The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-30


The operations Of the Baltic feet concluded for the
season the campaign of 55 Is over and it Is proba
Bile that in short time Admiral Dundas and his liners
win return to England. In summing up the operations
of the feet It is impossible to avoid expressing the utter
disappointment felt by all classes Mt the futile and rivo
lous result of the campaign. With an enormous heef,
with vast profuson of means and with the whole expo
rience Of 54 both the Admiralty and their admiral have
contrived TO achieve IN four months, cruise at pest
prise the solitary bombardment Of arsenal the burn
ing Of few baks Of timber and the capture Of dozen
two small trading vessels. 1t may be that the home
seriously to blame for neither supplying
mortar vessels in time, for providing the necessary
reserves of artillery and ammunition Batin The manage
ment OF the campaign and particularly with regard to
the attack on Sweaborg we had right to expect from
from Admiral Dundas more proportiouate to
the force at his disposal 1t is longer doubt
ed nor denied that the conduct Of Admiral Dundas
reprehensble TO degree in personally keeping out Of
the FIRE during the bomhardnent, aud in de lining on
the second day to attack the fortress. The honor of
the service and Of the country imperatvey demand
searching, inquiry into conduct so unbecomins
British admiral of all faults in a commander the
least excusable Is timidity There may have been cir
cumsances which rendered necessary such excessive
caution. If 50, for the honor Of the feet, and for
re sake Of his reputation such circumstances must
be made known, or never again Admiral Dundas
hoist his flag With ard to sweabog the gallant Al
contemplated against the Notifications of the place.
But In the Of common sense for what purpose
he placed in command OF that vast ee II not to destroy
every link OF that chain of Notifications stretched by
Russia along the shores Of Finland and the BaltcY The
preliminary bombariment, he asserts destroyed bui
ings burnt stores blew arsena1S and committed
havoc. II such his impression, II was clearly his
duty to have brought the body Of the fleet lying idle
out OF range, and at least to have attempted II not to
have achieved the complete destruction Of the fortress
But his sole object was Il appears like that OF his
sake in the Black Sea- to keep with his liners out Of fire.
not even fs 70 ne
manders at Copenhagen, Admiral Dundas lay of out of
range during the bombardment When the work was
half done, he retired to Nargen. This Is, We believe,
about the FIRST timeand we hope 1t may be the lstsn
the naval history Of our country that British Admiral
was ever known 70 retire WITH an ees from
What would have been Thought OF such conduct ervs
Nelson sydney smith, xmouth any Of the heroic men
whose glores yet shed lustrc upon c,untry Would
they have believed in tp Was this the conduct of Nelson
at oopenhagenf OF Sydney Smith in Egyps OF Cochrane
at Martinique OF Exmouth at Algiers2 In the pre-
sent day the dread of stone walls and granite batteries
sits like nightmare upon the minds Of some Of
val commanders chief Their main object appears to
be triumph without risk. Danger il deemed an ample
plea for naction. Their attempts at engagements and
apologies for victories intended more for the in
their stronghods We correct their rather than
punish their enmity, for neither complete what we
have undertaken nor follow mp any advantage We have
gained SIR Charles Napier last year dismissed from
his command because he had done less than 1t was be-
eved his enabled him 10 do, butcan ii be permit
ted Admiral pndas TO retain his g IN the face d the
The last summer the period for decisive measures
and bold action even easyan opportunity as Swea
borg The application Of 80 end does not APP
pear to have engaged the attention Of Admiral Dundas
But must have decisive and immediate results
from the tremendous forces place at the disposal OF
our Admirais, must have satisfactory
afforded why those results not obtafnsi The
nation would readily forgive daring error, but II will
mover pardon timd decision. We say with great pain
but very deliberately, that IL - impossible long
er TO intrust our fleets TO the command Of
men who 10 look To the shoi
OF the enemy than to the honoe Of
and their own reputation. Discretion Is excellent
virtue In commander when combined with the m,re
active and enterpnsing qualities; but mnlnder all
discretion and nothing else must needs cut ridiculous
hgure II the present system Is to last shall neei
new nomenclature for our navy and for such names
the Daring Fury Terrible and Bulldog must substitute
the mder terms of the Discretion the Caution the fru
dence and the Cur. We DO not couman .ers OPP
pressed by Of their responsibility TO shrink
from that noble daring without which nothing great 10
war can he achieved ALI London lately witnessed with
emotion Mr.. stanaelds 6ne picture OF the yisory, OF
tered snip told Of the deadly strife which the heros
LOOK on with swelling hearts Il with fearful eyes Il l.
with other feelings that shall regard the polished sie
OF the returning Baltic ships. The contrast will be az
great as between the sentiment felt for Dundts living
aud Nelson dead We repeat, have desire to judge
the Admiral unheaEd Hs conduct may admit OF salts
acofy explanation. But present our public cannot
understand what IL the essential difference between the
runs OF sweahorg and the guns aud Axer
hey impatient 10 learn whether that marked con
rat between the naval tactics o. the last and the pre
T. TO be attributed TO change In the relative
alue Of the forces employed altogether favorable the
0e or t. the increased caution OF Admirss. This Il
question to te submitted to the decision Of court mar.
FAR