Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-07-12
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The Hango Affair.-There is, evidently.

S'uS VI the htltntic, VINO mdnu1acture 10 oruer
public opinion throughout the world in favor
of all England does, to generate storm of
indignation everywhere against the conduct
Of the Russian authorities at Hango Udd. But
the truth in connection with it has already
come to light. 1t seems that, at least on two
previous occasions, English officers played the
part Of spies under the protection Of flag of
truce. Once in the harbor of Sebastopol, en-
tered by British ship with a white flag fy-
ing, whose boats sounded in all directions
under the cover Of dense fog, which, rising
suddenly, discovered them so engaged. And,
again at Kertsch, where under the pretence of
returning the carriage Of Russian dignitary
that had been captured, those conveying it,
with white flag hoisted, took soundings that
enabled them shortly afterwardSto enter the
harbor and take the place. If those who thus
violated the implied pledge of honor under
which the protection of the flag of truce was
accorded to them, had been made prisoners on
those occasions, they would have been hung
as spies, their lives being as clearly forfeited
under the articles of war, as that of Andre was,
when caught within the American lines in the
act of carrying communications between Arnold
and the British commander in New York.
The knowledge Of what had been done on
the two previous occasions referred to above,
doubtless, and very properly, induced the Rus
sian authorities no longer to run the risk of
being victimized by English Trojan-horse
fricEs acnaoiolIu ha Epnl;ch Al
rality Office had praised its officers who had
thus forfeited their honor, instead of punish
ing them. Their cry-that Of England-for
the sympathy of the world for those who suf-
fered at Hango, is, therefore, mere false pro-
tense, designed probably to attract the atten-
sea of Azoff
They had spent nine months and 500, 900
lives, to say nothing of millions on millions of
money in the vain effort to reduce single for
tress, which is, at this day, stronger in its imme
diate material defences, than when they first sat
down before it. Their army and navy, as we'll
as the whole British public are terribly cha
grined, mortified, and disappointed with the
result of the effort above referred to. To re-
cover standing Mt home, and in mere malicious
spite and rage, the buceaneering expedition to
| the sea of Azoff was undertaken. 1t was found
wholly undefended, its defence or the retention
| of command over it and its shores, being of not
| the least Importance to Russia's plan of the
campaign. Thus unopposed, these heroes, who
| entered on the war under the pretense of fight
ing the battles of civilization, progress, and
christianity only, and for no other reason what
| ever, spent fortnight in the sea of AsoR-a
| whole army Of them on board of nearly the
whole of their immense feet-in numbering,
robbing, and ravishing unprotected non com
batants of all ages and destroying private prop
erty there.
This conduct has but one parable in the
history of modern warfare, Of which we have n
recollection, which was the occasion on which,
during the reign of Louis XIV, and under the
ministry of LouvOis Marshal Turenne, was or.
dered to lay waste the Palatine; which COM
mand he carried out, to the horror Of future
generations down to this time-pretty much
after the fashion, too, in which the British have
recently proceeded around the sea of Azoff
The accounts Of this affair remind Us strongly
of the contrast in which it stands to the history
| of the proceedings of our armies in Mexico,
where for long time they had supreme au-
thority over large scope of the wealthiest and
most thickly settled portion of the republic.
Now, it is notorious that on but two occasions
was the sacred right of private property vio-
lated in Mexico on either line of our armies.
In one case, in the darkness of the night, a
villa, belonging to Santa Anna personally, sit
uated on the coast, near Vera Cruz, was pilla-
| ged by some of those who hung on the skirts
| of General SCOTS army. To his credit, be il
written, that great General left no stone un-
| turned to discover the actors in this affair OF
vandalism; ayOwing the purpose of Furnishing
them most signally and summarily. The
other occasion was one in which a party
| OF Americans broke into and robbed G private
house The perpetrators of this act were dis
| covered, and it was satisfactorily proved that
| BOstOnian was responsible for the act He
was the brother-in-law of the most popular
| and distinguished clergyman in the modern
| Athens and a member of one of the wealthiest,
most numerous and influential Massachusetts
| families. He was nevertheless condemned. 70
death, and his life was saved only by an acct
dent. That is; shortly after his sentence, and
| before the period set for its execution arrived,
| orders were received disbanding the army.
We refer to these facts connected with the
history of our invasion of Mexico. That
| honest and fair.minded men Of all nations may
compare the conduct of our arms there, with
that of the British arms in the Crimea.
The Walker and Kinney Expeditions.
Some of the New York papers are just now
busy in arraigning the Government of the
United States for permitting Walker to depart
from California upon his present maurading
expedition on the Territory of Nicaragua, doing