effected the conquest and annexation of
Finland in 1S09 also important naval station,
they command the Gulf of Bothn and threaten the
capital of Sweden.