Washington sentinel., 1854-06-03
eforeian antlIiaeH5s.
BY THE ASIA.
Correspondence Of the Times.

2,000 each, under their regimental officers, and
without any general in command, as they are
merely to reinforce the garrisons of colonies al
ready amply provided with officers of high rank.
Their destination is Porto Rico, the garrison of
that island proceeding to Cuba, probably be-
cause the men, Injured to the climate, will be
less liable to disease and consequently more
Immediately efficient than the new corners.
The Spaniards declare themselves determined
to make good fight in defence of Cuba, if
lighting there must be, which it is to be hoped
may be avoided. They are in hopes, if not of
coming victorious out of the struggle, at least
OF lniilctlng severe punishment on the aggressor,
and OF rendering the conquest, when achieved,
less profitable to him than he anticipates. The
reinforcement about to be despatched will raise
10000 men. Under the ministry Of General
Lersund, very large number of Paixhans
guns were sent out to strengthen the defences
of the island, and great reforms were intro
duced in the arms of the infantry, previously OF
an antiquated and unserviceable description.
am assured that some of the best troops in
1 the Spanish army are now in the island OF
Cuba. am far from overrating the value OF
| Spanish troops, having seen enough of them
both IN the field and in quarters, to estimate
them at what they are worth, and do not be-
lieye that they could cope, on anything like
equal terms, with English or French armies,
nor do | think they would have much chance
in the long run against the illdiscplined, but
wellarmed, utterly fearless, intelligent, selfre.
lying volunteers with whom the United States
are wont to operate when at war with their
| Spanish h-American neighbors.
/ / think it extremely likely that a stout de-
| fence would be made, and that the possession
| of the forts especially would cost the Ameri-
cans very dear. good deal would depend on
the artillery practice of the Spaniards, of the
excellence of which they express themselves
confident. The chief defence must be made
by the land army AS to the naval squadron,
although in numbers it appears respectable,
and is to be reinforced by portion Of the yes.
sells now in the Mediterranean, and although
some people here expect great things from it,
most OF its vessels are small, and the Ameri-
cans could quickly muster force that would
sweep it from the seas if it ventured from under
the guns Of the land batteries. Admitting,
however that the garrison of the island does
its duty gallantly, but finds itself overmatched,
i it is not improbable that the Spaniards would
arm first the mulattoes, who are numerous,
and ultimately, if driven to extremity, por.
ton of the blacks, the whole of whom they talk
of setting at liberty, if all hope of preserving
Cuba to Spain be extinguished--a desperate
j expedient, the consequence of which would
probably be terrible massacres of the whites
upon the island, though it might not prevent
the Americans from ultimately subjugating it.
Another means upon which the Spaniards
reckon for annoying and grievously injuring
the enemy, is the cloud of privateers which,
under the Spanish flag, they expect would
quickly cover the seas. 1t is possible that the
consideration of the injury that might thus be
done to their commerce may have weight with
the United States, and combine with more ele-
waited motives to make them pause before they
1 drive feeble enemy into corner, and compel
him to-stand desperately at bay; but, the war
once engaged, there can be little doubt that the
! Americans would persist, at any price, in car
rying their point, and finally would attain their
| object, unless Spain found aid from allies more
powerful than herself
PARIS, Nay 16.-During recent interview
granted to foreign diplomatic agent then OH
his way to distant mission, the Emperor
Louis Napoleonis said to have expressed him
| self very openly and earnestly on the project
of aggrandizement attributed TO the Americans
and directed against the Spanish colonies
The emperor manifested his decided disappro-
] baton of the ambitious and encroaching spirit
which has characterized the American govern
policy was concerned, it should be the same in
the west as in The east-that policy was based
on the faithful observance of treaties, and was
opposed to attempts on the part of any power
to take advantage of the weakness of neigh
bour to rob it OF its territory; and | rather
think that assurances were given that Spain
had nothing to fear about Cuba.
The following private telegraphic despatch
was received by the Times, May II:
"VIENSA, May l4-Prince Paskiewitsch
and General Gortschakoff have arrived at Kal-
arasch. The bombardment of Silislria with so
pieces OF cannon is commenced. The evacua-
ton of Lesser Wallachia is suspended"
The last accounts from Toulon mention the
arrival in that port of the screw ships Jean
Bart and Napoleon, coming from Gallipoli.
VIENNA, Mayl3-The Soldaten F1eu,d pro,
fesses to have positive information that the Rus
slams are on the point Of wrestling Silistria, the
key to the eastern passes Of the Balkan, from the
Turks, but it is impossible to attach any i'm
portance to the news as it is added that all
details relative to the siege of the fortress are
wanting 1t is believed that Silistra is every
now and then bombarded from the three Dan
ubian islands of Olbina, Tarbaneki and Ka-
kinsky, but there is no good reason for suppos-
ing that the Russians have secured footing
on the right bank Of the river near the fortress,
although the Fremden BlaH processes to have
learned from Rustchuk that the regular siege
of Silistria had begun;"a Turkish convoy with
20 Wagon loads of rice and maize, which was
on its way from Turtukai to the fortress, hav-
ing been obliged to retire with all speed in the
direction Of Shumla." 1t is probable enough
that the Russians will soon make serious at
tack on Silistria, but it may be considered GER
tain that up to the 9Th Of this month not one
of the detached forts, Of which there are eight,
had fallen into the hands of the Russians. On
the Gath of April General Chruleff retired from
kalarasch, asifabout altogethertoquitthen eneigh-
borhood, but the Turks were not deceived, and
remained quiet within their fortifcatons. Hav-
ing waited for some hours at distance in the
vain hope that the Turks would undertake a
reconnaissance, the Russians were fain to return
to their old position. According to advices of
the 9Th from Orsova, the Turks had advanced
beyond krajova without leaving garrison
there but this is no proof that they intend to
Tx themselves on the Aluta, the banks Of which |