The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-05-28
RussIAN yERsIoN or rnE BoMBARDMENT OIL


10 (30th) communicated 70 the public the report Of Adede
Camp General Baron 0senSaeken which gives an account
of the attack directed against Odessa by the Anglo French
squadron AS enemies founded this aggression upon
incident which they represent in very false light we
think il right TO mention the exact facts On the 27th Of
March told sle the seanrgate Furious approached to-
wards Odessa Two guns without ball were fred from
the land the gate arrested her without casting
anchor hoised the English flag and sent out boat with
nag OF truce when came 10 demand whether the English
consul still in the town The boat returned
swer having been given that the consul had left The
boat with the flag Of truce had got beyond the reach of
cannon when the frigae advanced towards the mole
Faithful 10 his orders not TO allow vessel of the enemy
within reach of cannon-sho the commander of the
battery fired not upon the boat with the flag of but
upon the frigac which had already received orders TO
stop The frgate, however sailed off rapidly possible
upon the first shot
On the I'd of April three war steamers two English and
French presented themselves before Odessa ask
why they had fired upen the boat with the flag Of
An explanation given but the chief Of the squadron
wished TO have in writing, Ad-de-Camp Baron
osten-Sacken sent TO him the following note, which
give in its exact terms
ODESSA, April IA, 1854
Ad-de-Camp General Baron d'Osten-Saken thinks
that shots fired from the port of Odessa upon the g
ate the Furious, bearing flag Of truce.
On the arrival Of the Furious two guns fired with
out ball. in consequence of which the vessel hoisted its
onal flag and stopped her beyond the reach of
cannon-shot Immediately boat was sent out with a
white flag in the direction Of the mole, and the officer
duty in to the question Of the English officer said
that the English consul had already left Odessa Without
further question, the boat took the direction of the ship
when the gate without waiting for it. advanced towards
the mole leaving the boat at Its left and approached the
batteries within cannon shot 1t then that the
mander of the battery of the MOLE faithful to his order to
prevent any vessel from coming within reach Of the guns
thought his duty to fire not upon the flag Of truce
which had been respected to the end Of its mission but
upon vessel of c enemy which had approached the land
nearly after having been twice fired upon without
ball-the signal to stop.
"Ths simple explanation of facts they have been
lated to the Emperor ought Of itself to destroy the suppo
there respect paid to the flag of truce the nvioab
ty of which is guaranteed by the laws common to all civil
lied nations.
Baron osTEN-sACKEN,
"Aid-de-Camp General to his Majesty the Emperor
This reply did not content the allied amiras On the
9Th Of April the AngoFrench squadron composed Of rs
ships anchored before Odessa Ia order to complete the in
formation have already given, publish the follow
ing letter. addressed to the governor Of Odessa by Adma
Dundas and Hamelin, summonng him to deliver up the
English, French and Russian vessels in the port:
"Sm Inasmuch as the letter of your exceIency dated
the 4h of April which has only reached us this morning
only sets forth statements to justify the indescr
babe aggression committed by the authorities of Odessa
upon of our rigates and her boat both carrying flag
of truce
Inasmuch as, Notwithstanding this flag the batteries
of the fred several shots the frigate well
the boat at the moment when this boat leaving the
quay Of the mole which had repaired with confidence
@The two vice-admirals commanding the combined
squadrons Of France and England think themselves enti
tied to demand reparation from your excelency.
sells at anchor the citadel the batteries of
Odessa must forthwith be delivered up to the combined
squadrons
If at sunset the two yice-admrals have received no
answer negative answer to this communication, they
will be compelled to to force avenge the flag of
of the combined squadrons for the aront offered to
it, although the demands of humanity induce them to
adopt this alternative with regret and they the
sponsbity Of such act on those TO whom 1t belongs
@HAMELIN Vice-Admiral
d. DUNDAS Vice-AdmiraL"
mi. -
April and states that the batteries of the town having fired
several balls upon the gate and the boat the the
latter left the guns of the mole where it had arrived in
all confidence the commanders Of the combined squadron
required as repaaton that all the English French and
Russian ships in the harbor Of Odessa should Immediately
join the combined squadron and that if this were not done
set of SUM- would be had 10 force avenge
the honor of that squadron for the insult offered to it,
resolution which would be adopted with regret and the
responsibility of which would rest upon those who had
incurred IT, This summons viii be seen, is based upon
completely false assertion with respect TO which Baron
Osen-Sacken had already given most complete explana
ton Without paying any attention TO those explanations
the dmiras assert that English frgae and its boat
with two flags Of truce, fired upon although above
explained the boats flag Of truce respected and the
fgae not fired upon until it refused TO conform to the
notice not TO approach the batteries Nevertheless the
sdmiras made this the pretext Of their nsoent summons
TO which General Baron ostenSacken did not think ii
proper to give any answer, They did not blush TO
make parade OF their sentiments of humanity and their
regret at being forced to adopt the resolution Of lombard
ing the town. In order 10 place the matter at the full
height Of dersion and If they desired place in its
true light the character Of the which the powers Of
the West wagug against u.s. by aying themselves with
the most inyeerae enemies Of Christianity, they chose
Holy Saturday Saturday of Passonweek TO destroy
Christian town. The thunder from thousands Of cannon
carrying death and destruction contrnsted with the
hymns which resounded in the churches where the people
full Of fervor and pey joined in prayers the touching
ceremony of the funeral OF Him who died upon the
for the safety Of the human
In spite OF all the hypocrisy Of the phrases with which
the maritime powers seek to disguise the part they
playing by ranging themselves che side OF the Crescent
against the Gross the facts exhibit the contrast which ex
lists between the phl.nthropic doctrines they profess with
much emphasis and the In which they carry
them into practice The allied admirals made a false
preence for imperous summons in which they dare TO
speak of sentiments Of humanity and hasten TO test their
sincerity by odious act of babarityindeed Of sacri-
egous proclamation when il s considered what pous
objections the Church Of Christ maintains in regard
Holy Saturday which they chose ravago death
into Christian town. II is however consoatory 10 us
know that they had the satisfaction OF disturbing d.
vine service which in spite Of The boubardmon which
lasted during twelve consecutive hours proceeded with
and finished in the temples with that calm and devotion
which faith and resignation give the disciples Christ
The inhabitants and such OF the troops did take part
in the combat surrounded the churches aud formed part
OF the procession Of the day As soon rs the cannon had
ceased resound the bells Of all the churches peaed in
celebration Of the solemnity Of the Resurrection.
A second extraordinary supplement to the ST. Peters
burgh Journal dated April 30 gives the following under
the head of st Pctersburgh, Of the previous day:
fresh report has been received from Abide Camp
General Baron 0stenSacken, announcing that the
bined English and French fleets which bad attacked
Odessa on the 10TH (22d) had not renewed their attempts
upon the town but that on Esstorday French steamer
had made inspection Of the batteries, during which
she'll which fired from the latter struck the steamer
and carried away boat which it had in tow Two days