Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-06-14
From the London Times, June ]
The Capture Of keTtsch.

Kertsch by the allied forces, the command we have
thus obtained of the Cimmerian Bosphorus and
the Sea Of AEoff, and the establishment OF our
power upon another point OF the highest STRATEGY
cal Importance In the Russian territories are events
which augur most auspiciously for the success OF
the campaign In which we are now about to en-
gage, and place in our hands another material
pledge for the triumphant termination of the war.
The satisfaction which this achievement will excite
In all parts of the world, where sympathy is felt
for the cause Of the allies is increased by the for
tunate circumstances that this success has been
obtained without u single casualty. In spite Of
the warning given to the Russians by the recall Of
the first expedition, nearly three weeks ago, the
result shows that they had not means TO place the
Straits of Yenkale in an efficient state of defence
they evacuated and destroyed the forts which
guarded the Sea of Azoff ON the arrival of the
combined fleet and the birth day of the Queen
OF England was worthily celebrated by planting
the standards of England and France upon the hill
which tradition has described as the tomb Of
Mithridates
This result is the more glorious and the more
extraordinary, as the Russians must have long
foreseen that such an operation would sooner or
later be attempted, and there is no point in the
vast dominions of Russia, the loss of which is more
formidable to that empire. Indeed If the allies
proceeded no farther than to occupy and hold the
Straits of Yenikale and the adjacent peninsula Of
Kertsch, which is easily defensbe by any power
having the command of the sea- they would remain
in possession of the key to one Of the principal
approaches TO the Russian territories. In 1851,
no less than 1000 trading vessels passed the
Straits. Taganreg, Marianopol, Berdianskt, and
Kertsch, all commercial towns which it has been
the policy of the Russian government to protect
and foster with the utmost care for the last seven
ty years, exist only by the freedom of trade be-
tween the sea Of Azoff and the Euxine. The whole
exports of the valley fthe Don and its tributaries
and the communication between the Don and the
Volga, which places the trade of that mighty
stream in connection with the markets Of Europe,
all dependent on this neck of the sea Of Azoff; 50
that 1t liz no exaggeraton to assert that our occu-
patton Of Kertsch will be felt in the interior Of Rus
sia, even to Kazan and Nishni Novogorod.
On the Asiatic shore of the Straits the Russians
have also destroyed their Qualifications 80 that both
sides may be occupied, and the allied forces will
threaten or blockade Anapa, which is the key to
the whole CircassiAn coast Kertsch itself is a
Furnishing town OF about IL, 900 inhabitants built
entirely Of substantial stone houses. The inhabi-
tants are chiefly Greeks and Tartars, and for the
first time since the commencement of these opera
tons our troops will find themselves in contact
with what may be termed, by comparison civil
lied community. The climate, though cold in win
ter s healthy and genial In this season. The sur
rounding country, which Is termed by the Russians
the district of Kertsch Enikolsk is uxuiously fer
tile wherever it is cultivated; 1t Is separated from
Kaffa by about sixty miles of unduating plain, ly-
ing between the Sea Of Azoff and the Black Sea,
and the isthmus dividing the Bay Of Kaffa from
that Of Arabat ia not more than twelve miles in
breadth
A more favorable position either for military or
commercial operations cannot be found, and in the
fourishing days Of the Crimea, both In antiquity,
upda tha (yappaea fba han NJ
Khazaria, the chief seat Of power and Of wealth
always on this eastern extremity Of the PENN.
sula These facts being well known, it is difficult
to explain why this expedition was not made at a
much earlier period of the war, for the forces
which langushed during last July at Varna, might
have long since seized the forts of Yenkale. 1t is
true that the soundings which have enabled Admi-
raj Lyons and Admiral Bruat to plan this success
full attack had not then been taken, and the man
ner in which they were obtained is curious. A
British naval officer whose name has, unfortu-
nately, not yet reached US, captured vessel hav-
ing on board private carriage belonging to the
Russian governor of Kertsch With this mate
rial pledge" in his possession he sent in polite
message TO the governor, stating that the English
cruiser was unwilling to deprive him of his private
property, and would have great pleasure in restor-
ing the carriage to its former owner. The offer
was accepted, and the ships boats entered the Bay
Oh hertSCD, WITH the On DOdru, bOuDOlDE as
they went. By this means It was ascertained that
there was passage for the small steamers to with
in short distance of the coast, and the governors
carriage made a track for the British feet
Among the other immediate advantages result
ing from the occupation Of the Straits may be reck
oned the interruption of the supplies which the
Russian army in the Crimca has hitherto drawn
from the Sea Of Azof. Very large quantities of
wheat, -four, and oats were found at Kertsch and
l. Ii T..
which about half were burnt by the enemy and
half were taken. The maintenance of a large ar,
my in the interior Of the Crimea will become
task Of insuperable difficulty, If the whole of its
supplies and food have TO be brought by land
across the steppes north Of the Salghir. The Cri-
mea itself does not produce corn enough TO feed
its own sparse population, and il was by commun-
cation with the ineIhaustibe granaries of the Sea
of Azoff that the Russian magazines we're supplied
This circumstance may serve TO account in part for
the fact that the Russians have apparently not at
tempted to throw very large reinforcements into
the Crimea. The strength Of their army must be
regulated not only by the numbers they may be
able to convey there, but by the means Of sup
porting them.
soRTIE REPuLsEp.
Private letters dated Kamesch, the 10th ult
state that the Russians having made sortie du.
ring the day to retake two redoubts near the
Careening rayine, captured by General Pelisser,
we're observed by frgate stationed at the entrance
of the port Of Sebastopol; an alarm was given,
and General Pate advanced with his division TO
meet the Russians. The enemy, who debouched
from the side Of the-s Quarantine Fort along the
sea, was received with a brisk fire Of musketry,
and the artillery, acting on compact bodies Of
troops, produced terrific slaughter. The Rus
slams fed in confusion, leaving about 900 dead on
the ground. The fourth parallel had been COM
pleted and firmly connected with the other works
No apprehension was entertained for any attempt
the Russians might make against il. In fact, IL
was generally remarked that their attacks were
much less determined than formerly.
The troops from the camp Of Msslak had arrived
in excellent condition, and were hutted In front Of
the Bay Of Kazatch. The Piedmoutesc contn-
gent was landed at Balsklava. Omar Pacha was
expected with $4,000 men from Eupstoria. Il was
believed that General Canrobert would take the
command Of the division intended to operate on
the north side Of Sebastopol, while General Pelis
ser would press the town on the south. The d.
vision under Csnrobert, 20 be formed into three
columns, will have marched on the Tchernaya, and