Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-06-16
From the London Times, May 20.
The Cnufnr~ NJ Itertsch.


The victorious occupation of Kertsch by the
allied forces, the command we have thus OBJ
tanned OF the Cimmerian Bosphorus and the sea
OF Axof, and the establishment Of our power
upon another point of the highest strategical i'm
poriance in the Russian territories, are events
which aogn most auspiciously for tho success Of
the campaign.
The satisfaction which this achievement will
excite IN all parts Of the world where sympathy
y felt for the cause Of the Allies, is increased by
The fortunate circumstance that this success has
been obtained without single casualty. In spite
of the warning given To the Russians by the re-
call oi the first expedition, nearly three weeks
place the straits Of fcnikale in efficient state
OF defense.
They evacuated and destroyed forts which
guarded the sea of Azof on the arrival Of the
combined feet, and the birthday 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 Mi
thridstcs. This result is more glorious and ex-
tFaordiaary, the Russians must long have fore
seen that such an operation would sooner or later
be attempted, and there is no point in the vast
dimensions Of Russia the loss Of which is more
formidable 10 that empire.
Indeed, the Allies proceed no further than to
occupy and hold the Straits Of Zenkale, and the
adjacent peninsula OF Kertsch, which is easily
deicnsibie by any power having command Of the
sea, they would remain in possession of the key
10 one of the principal approaches 10 the Russian
territories. In 1851 no less than 1000 trading
vessels passed these Straits.
All the commercial towns which it has been
the policy Of the Russian government to protect
and foster with tho utmost Tor the last seven
ty years, exist only by the freedom Of trade be-
tween the Sea Of Azof and the Euxinc The
whole exports Of the valley of the 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 depend on this neck Of the Sea of
Azof.
On the Asatc shore Of the straits the Russians
have also destroyed their Notifications, SO that
both sides may be occupied, and the allied forces
threaten 10 blockade Anapa, which is the key to
hewhoe Circasian coast. Kertsch itself is -four
ishing town of 10000 inhabitants; built entirely
of substantial stone houses. A more favorable
position either for military or commercial opera
tons cannot be found.
The ,last dispatch from Gen. Pelissier announ-
ces that the allied forces have now occupied the
whole line of the Tchernaya, and that this opera
ton met no serious resistance, the Russians hav
ing speedily retired behind the hills. This fresh
success confirms in the opinion that the unseen
strength of the enemy in the Crmea has been
overrated, and that il lis by means in the condi
ton TO oppose the simultaneous combined move
ments of the three armies at ,Eupatora, kertsch
and before Sebastopol.
The greater probability now appears to be that
on the advance of the allies in that direction they
may assume the offensive, and the Russians find
themselves compelled to retreat from inferiority
Of numbers and want Of supplies; and more so as
the sea of Azof being navigable for our steam gum
boats, their base of operations may be threatened
in the rear.
The ground we now occupy in the Crimea gives
us command Of the Black Sea and the Sea Of
Azof, from which Russia cannot dislodge us until
the termination of the war, and then not upon her
terms but our own; and the time not distant
when she will regret far more than we need do
the failure of late negotiations for peace. Our
hopes of peace lie in victory; negotiators and
conditions are in camp before Sebastopo, and
Kertsch is another material guarantee for our ult-
mate success.