Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-05-27
FROM OUR PARIS CORRESPONDENT.
PARIS. MAY 9. 1854.

PARIS, MAY 9, 1854
We have at last authentic reports of some i'm
portant military operations in the East, especially
relative to the bombardment of Odessa, which we
anticipating with so much interest for couple
of weeks. But, before giving the reports, permit
word or two by way Of explanation. Though the
bombardment and capture Of Odessa has for months
past been spoken of as among the first probable
events of open hostties between Russia and the
Western Powers, and were naturally to have been
expected as offering the earliest, most convenient
and surest opportunity of establishing the Wanted
superiority of the allied navies, and ncting at the
same time severe blow upon the enemy, it is now
pretended that the late bombardment was provoked
solely by the hostile reception given early last
month to the flag of truce which the English and
French admiras sent to that port to bring away their
consus No hostile demonstration forsooh, would have
been made against Odessa but for that courageous vo
laton Of the laws Of nations and Of the rules OF civilized
warfare They had intention desire to give eclat
and prestige to their by taking possession OF this
important Russian seaport, by capturing the immense
naval and military stores amassed there by destroying
the batteries and formidable military defences of the port
not at ALL they only meant to nict punishment for the
outrage upon their flag of truce, nothing more That
they pretend to have done that the affair is all over
in most exemplary manner; and the moderation (God
thing is Wanted in official and semocia journals
as worthy of least equal admiration with the yaor, &c.
by which this signal chastisement inflicted. Now,
cannot for the life me- help believing that there Is IN
oil these pretences and reports good deal OF what we
yulgarly call CANNON in America. cannot help sus-
pecng that the result Of the bombardmen has not been
what was expected and desired that the affair was in
very truth more akin defeat than to triumph Of the
allied fleets Is it conceivable that they would not have
occupied Odessa if they had been able to do So that they
voluntarily, and in conformity to predetermined pan
retired after inhictng what they deemed deserved
amount of chastisement The story will hardly bear
"telling" even to the marines" Touching the alleged
provoking cause of this bombardment the firing from the
Russian fort upon the flag Of truce there is word to be
said in excuse if justification Of the Russians The
incident occurred on the 9th Of April AT that time the
authorities of Odessa appraised by Of the cleo
trio telegraph of the declaration of by France and
England; fact ignored by the admiras of the allied
fleets until the 14th of the month. The Russian
commandment was convinced that the real object Of the
approach of the British fgae and of its boat was to OBJ
tain drawings of the defencss Of the fort Of Odessa and
information to be utilized afterwards in Of attack
An English frgate had short time before played that
game at Sebastopol and it boosted of afterwards in
the English and Turkish journals very smart thing
The gae upon the preence Of bearing dispatches
tered the harbor of Sebastopo reconnoered the works
took drawings Of the inner defences and then left hav-
ing thus completely performed the serious object u the
mission It must be remembered that it requires
but marvellousy little time to do this sort Of work with
sufficient exactitude for all military purposes steamer
properly provided with Photographic apparatus can while
sailing at the rate of six eight miles per hour take
complete photographs of and forts within conve
nient distance The Russian commander OF Odessa be-
eye and he had good to believe after the clever
incident ct Sebastopo that it for similar purpose
that the boat with the flag Of truce desired to enter his
port on the 9th utmo Was he not right to prevent its
accomplishment? He knew that war was declared. he
had reason believe that Odessa would be one OF the
very first places attacked by the allied squadrons
French account that have seen purportng to emanate
even from one of the boat crew that fred upon
that when the boat approaching the Shore and be-
fore gun fred upon it. repeated signals were made
by the Russian authorities to keep off, that the despatch
would not be received that communication with thu
shore would be allowed But said the writer, roweG
on dsregardng the signals, determined to obey orders
and fulfil mission, no matter what the cost Under
such had the approaching boat been sunk
by shots from the shore perhaps impartial history would
have excused the and the law Of nations and of morals
have justified it. If the above suggestion well found
cd and the allied fleets have really failed before Odessa,
which it has been supposed would be able resist
them successfully, what results may be anticipated from
hostile operations against Sebastopo and Sweabog, and
Cronsadt which unquesonably very strong and be-
lieved by many to be impregrables
Now for the various and varying accounts Of the bonn
bardment. From notice in the Moniteur" of the I'd
instant it was inferred the punishment was inflicted
upon Odessa the 23d Of April but the 9th (Satur-
day las the official journal corrected this impression by
the insertion Of the following notice. accompanied by
extract from the report itself of Admiral HAMELN:
sThe Government has received the following details Of
the attack directed against Odessa by the Admiras Of the
combined fleets We know not which to admire the most
the energy and the rapdy the certainty of the blow
which the two navies have struck this occasion An
attack had been committed against the law of nations by
the military authorities Of Odessa. The object of the
Adnras to chastise the authors Of it. 1t is the
military part Of the Russian town, its warke estab
shments that sailors concentrated their FIRE, and
Europe will remark with what scruples of humanity and
with what precision Of movement they respected the
property Of neutrals from any damage. In acting with
this consideration and generosity the French Admiral
conformed himself to the general instructions which he
received in compliance with the wish of the Emperor and
which prescribed to him to spare open towns much
| possible
| "fViIa de Paris-Ode Roads, 25th april
On the morning Of tho 22d eight fgates, three
French and i've English, proceeded to the imperial port Of
Odessa and six four Of them had opened their FIRE
the land batteries The noles well the inter-
mediate batteries, warmly returned it. At 10 O'Clock four
other gas joined and then the sction became general It
continued until o'clock in the evening" when Admiral Dun
das made signal to the gates TO join the squadron The
magazine had bswn up fifteen vessels with the exception Of
three, either sunk fire. The establish