Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-07-10
fortian AntsIIiasnls.
OPERATIONS IN THE BALTIC.


OPERATI0Ns IN THE BALTIC.
The Allied Fleets on Cronstadit-No Pro-
liability that either Cronstadt or swea-
borg will he attacked-Boih Places Pro-
nouneed UnassaiIable.
CRoNsTADT, June ll.--Although the principal
contingent Of the allied fleets has assembled in
the Baltic, and reached the eastern extremity OF
the Gulf of Finland, no indications Of The conn
meacemeat Of actiUe operations hare yet been evnced
Indeed, there are strong reasons Tor supposing
that the expectations Of more brilliant achieve
ments being effected during the present campaign
tciH be fulfilled. The ships have remained at an
Choir for ten DAYS off Cronsladt. Ranged in line
of battle, with the Duke of Wellington and La
Tourville in the centre, they cover the surface OF
the water to an extent Of three miles, and pre-
sent most formidable front to the enemy.
Their withdrawal from that position is Sc
riously discussed, and will most probably have
taken place before my present dispatch is closed.
Without the reintorcements now on their way to
Join them, they are fully equal in every respect
to perform far more important services than
merely accommodating the Russian iortresses,
watching their movements, and blockading their
ports. For these purposes the steam irigates,
paddlesteamers, and gpn-boats would simply
suffice, and the greater portion OF the-largc ships
might be dispatched TO the seat of war in the
East, where they are much wanted, and where
they would prove far more useful.
Ii the information have received be correct,
which believe il will prove 10 be, all ideas %
attacking either Siceaborg on CronSadl are a6ait-
doned At the former the Russians, since last
year, have erected no less than IA additional bat
teries, some of them mounting as many as 81
guns. The defenses Of the latter have been also
considerably strengthened by means of earth
works, and both are deemed unassailable by our
naval forces.
The ports Of Revel and Riga are Of great i'm
portance to tile enemy, and to wrest. them from
him would be a step in the right direction, and
would show that the most magnificent and pow
erful fleet which has ever been congregated on
the waters had performed some Of the important
objects Of its mission The ma orty of the mer-
chants and most respectable inhabitants Of Reve,
in anticipation that the naval forces Of the allies
would assuredly commence some hostile move
ments against the town, have removed-some
into the interior, and others to Germany, taking
with them all their movable effects
The smaller class Of merchants remain in the
town 10 guard their property, watching anxiously
the course Of events, but suffering continual
losses from the total cessation of their trade.
Reinlorcements have been poured in TO con-
siderable amount by the Russians, with the view
Of rendering the place as secure from attack as
possible.
At Riga the effects Of a bombardment are not
SO much dreaded by the residents They deem
themselves safe from the circumstances that our
ships have TO force the passage of the Dwina by
taking possession of Fort Dwinamunde, which
commands the entrance to that river, before they
can make any approach in the direction of the
town, which, owing to the little depth of water
in It's immediate vicinity, and the impedments
caused 10 the navigation by vast heaps OF stones
which have been thrown into the narrow chan
nels, could not be reached by any vessels with a
larger draught Of water than than few feet
near enough for their guns TO be within effective
range.
Narrow Escape OF the British War steam-
en- MERLIN" before Ci onstadt.
A letter from the Baltic fleet off Cronstadt, to
the Times, June l9) says:
g At noon the Merlin carrying the French Adj
miral Penaud and several French and English
Captains, proceeded to reconnoitrc Cronstadt.
They were attended by the Dragon, tirefy,
and corvette D'Assas Going first along the
north side of the island they approached within
1900 yards of the blockships lying in the open
water between Cronstadt and st. Petersburgh.
They consisted of four liners, five frigates, and
two covettes, moored in line along the three
fathom bank, with their broadsdes bearing upon
the northern passage. Inside these, Ia steam
gun boats lay at anchor, and under the wall OF
Man-of-War Iiarbor, anchored in three lines,
were "a row gun-boats. When the Merlin went
in so close two Of the steam gun-boats came out,
and one fired heavy shot at her. but it fell short.
In the man-of-war harbor were IL line of battle
in progress. Between this harbor and Fort kron-
slot were 10 steamers Of various sizes, some of
them screws and between kronslot and Fort
MenschikoH two three-deckers moored bow
TO bow, with their broadsides commanding the
only entrance. The island seems full Of soldiers,
for, besides those quartered in the town and bat
terles, three large camps were formed outside,
two on the north and the other the south side.
Immense new earthworks have been erected this
spring; a complete chain of them runs from the
Governors house across the island TO the old
kessel battery, dividing il into halves, one forti-
fed, the other without gun upon it, Just as
the Merlin was returning, and when going about
seven knots an hour, severe shock felt, as if
she had struck upon sunken pile. Ii made the
ship culver from stem 10 stern. The engines
were instantly stopped and reversed, but before
she had stern wav upon her, another blow, ten
times more than the first struck her on
the starboard bow, just before the paddle wheel
scnsibly lifting her over to port, and making her
masts bend and shake as if they would topplo
down. The FREELY was in tho Merlin s wake,
and before she could stop, she ran to larboard of
the Merlin, and partly turned round, when a ire
aendous explosion took place under her bors,
ing her 10 sfdgger, and prOring rery plainly that
they acre oper nest Of Professor jacobs Internal
machines, The erisfence Of trhich is NOR beyond a
doubt.
They then proceeded carefully until they got
into deep water without meeting with any more,
ana then accommodated the s0nln side, ana get
ting near the shore TO witness sort Of re-
view Of the Russian horse artillery, and after
wards returned to the fleet. A diver was imme-
dately sent down TO examine the FREELY, and
not the slightest injury could be detected; but
inside the ship almost every bit Of crockeryware
was broken, and the bukheads thrown down or
displaced. On examining the Merlin, eight sheets
of her copper were blown, not scraped, off, and
the side appeared 70 be charred All the inside
fittings Of the engineers bath room, mess-room,
and store room, were completely demolished.
An iron tank, which was bolted TO the ship
side, and contained 10 cwt. oftallow, was knocked
a distance Of four feet. Shot were shaken out Of
the racks, and almost everything movable in
the ship was displaced.
II is supposed these machines have been laid
down since Admiral Dundas reconnotered the
place the last time; for, after he returned, two
steamers came from the harbor, and were busly
employed for some time
From the Correspondence OF the London Times
The Massacre mt Hango.
HER MAJEsrY's SHIp CossAcK, orr CRoN.
sTADr, June lion the morning Of the 26th o.
- ~ Il 4 l.