New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-04-23

some 1900 men. who fought with that classic
vslor and logged obstinscy which the English
soldier has shown in every hand to-hand eac ,uu-
ter ,iIce he expedition fret landed 10
the Crimes. The Russian onslaught WAS
to ibe English works. But the French were MT
so fortunate. They were driven from their
trenches, which were occupied by the Rus.i.ns
for full half an hour. Duriog this time co.,
siderable portion of the works was destroyed;
and Is the EpgIish writer says, had the columns
attacking the Epgiish line not been promptly aud
sienally repulsed, the consequences t. the Allies
must h,ve been very serious The fighting in
the trenches is described as terrific, the CON-
bataDts firing vollies at each other when no more
tbsn twenty yards spsrt The English loss Is
stated by Lord Raglan at 65 officers aud men,
killed wounded aud missing; the French loss Is
estimated at 500 Killed and wouuded, while the
Rut.iaDs suffered still more severely. though
their loss could not have approached the figure
given in Csnroberts dispatch. The correspond
en-. Of The Times estimates it at 600 or 700.
Some prisoners we're taken on both sides.
The advantage in this affair was evidently with
the Russians They penetrated the hostile lines,
overthrow part Of the works and spiked three
Of the batteries; and this was what they intended,
as is proved BY the fact that they hsd not more
than Is, 600 men engaged This appears from
the statement Of the English writer. tina. the
columns attacking the English numbered about
6 eco, which ia probably exaggerated. They re-
81 O. Of ali arti
ends in retreat and their loss was heavier than
that Of the Allies; but they achieved their pur-
pore Of forestal Dg an attack on their own works,
and damaging those Of their enemies. A victory,
in tho seD,e claimed BY Canrobert it certainly
was not Nor was there about 1t any such char
acter Of success as could safety and suppress the
rebtllous and disorderly spirit Of the French
troops.
To this spirit We have before alluded, but per-
baps not in sufficient detail to impress the facts
upon our readers. Indeed, the state Of the French
army, as far 40 discipline is concerned, is indeed
alarming. Continued inactivity, or what is
verse fruitless activity, wilt finally dissolve the
bonds Of order and obedience in any army but
more particularly, and very soon, 10 French
army On the other hand, success aud the IN
mistsbable presence Of an energetic and intsi
gent directing hand, will sooner restore discl
pre among the French than among any other
troops. Now, since lS49, the French army has
passed through many stages all tending to the
weakening Of military discipline. The army was
fattered fret by the middle class, then by Louis
Bonsparte as the savior of order, as the elite of
the country. 1t was openly proclaimed as the
srbiter of the destinies of France. Its mass was
bribed by the ssussees and brandy the fowls and
champagne of Louis Bonaparte. To attach 1t
still more to the cause of BOnapartism, discipline
was relaxed, amnesties for military culprits were
repeatedly Issued; on one head only great
severity was introduced. and that was poll
tics. Bonsp.rtim, with its concOmitants,
glory, plumber, and chances OF advancement, loom
ing in the di,tADce, became the normal religion
of the army; republication and soci.lis n we're
prescribed and their supporters transported to
Africa, where they filled the penal companies
and batta ions used for che hardest work and the
most dangerous posts The macs OF the army
wss very little affected by this proceeding. What
occasion was there to talk about liberty so long
as the soldier had the liberty OF getting drunk as
often az he liked, and could even come home
after tattoo without being punished! Liberty
there was for the soldier more than ever before.
The Empire having been proclaimed they tried
TO check this license; but what influence could be
exercised over the soldiers by men like 81. AT
napd and Msgnsu, whose appropriations of public
money were in the mouths of everybody or by
L'Espinasse who earned his Generals epauletses
by an act of downright military treason Re-
tpect for the officers was declining, aud the
pa!adips of the Lower Empire were just the men
TO destroy the last vestige oft. In this deplora-
bic state was the French army when the war
broke out. The very first reverse-a re-
verse wi.bou. having seen the enemy-the
stupid expedition to the Dobrodja, was suffi'
cient TO cause almert open insurrection
in a whole division. The Zousves, composed
almost entirely Of substitutes, men Of doubtful
career, of no principle whatever, of adventurous
and unruly spirits but of great physical strength
aid coursge-the Zouaves, upon this as upon all
opportunities, took the lead in loudly expressing
their dscontt Mt and enacting seer es which under
other circumstances, would have ended in the
forcible dissolution and summary punishment of
the corps but which as things stood had to ps'
unpoticed. Alma and Inkermann for while al
lsyed the rebelous troops but the long inactivity
and the suftrings Of winter, the hard work with
out any resuls, very soon brought out again the
rpirit Of insubordiDation. Monster Populations
demanding the assault, and other sorts of votes of
DO confidence in the generals were resorted to,
and on one occasion the Zouaves even came to
threaten the Commander in Chief. The late TO
ra-saa hsra POM hf fhia ara of In