New-York daily tribune., 1854-08-21
THE ATTACK on THE RUSSIAN FORTS.

At last it seems that the allied French AMI Engsh
are to make genuine attack on Russia. The out
most lorfca'ioDs of the Empire, the Aland Isles
and at SeyastOpol in the Black Sea- successfully
if lot simultaneously, to be assai.ed. Indeed, it is
Iumored h western Europe that the former point has
already been taken after brief bombardment, but
the report wants confirmation, and is probably pre-
mature AS for the attempt upon Seyastopol ge have
no official information that it is to be made but it is
positively asserted by The London Times and generally
believed in that city So far only couple of divisions
Of French and English troops have been embarked at
Yarna, and though it is supposed they form part of
the expedition to the Crimea, it is possible on the
other hand that they are destined to besiege the
Russian fortress of Anspa in Asa. On this point all
doubt will probably be removed by the arrival Of the
Iext steamer.
The attack upon Bomarsuul will be an event of
great military interest. 1t will be the first time that
Montalemberts casemated town foI tfcatons are put
to the proof To judge from views and plans of the
place, the fort, there, although far smaller scale
than those Of He.ingfers Cronstadt or Seyastopol,
are defended against land attack as much as against
Q bombardment by ships, and are exclusively con-
struc.ed upon Montalembert's principles. \ long
bomb proof fort, with about one hundred guns fauked
by temporary ear'h works, forms the main defense
against ships while it is commanded and protected in
the rear by large towers mounting thirty and
ten guns While the main fort would chiefly engage
the ships the attack the towers would occupy the
land forces According TO our last accounts the garr
sc IL very much W, aker than we had supposed it con-
sts Of but little more than three thousand men, Iti,
not quite clear, from the Information attanabc, how
far the seast.ack and the land attack caD not merely
coincide, but actually cooperate and support each
other ter a.attack is necessarily an attack de rice
force, which must be decided in a very short ii ne,
while any landattack against masonry presuppOses
preparatory operations, with at least parallel and
batteries, and therefore is matter of some Duration
ibis kind of questions, however. can only be de-
eided on the spot. st all events the taking OF Bo-
msrsund will have, in military point of view, a far
higher interest than even the capture of SevastopO
inasmuch as 1t contributes 70 the solution of much
discussed question, while the latter feat would merely
be the successful carrying out of old established mill
| tsry rules.
The proposed attack upon seyastopol is to be main
ly executed by land forces; while the action of
the fleets must be almost entirely confined to the close
blockade of the hsrbor Ii thus amounts TO a land
ana sea blockade of seaport incompletey fortified
on 'ne lard side. We have no means of knowing
what iortihcatons may have been raised by the Rus.
slams on the south Of the town and bay; but that
they have established redOubts and lines which NAV
necesstate regular siege, unless great s.crifces are
submitted to- there can hardly be question. At all
events, We know that permanent and to all sppesr
ance well-constructed fort-a large square with am
pie ditchdefenses on each Of its sides, aud mortar.
batteries in each of it's salient anges-crowns the