The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-09-20
STATE OF THE SIEGE or sEBAsTopoI,

From the London Times, sept T.
The siege of Sebastopol likely to give almost
equal employment TO the civil and the military engineer
Strangely enough Il i from tho science Of peace and in
devices are being in this most obstinate Of war
ike struggles. Where Is the discple of Vaubon now,
with all the elaborate mystery Of lis arth scarps and
counterscarps, his raveins and iunetcsr hmound Of
earh strong and broad as the embankmcnt which
ries railway over valley, with heavy cannon at
riea Of ort6cation Veterans of Badajoz and distin
guished .goung men from Woolwieh have alike
system Of fortacaiion, by which the sultans
Of Adranople strengthened their camps at Belgrade or
Varna and which might be to the Russians reminis-
cence Of the days Of Ivan Nasicytch While each
ceediDg month bas lowered the reputation OF military
science and while events havc ahed the predictions Of
its great authorities the services Of the civilian
become more and appreciated, and declar
ed necessary TO the safety Of the four armies The great
discoveries which forty years peace given TO man
Kind found the best aid 10 In warke
terpfisc and it may be consolation 10 those who
think perhaps justly that England behind her ally In
military preparation and military skill, to find that in
the application Of these discoveries under
conditions, she takee the lead ard that 50 the Judgment
and science OF British civilians important military works
have been committed by the commander a the sci
enthcaly educated army in the world The Black Sea
has for months been spanncd y the longest ceir wire
yet laid down and the weary distance between naklava
and the camp made less eShausng by railway. The
former of these enterprises viewed with dislike by
in camp, who forcboded car,y Intelligence To the
Russans and commander n-chief in Downing street
while the railway expected 10 do little, and egardc
rather the expelient of desperate Minister than
reasonable scheme. The most complete has at
icnded both these works which have added no. a little
10 our reputation In the East.
The advantages of tho summer have been mainly due
70 the railway, and the speedy transmission Of has
deepened the interest of both nation. in The war while
i gives greater facilities for It's efficient conduct Now
that preparations for second winter divide with
Ike plans the attention o the general thr ~
Mr. Beatty, the constructor ol the present railway, Is
looked upon opportunc, and learn that bis
vices have just been secured for two other workt The
one II railway from what 4 called the Col dc Bslaklava
TO Kamesch 20 he worked by horse power tho othcr i
from kedko 20 the Woranso road, past the Sandman
position The labor both lines vii b. supplied by the
French and Sardntans, fo whose use the works de
signed.
Il cannot Be doubted that The petitions near tie Tcbcr
maya woua be untenabe without uch facilities of trans
pot ii has been resolved create last winter al
though the traffic between al8klaya and the camp
carried along what wa actually 4 road yet men and
beasts sank into dcpth mud which artist ha- had
the courage To- dcnca'e. pass,ge he plains Of
Ralalava after week. u rain would probably BE- entirely
mpTacticabe for anfnas, Either. then. thc immense
army ~ the allies must quit II. present extended and adj
vansaeous positions 70 cro,d together on the naIow
plateau which fronts -obasopo. o. II must have
o. transport Of which former warfare ignorant. This
advantage modern, AMI We may ny British science viii
give II. Greater facilities may hcneelprh ~ expected
the conduct of military operations.
When, IN the old times army went INTO winter
quarters y WIS not only bocause tha troops wod oer
wise perish from cold ~ that they could not live IN hutn
of their construcon well under such shelter
a. they often found il marrow fortified twn. Il
because all transit impossible and tho army must
unless stationed in The immediate vicinity d IT.
stores The allies lyc winter quarters u rctife
aud necessity has taught them no. expcdicut, which
will pass into the syst.m ~ luturo warfare.
u siil be indcd disgrac,iul II the nation which,
~ addition - great material I,s1uIce.. iossesses
such scientific skill, should -ecgn4 tlnc Gail to
Insure the mcans 81 COMFORT aui even q cxiatence,
{" its comparatively small army. II cannot how.
eyer b. deuicd that apprehen,ion- prevail and
the opinions q tho.e on The spot ar no ou vel ox
pressed IN the letter # correspondent Nhtl ap-
ueared yercfday Balaklpsn + w,i known - de-rrp-
ton. small marrow hatoor = entroy surrounded BY
steep and lofty hills. IL waer, II great depl admit
the largest steamer and lndiamcn q tic British
rine. and 80 tr, the place i Invaluable Outside y
ronbouua coast II perpsnG cuar rocks ~ fbn 81