Washington telegraph., 1854-11-15
The Crimea.


The expedition of the allied fleets to this pen
;rsua. with view to the destruction OF Sebasto-
MI the station OF the great Black Sea feet OF the
russians gives unusual interest to Its history
The Crimea is a quadrangular figure IN the Black
Sea and contains 5000 square miles. nearly the
size OF Massachusetts,. 1t is connected, at the
northerlv point of the quadrangle, with Southern
Russia by neck of land about twenty miles loEg
and at its narrowest part five miles broad. Across
4be neck deep trench was dug by the Turks du-
inc the last century about seventytwo feet wide
- twenty-five feet deep. A walled rampa rt
las built along this trench of free stone. dotted
r;th batteries of which there five still III tol-
erable preservation.
The water from the sea flows through the
4ronrh which is crossed by drawbridges. Sebas-
!onoI is over 120 miles from the trench, near the
soptbern point OF the quadrangle, and is the finest
barhor in the Black Sea- The bay on which ii is
sitnated extends about five miles above each other
with the emnence or which they are located pre-
spntng from the land side an imposing view
The nopulation OF Sebastopol. exclusive of the
arrov is over ten thousand. The public buildings
tbe admiralty the arsenal, the barracks, the hos
nitaIs. the lazaretto, and other public structures
s,cb as the docks and dock-yardS, are on the most
extensive scale, no labor or expense having been
shared upon them. The material is OF white cal
carbous Stone obtained in the neighborhood of the
town.
II resembles the shell limestone of which Odes-
sa Is built, and is extremely perishabe, as we see
in the houses of Odessa, which fall to pieces Of
themselves. The population OF Sebastopo is pure
" Russian with small admixture of Creeks
The population of the peninsula of the Crlmea, or
Grim Tartary. anclentlv the CherSoneSus 1aurlca,
is about 800 900, composed two-thirds of mix
ture of Mongols and Turks. called Tartars, the
residue of Russians Germans, and Greeks. But
little regard seems tc have been paid to this native
nopulation to the estimate Of its strength formed
by the Allied Powers.
The allied fleet after coursing along the western
shore of the Black Sea as far north as the mouths
of the Danube, crossed over to the Crimea by way
of Serpent Island, and landed at Eupatoria. the
southwest side of the peninsula, about sixty miles
northwest of Sebastopol. The landing was ac-
complished on the 18th of September. The allied
troops Immediately commenced their march in
the direction of Sebasopol. 1t seems to be doubt
full whether the course OF the march will be south
east along the coast directly towards Sebastopol,
or more eastery into the interior. by wav of SIM
feropo forty miles distant, and thence southwest
erly to Sebastopo, distant torty miles from Sim
feropol. By either route abundance of water and
provisions may be obtained.
The two rivers which lie between would by
one route be crossed near their mouths. and by
the other near to their sources in a mountainous
region. The march by the coast route would be
about SIX days, by the interior twelve. The Rus
sian army OF 1886, In It's march towards Sebasto-
pol. and when about twenty miles distant from it
encountered opposition at Baktchi serals, in the
gorges of the mountans which lie adjacent to the
valley In which the town is situated. On the
map before US Baktchi serais is on the road from
Smleropol; that whether the inland or The
coast route be taken it is probable that the con-
tending forces will meet in that vicinity, and there
decide the fate OF Sebastopoi
"Baktchi serais is situated in long deep valley.
between two considerable mountains, and is built
in an irregular manner upon each side OF the slop
Ing ground which descends to the Tshuruh-Su,
JIvuet which flows into the katcha. A stranger,
on approaching close to the spot is taken by sur
prise at the scene which breaks upon him. for the
town stands suddenly before him, with its build
ings scattered terrace-wise beneath impending
rocks and pfecipices, which seem to threaten it
with instant destruction. The isht of fountains,
streams. smiling gardens and terraces, intermin-
gled with minarets anC elegant tower-shap ped
chimnsys, vineyards and groups OF Lombardy
pOpars, soon renders the first impression pleasing;
but this is not confirmed by an examination OF the
interior of the town."
The situation of Sebastopol near to the centre
of the Black Sea; gives it a command over its ma
vlgation. The fleets of Russia sally forth from
this point, and in two or three days sail could
reach any of the ports of Turkey, whether in
Europe Asia. and pour destruction upon them.
The direct objects OF the war imposed, therefore,
upon the allied fleets the necessity of destroying
Sebastopol if possible. England and France went
into the war from fear of the extension Of Russia
10 the Mediterranean, by which the line Of oper-
atoms of each OF those Western powers, with their
distant possessions might be cut France MAIN
tanned her intercourse with Algeria. and Eng land
hers with her East India posse ssIons. by way OF
the Mediterranean. which Russia desires to con-
troll. The destruction of Sebastopol will stop the
growing strength of Russia in a southerlv direc-
tlon by means of the feet which she has been
building up there since the Crmeh came into her
possession in 1888.
We cannot suppose that step of sach vast i'm
portance can be taken by the allied powers with
out encounterlng all the opposition from Russia of
which she is capable. That such step was one
Of the great objects of France and England in en-
tering the Black Sea has been openly proclaimed;
but IT would be equally apparent bad it not been
proclaimed. If, therefore, the whole strength Of
Russia shall not be put forth tc defend Sebastopo
it will appear that it has become the policy of
Russia to conquer, not by her active energies but
by her capacities OF endnrance-by drawing into
her shell, like the tortoise, and waiting till her
enemies are tired by their blows.
Demosthenes, in one OF his oratons mentions
that Athens imported from the Crimea annually
between 100000 and 100000 medimni OF grain
1t was considered the granary of Greece.
This peninsula has been known for more than
three thousand years, since the first naval expedi-
ton OF the Argonauts; story which, though
mixed with fable, is yet well founded in its pril-
clpal facts. The mountainous parts Were inhab-
tied by the Tauri, probably colony of Scythians;
while its coasts on the west, the east, and the
south We're occupied by Greeks The Scythians
were driven out by Mithridates; the Greeks by
the Sarmatians; and these again by the Alani
and Goths, northern horde OF Scythians. The
Hungarans, the Cossacks and Tartars. succeeded
In their turn; and the Genoes, in the twelfth
fury, held temporary and precious possession of
the seaports which they We're obliged to yield to
the Turks in 1915. At tie peace of 1774, the
Iartars of the Crimea were declared Independent,
and In 1888 this peninsula was definitely united
to the Russian empire.
HEAVY DEFALcAT1oN.-The New York Times