The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-07-06

Tno Siege or SebastOpO1
The pafht Of the news is to the effect that the
attack on Sebsstopol was renewed by the Allies
ON the eighteenth of June, and that they were
repulsed with great slaughter. The attack ap-
pears to have been made from the works recent
ly taken from the Russians. upon the south
eastern defepces of the city, and mainly upon
the Redan and the Malakoff tower. Pelissier's
plan evidently was to carry work after work
at whatever cost Of life. The Mamelon and
adjoining work towards Careening bay was not
deemed by Canrobert to be worth the number of
men Pelissier sacrificed to take il. IL was TAKEN
however, and ten days afterwards orders were
given to prosecute the advance upon the near
est works, which were the Redan and the Mala-
koff. These it appears were fortified complete
~. They are among the Oldest defences of
Sebastopol, and whatever strength time, mo
ney, energy and science can have impaired to
them, they possess. 1t is not wonderful, there
fore, that the assaiiants should have been re-
pulsed with heavy loss. It is said that that
loss amounts to four thousand men, and over
seventy officers. But it must be observed that
both the British and French governments have
concealed the news they have received, thus
leaving the public mind prey to conviction
Of disaster without the least inkling of its
extent and nature. Four thousand men, a
greater loss than England has suffered since
Waterloo CHE Afghan loss was not in the
field, seems large number to have fallen in
an attack on line which cannot exceed half a
mile in length; and unless an attack was
simultaneously made on some Of the western
defences, it will probably be found to be ex-
aggerated.
Criticism on military movements at such a
distance is not easy, or likely to be very pre-
else. But it is Impossible to reflect upon
the sacrifice of life that is going on in the
Crimea without feeling Of horror, and deep
indignation. One cannot help mstrusting the
Wanted abilities of Pelissier. According to
the telegraphic accounts, nearly eight Thousand
| men have been sacrificed on the allied side
alone, for the capture of a position by no
means indispensable to the besiegers or dan
| gerous in the hands Of the besieged; position
| which the English and French have each held
| in turn and each voluntarily evacuated. Even
if the attack Of the 18th June had led to the cap
ture Of the Redan and Malakoff, it by no means
follows that the Allies would have reaped any
advantages beyond moral prestige. The de-
| fences Of the barracks, artillery stores and
| docks which lie in the rear of these works are
said to be OF equal strength to those which
have held the Allies at bay for nearly year.
| Even after these were captured, the Allies
would only be in possession of one bank of the
stream, and one side of the city. They would
be exposed to the fire Of the other side on
which the city itself is situate and the strong
est of the works; and also to that of the pow
eriul batteries which lie on the other side of
the bay.
Non military men may be bad judges Of such
matters. But, Judging according TO the plain
rules OF common sense, it does seem that until
something more has been done than walking
three or four miles along the Tchernaya, beat
| the bushes and then walk back again; until in
short, the Russians have been beaten in the
field, Simpheropol reduced, and Perekop-
above all, Perekop- captured, it is sheer folly
to slaughter men by marching them up to the
lannon's mouth against city which cannot
| even be invested.