The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-30

The News from the Crimca-Tho Allies Still
Held Mt Bay-Dcstiny OF Russia I'm the East.
The news received by the Africa from the
seat of war announces no material alteration
in the position or prospects Of the belligerents
since the date of our previous advices. The
siege operations appear to have continued with
out interruption after the repulse of the COM
bined attack of the Russians on the 5.h, and
the most gloomy accounts are given of the con-
dition OF the besieged. Their fire is said to be
slackening from the want of ammunition but,
although disease and privation are represented
to be making sad havoc in their numbers, their
courage and ardor seem to be undated, and
the most energetic preparations were being
made to defend the town in the event Of the
assault Of the allies proving successful Should
the outer works be carried fearful loss will
still have to be encountered before the capture
of the place can be effected. A series Of de-
tached forts, comprised within their enciente,
will have to be attacked in detail, and within
the town itself most desperate resistance is to
be expected. Each house is being rendered a
fortress in itself, and cannon are posted so as
to sweep the different streets. 1t is exceed
ingly doubtful whether, in their present weak
ened state and with an army of superior mum
beers lowering in their rear, that the attempt of
the allies to take the place by storm, If made
before the arrival of fresh reinforcements, will
be attended with success. Their effective force
is now reduced to $4,000 men, and they have
been compelled to draw off division Of the
French from the siege operations to strengthen
the army Of observation. Under these circum-
stances, we do not look upon their chances as
improved, although efforts are made to give
more hopeful aspect to toe present critical pc
sition Of their affairs
The reduction of Sebastopol, even if it should
take place, will have lost all the moral effect
which the allies hoped to derive from it's prompt
capitalization. They expected by decisive blow,
struck at the outset of the war, not only to de-
eide the wavering policy Of the German States,
but possibly also to intimidate the Gear into
terms. The results Of the campaign on the
Danube, in which the Russians on one side and
the Turks on the other, disappointed all pre-
conceived ideas Of their respective military
proves, afforded some grounds for this antici-
patton. Due allowance, however, was not made
for the fact that the Russians themselves had
fallen into the prevailing error Of undertaking
the military skill and resources Of their foes.
1t is comparatively so short time since they
successfully measured swords with them that
they had forgotten that during the brief in
terval that had elapsed the Ottoman armies
had benefited largely by the instructions OF
some of the best tacticians of the English and
French military schools, and now unite the ad-
vantage of European discipline with the fierce
and obstinate valor which formerly conducted
them to so many cOnquests. To the contempt
of their enemy, induced by these causes,
most Of the errors and reverses of the Rus
slams in the campaign Of the Danube are
attributable. Some share of them perhaps
was also due to the dscouraging influence
which the inauspicious commencement of such
an apparently unequal struggle with three
great military empires must have had upon the
Russian troops themselves, a large proportion
Of whom, it must be remembered, was moosed
of newly formed levies. Such is the only ra-
tional explanation of the anomalous events OF
the Danubian campaign.
All the calculations of the allies founded up
on these apparent indications of weakness, aud
all the hopes formed from the promps reduction
Of Sebastopol, which was supposed to be the
key To The settlement of the war; have been
defeated by tine desperate energy and strategic
skill which have been displayed in its defence.
The fortress, 1t is true, may ultimately fall but
the determined resistance which its besiegess
are encountering, and which bids fair to render
the incidents of this siege as memorable as
any in the annals of ancient or modern war
fare, has not only retrieved all the faults com
mitted by the Russians 10 the commencement
of hostilities, but served to demonstrate to the
world the spirit Of religious enthusiasm by
which the latter are animated spirit which
for the last two hundred years has conducted
them in the path Of glory and conquest, and
which, moreover, is combined with
firm and all prevailing coa7ict:oh Tia,
it 10 their destiny TO overthrow the
Ottoman empire and to re-estab ish Chris
tianity pp its ruins. This faith. or, it may be,
destiny, like that of the old Roman Empire, will
1ifiuse over the East the same sort of semi.civ-
ilization which the latter spread over the West,
and which produced the more matured results
that the world is now in the enjoyment Of Rus.
STA has in fact the came mission before her which
the French and English proposed to themselves
in the three famous crusades of the middle ages,
and win not rest until she has completed their
work. Whether she triumphs over the efforts Of
the allies now, or only succeeds In maintaining
her position until her turn comes round for the
accomplishment of the objects that she has in
view, her movements will not affect the balance
of European power. As soon as abe has seated
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