Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-15
TRoUBLE IN. THE CAMP.

The alliance between England and France
has always worn an unnatural appearance. It
is plain to the dullest vision that they had a
common interest in preventing the occupation
Of Constantinople by the Russians; yet the
English and French alliance seems to be some
thing beyond the natural order Of things. We
thought that their troops would act harmoni-
ously enough and in friendly spirit until a
defeat was encountered, or victory gained.
In the event of defeat, we expected to see the
allies attempt to throw the responsibility on
each other. When a victory was gained, we
expected to see some quarrelling in the distri-
button Of the glory.
As yet no defeat has been encountered, and
but one victory has been gained. The battle
of the Alma was Of such a character that the
English and French forces maneuvred like
two distinct armies acting in concert. The
plan Of the battle was devised in such man
ner that separate tasks devolved on the two
wings of the allies, and each of those wings
acted without any direct support from the
other. Their trophies were not mingled or
mixed up in any manner, so that the difficulty
of distribution was not encountered. There
were some complaints of the hardness of the
English; but the circumstances we have men
toned prevented any serious manifestations Of
jealousy. But there is a little ranking at the
core after all. The depths are not as calm as
the surface would indicate, if any deductions
can be drawn from the following pointed COM
ments, which the London Times makes on
Louis Napoleon's letter of coincidence to the
widow of Marshal st. Armand. The London
Times says
"The public allusion which the Emperor
Louis Napoleon has recently made in his letter
of coincidence to Madame de st. Arnaud, to
the stimid counsels' which at one time threat
ened to suspend the great enterprise in which
we are now engaged, removes, in some degree,
that reserve which had hitherto been maintained
on this delicate subject. We cannot doubt
that, sooner or later, the facts will be entirely
ascertained and generally known, and that
every one concerned in these memorable events
will go down to history with his appropriate
badge of caution or of valor. But since this
taunt has been htroion out By no less a person
age tH0U TIC I]HpcJOT " Wc TTeftCH, dHtt " may
for a time appear to reflect on the gollantry and
ioeH deserved honors Of the leaders Of this
expedition, zoe hasten to add that no one &C.
quainted scith the facts can for an instant in
tend to insinuate that the slightest want of reso
luton was at any moment discernible in the
conduct of Lord Raglan or of Admiral Lyons,
of General Canrobert or of Admiral Bruat.
Throughout the whole course of the campaign
the conduct of these eminent commanders has
been in every respect worthy of their position
and of the flags under which they serve, and
the progress of the enterprise is unquestion-
ably due to their energy. If others faltered
under the weight Of responsibility or the mag
nitude of the expedition, we believe that they
acted up to the measure of their judgment and
capacity. No one knoios better than the En,pe-
yor Of the French that 1t scas in his o,ca cabi-
net, and among his own military advisers, that
the expedition to the Crimea had to encounter
the largest amount Of opposition and adverse
criticism"