Washington sentinel., 1855-01-06
fortigu sntelligsnrs.
FuRTAER DETAILS ny THE ASIA.
Austria and Russia.

FURTHER DETAILS ny THE ASIA.
Austria and Russia.
A letter from Jassy, Of the 9th, published in
the Augsburg Gazette, says that great activity
has been perceptible among the Austrian troops
OF occupation, some regiments having advanced
to the fortified points of the South, and ex-
tended their advanced posts even as far as the
Pruth.
Phe following important statement is taken
from speech Of Lord John Russell on Friday
night:
Ny belief is that although not contained in
the literal term of the treaty, Austria will find
that, as. we do not propose to diminish the ter
ritory OF Russia, as we propose TO leave her
great and powerful State, and to demand only
securities, which are as necessary tor Austria
as they are for France and England, unless
Russia shall consent TO such fair and moderate
terms as il will be our duty to propose, when
ever Minister of the Emperor shall declare
he is directed to enter into negotiation-if
say, their terms are not accepted by the EN-
peror of Russia, anticipate that we shall have,
before the opening of the next campaign, the
alliance of Austria with us on the offensive and
defensive"
Sebastopol.
vember 23 to December l3.--The war cores
pondent Of the London Times says; although
It may be dangerous to communicate facts
likely TO be of service to the Russians, it is
certainly hazardous to conceal the truth from
the English people. They must know sooner
or later that the siege has been for many days
practically suspended that our batteries are
used up and silent, and that our army are ex-
hausted by the effect of the excessive labvi aud
watching to which it has been so necessarily
exposed The Russians know this well enough
The relaxation of our fire is seltevident; but
our army, though weakened by sickness ihfficst
sAssstlsemam' on assallants who may venture
to attack. Nothing would so animate our men,
destitute of all stimulating influences, beyond
those Of undaunted spirits and the prospect OF
meeting the Russians outside their entrench-
ments and deciding the campaign by the point
of the bayonet.
On last night there was a brisk affair be-
tween the Chasseurs de Nincennes and Rus
sian Rihemen, in front of the flagstaff battery
earthworks, and the Russians dispeled all abb
surd myths about their being in want of pow
der and ball, by most tremendous cannon.
ade. Assaults and counter assaults continued
amid furious FIRE, which lighted up the skies
with sheets of fame from nine o oclock at night
until four in the morning. The French actu-
ally penetrated behind the outer entrenchments,
and established themselves for a time within
the "enciente." but as there was no prepara.
ton for general assault they withdrew. Vol
lies of musketry and salvoes Of cannon roared
through the camp during the whole night, but
few lost their res, in consequence, for these al.
fairs are now nightly occurrence.
The fight between the French and Russian
rihemen, aided by artillery, was as usual re-
newed last night. The object of contention is
= mud fort, near the Quarantine battery, which
the French persist in holding, although use
less. Preparations for the renewal of a gen:
eral bombardment are being proceeded with
from day to day; the great obstacle is the bad
state Of the roads.
On the 18th Of November the Russians fire
on the British was about one gun every FIVE
minutes The English lookout man cries
"Tower," Redding,' or Garden Battery
and the shot is returned. But the FIRE on the
French is much more lively, and is kept up
with some effect on their earthwork and par.
allel. Every night about 8 o'clock the flag
staff quarantine, and wall batteries open fu-
rious cannouade, which, from twenty to forty
minutes, is as hard as the men can load, right
into the French lines, and then follows in.
stantly a sally, the result of which is invaria-
Oily the shme-tne husstaRs push strong
column ont of the place rush towards Sae first
hne, drive in the piekets and rdemeu, get mp to
the FIRST parallel, sometimes into it. occasionally
beyond it, and close 10 the second parallel,
where they are received as they advance BY
the French covering parties with $ deadly
fire they halt and FIRE in return, are charged
by the French, who rout and pursue them into
the town, but who are obliged to retire by the
flank fire of the batteries and street guns. In
this way the French lost forty or fifty men, but
the loss Of the Russians in these aieytes must
be considerable. Frequently about daybreak
The Russians repeat the performance.
The Russians have much strengthened their
defenses. They have scarped the ground in
front Of their batteries, have constructed strong
abattis in front of the lines, thrown up numerous
eartbworks, and made sunken batteries before
all their redoubts and along scarp of slopes.
During the, night particularly strong sortie
was made on the French Hearing noise a
French rifeman crept forward and saw a col
umn of Russians, 1000 strong, forming in the
rear of the battery. The French, therefore,
700 strong, silently mounted the parapet of
their own battery, and received the Russians
with a deadly volley-then leaping down, at
tackled them with the bayonet, and compelled
them 10 retreat.
General Prospects.
The Russian defenses on the south are esti-
l. Il.