The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-27

we had repeatedly expressed in favor Of the Chris
tan population Of the East were stultifed by such
+ an act OF improyidence and humanity. To save
4 themselves from destruction, the Greeks invoked
the protection OF the foreign Powers which MANY
OF them have contrved, ON one pretence or another
to obtain The lonian Greeks, or those who puss
Tor snch came, OF course, under British protection:
| and the French Ambassador thought DIT to assert
similar claim on behalf of the Greek members of
the Western Church.
We are unwilling to comment with unneces-
sary severity upon conduct on the part of a
foreign ambassador which we have no doubt the
French government is by no means disposed to ap-
prove, but, II anything were needed to render
SUI sueh 2 pretence more than ever out Of place,
II is the position in which the Western Powers
stand at this moment towards the Porte. England
and France have sent their fleets and armies to
Turkey because they deny to Russia the right,
Of the Eastern population protesting the tensts c Of
the Eastern Church, and they have repeatedly de-
clared that such pretenson is inconsistent
With the sovereignty and independence Of the
Sultan. The Sultan, in the exercise of this
sovereignty, is advised-as we think, very ILL
advised-to expe the Hellenic population from his
dominions, upon which one Of the ambassadors sent
pendence Of the Porte puts in a claim in favor Of
one sect Of Greeks which is quite as inconsistent
with the authority Of the Sultan as the demands
Of Prince Menschikoff himself. This comparison
question, and reduces the dispute ad a5surdum.
The only proper way of dealing with the difficulty
was to insist, not on privileges and exemptions in
favor Of particular religious Sect but the imme-
date revocation of the whole order of prescription.
The Hellenic population Is so interviewer with all
the relations Of trade, society and domestic life in
the Levant that it is impossible to drive them out
Without causing very widespread suierings and
only be increased by discovering that the
Latin converts who are regarded with no friendly
eye, could invoke protection which no one else
possessed. These distinctions of race and of
creed are precisely the causes Of anarchy and weak
ness to Turkey, which just and tolerant government
would seek to efface by placing every class Of the
population under the protection ofthe law, common
French as well as the English government to con-
vince the world that the power Of the Ottoman en-
pre can be maintained and regenerated, it is incon-
Sultan by demands and threats which they cannot
either resist or obey with safety.
We trust that the last events in Northern Greece
have given check to the instruction, and that
means will be found to put end to the acts Of fe-
rocity which have been committed there, probably
on both Sides But the weakness and bad faith Of
the Greek government, added to its evident leaning
to power with which the two other protecting
great nicely. and importance for the con-
sideration OF the French and English Cabi-
nents: The experiment of the Bavarian govern
ment in Greece has not only failed to raise the
country as rapidly as it ought to have done in the
rank Of Independent Christian Powers, but it has
produced o state of things, the continuance of
which is almost impossible. An upright admins
traton, an efficient police, and competent amount
OF disciplined force to maintain order, are indispen-
sable conditions and, however we may regret the
necessity of foreign occupation Of the country we
fear that the result can be obtained by no other
means. The important and still underlined events
which are now In progress in the East, cannot but
materially affect the condition of Greece either for
good or for evil. They ought to connect her more
closely with the Western Powers, to improve her
government, and to give her o more numerous and
c0ntented population but, above all, they ought to
provide against the danger of extending the influ-
ence OF Russia by causing the Greeks to look to the
The Russian Account Of the Bombartment
OF Odessa.
From the Invalide Russo, St Petersburg, April 1871
The extraordinary supplement of our number of
April l8 (3Oth) communicated to the public the
report Of Aide-de-Camp General Baron OstenSacken,
which gives an account of the attack directed
against Odessa by the Anglo-French squadron. As
our enemies founded this aggression upon an in
cident which they represent in very false light,
We think mink it right to mention the exact facts On
Furious approached towards Odessa. Two guns
without bali were fired from the land; the frigate
arrested her course withsut casting anchor,
hosted the English flag, and sent out boat
with flag Of truce, which came TO demand
whether the English Consul was still in the
town. The boat returned, an answer having
been given that the consul had left. The boat
with the flag Of truce had got beyond the rea III Of
cannon when the frgate advanced towards the mole.
Faithful to his orders not to allow vessel Of the
enemy to come within reach Of cannon shot, the
commander Of the battery fired, not upon the boat
with the flag Of truce, but upon the frigate, which
had already received orders to stop. The frigate,
however, sailed of as rapidly as possible upon the
first shot.
On the I'd of April three war steamers-two Eng.
lish and one French-presented themselves before
Odessa to ask why they had fired upon the boat
with the flag Of truce. An explanation was given,
but, ashe chief Of the squadron wished to have an
answer in writing, Aid-de-Camp Baron Osten-Sack-
en- sent to him the following note, which we give in
its exact terms:-
Aide. camp Genaa Baron D'Osten Sacken thinks il
right to express to Admiral Dundas his surprise at
upon Tie frisate Furious, bearing dag Of truce.
AT the arrival Of the Furious two guns were fred
without ball in consequence Of which the weasel hosted
its national flag, and stopped her beyond the
reach Of cannon shot. Immediately boat was cent
out with white flag in the direction Of the mole and
English sfcer said that the sh Consul had already
left Odessa Without further question the boat took
waiting for it, advanced towards the MOLE leaving the
boat at its left and approached the batteries within
non shot
1t was then that the commander 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
TO the end Of its mission but upon vessel Of the enemy
which had approached the land too nearly after having
been twice red upon without ball. the signal to stop.
This simple explanation of facts they have been
lated the Emperor ought Of itself TO destroy the sup
position otherwise inadmissabe, that in the ports OF
Russia there respect paid to the flag Of truce the
invioabty Of which is guaranteed by the laws common
to all civilized nations. Baron OSTEN SACKEN,
Aide de Camp General to his Majesty the Emperor.
This reply did not content the allied admirals. On
the sth Of April the Anglo-French squadron, COM
posed Of twenty-sx ships, anchored before Odessa.
In order to complete the information we have al
ready given, publish the letter addressed to the
| Governor Of Odessa by Admrals Dundas and Hame-
| lin, summonng him to deliver up the English,
French, and Russian vessels in the port.
This letter is dated from before Odessa, April FL,
| and states that the batteries Of the town having
fired several balls upon the frigate and the boat at
the moment the latter left the guns Of the mole,
where it had arrived in all confidence, the command
ers Of the combined squadron required, as repara
ton, shat all the English, French, and Russian ships
inbhe harbor Of Odessa should Immediately join the
combined squadron, and that If this were not done
| at set Of sum- recourse would be had to force to
avenge the honor Of that squadron for the insult